RISING TALENT
SPORT STARS TO WATCH OUT FOR:
Far North Queensland is flush with young talent, with the next generation of sports stars well on the way to unlocking big futures. The Cairns Post is taking a look at some of the region’s best and brightest school sports stars who are on track to achieve big things in 2021 and beyond. This week, Rowan
Sparkes introduces four Cairns State High School students to keep an eye on.
JAYLEN PITMAN
THE rising basketball star is representing Queensland North at Basketball Australia’s Under-18s Championships in Werribee this week.
The 15-year-old said he would be giving it all to try and win the national title with his Queensland teammates.
“I’ve been trying to improve my three-point shot, just putting up heaps of shots every day trying to get better,” he said.
“I just love playing with my mates and having fun.”
Pitman is an imposing force on the basketball court, possessing a potent mix of size and skill, as well as an ability to switch between the guard positions.
“I prefer shooting guard because I just like running the court and then the point guard kicks it up,” he said.
His favourite basketball player is Sacramento King’s point guard De’Aaron Fox.
“He’s just shifty, he’s just fast, and he likes to run like me,” he said.
Pitman has dreams of playing college basketball in the USA and one day representing Australia.
ANDRIA HEARD
THE talented teenage hooper is also representing Queensland North at the Basketball Australia Under-18s Championships in Werribee wraps up this weekend.
One of Heard’s goals this year is to come home with a medal from the national competition.
The 15-year-old is also hoping to be part of the Cairns Dolphins’ inaugural NBL1 North campaign.
“I played last season but I only got a few minutes here and there, so hopefully this season I can play a bit more, depending on how I go,” she said.
Heard dreams of playing the sport at the highest level, and trains up to 10 times a week to constantly improve her game.
“I’ve been working on getting open on the perimeter and shooting transition threes and different ways of getting past my defender and to the basket,” she said.
“I really want to go to college and I really want to play for Australia when I’m older and potentially play in the WNBL back in Australia.”
DECLAN O’SHEA
The up-and-coming footballer was part of Edge Hill United’s FNQ treble in 2020, as the Tigers claimed the championship, premiership and Crad Evans Shield, and hopes to be part of it again this season.
“I just want to succeed while I’m there and win the grand final and get the treble again,” O’Shea said.
The defensive midfielder made the Queensland side in the under-14s and was selected to represent Peninsula U17s last year, before the impacts of COVID-19 robbed him of the chance.
The 16-year-old is hoping to secure a spot in the Peninsula U19s side this year.
“It will be harder going against older players and tougher competition,” he said.
“I’m just going to have to train hard and try my best in everything, work on my first touch and shooting.”
O’Shea hopes to take his future footballing exploits south.
“Hopefully I can play with a side down in Brisbane and work my way up there down there,” he said.
“I’ll probably start off in the NPL and see where I can go from there.”
TULLY HEATLEY
The fleet-footed 14-year-old may be the youngest player in Edge Hill United’s Women’s Premier League team, but mixing it with the most experienced players in the region doesn’t worry her.
“You get stronger and they teach you a lot because they’ve been playing for longer,” she said.
Heatley started as an eight year old, following in the footsteps of her older siblings, which included sister Winonah, who made her W-League debut for Brisbane Roar last year.
While the teenage talent would love to play professional football in the future, she is starting with smaller, yet still ambitious, goals.
“I want to play every game for the women’s prems side this year, and try and make it to Queensland for school ... (which) ... I think is the next step. I have to work hard and train hard. I train twice a day every day. I do it before school and after school.”
Heatley’s other goals for the year include successful campaigns with Cairns State High School in the Junior School Sport and Bill Turner Cup competitions.