Young star on way to Hobart

Chargers sign up one of the hottest properties in nation

ONE of the most exciting junior prospects in Australian women’s basketball is headed to Hobart next season.

In a coup for the Chargers, Shyla Heal, daughter of former NBA and Boomers great Shane, signed with the club to play in the 2020 NBL1 season.

The 18-year-old is one of the nation’s hottest properties, having dominated at underage level on the global stage and establishing herself within the rotation at Bendigo in this year’s WNBL.

Heal was MVP in the big game at the 2017 FIBA under-17 Oceania Championship in Guam, while guiding the Sapphires to gold at the FIBA under-16 Asian Championship in India.

In 2017 she earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team at the under-17 World Cup in Belarus, and in July debuted for the Gems at the under-19 World Cup in Thailand, where Australia reached the final for the first time in 22 years.

“Shyla is really one of the emerging stars in Australian basketball, she has dominated the international stage at the junior world championships and is having an outstanding season with Bendigo Spirit in the WNBL this year,” Chargers women coach Mark Nash said.

“We’re really excited about what Shyla brings to us for NBL1 in 2020, but also really excited to be part of her development for the future, which is likely to include WNBA and hopefully Australian senior representation in the near future.

“It really is a huge coup for this club. The fact she also has the confidence in our program that it’s going to help her further develop is really exciting for both us and also for Shyla.”

Heal was courted by a host of NBL1 teams, including Bendigo. But the relationship between her dad Shane and Charger’s men’s coach Anthony Stewart played a role in the teen choosing Hobart.

“We really believe she is absolutely the right fit for our club,” Nash said. “We were initially looking at bringing in an American point guard, but we are really excited about what Shyla can do.”

The club is also negotiating to bring league star Kathleen Scheer back to Hobart.