Big guns in lineup for shot at World Cup
At a glance
Tall Ferns coach Kennedy Kereama has most of his heavy hitters on board for the year’s international hoops assignment that will culminate in the team’s most realistic ever shot at a World Cup spot.
Kereama has named a nice mix of youth and experience in a 15-strong group of players who will assemble for a selection camp in Auckland from June 6-12.
Despite trio of notable absentees –regulars Stella Beck and Penina Davidson and the promising Krystal Leger-Walker – it is a squad Kereama is happy with.
‘‘We have managed to bring in most of our more experienced lineup, with a mix of potential players who will no doubt play a part in the future of the Tall Ferns programme,’’ Kereama said.
‘‘I think it is important to have a good balance of experience and emerging youth.’’
Italy-based Jillian Harmon, and Australia-domiciled campaigners Antonia Farnsworth (nee Edmondson), Micaela Cocks and Natalie Taylor head the veteran presence in the Ferns trialists, while Brigham Young star Kalani Purcell and Poland-based pro Erin Rooney have accumulated plenty of international experience in recent years.
Others such as Nelson product Jessica Bygate, Napier’s Josie Stockill and Auck- land’s Chevannah Palvaast – all now playing their hoops across the Tasman – have had recent international experience with the Ferns.
Newcomers include Kayla Manuirirangi, Georgia Agnew and 15-year-old guard Charlisse LegerWalker who is a year 11 student at St Peter’s, Cambridge. They are talented youngsters Kerama is excited about introducing to his programme.
Agnew, now studying physiotherapy in Auckland, spent four years at Utah Valley University and Manuirirangi is a freshman at Tulane University.
‘‘This is a very exciting time for them and I know that our experienced players and leaders will do a great job of bringing them into the Tall Ferns way at camp,’’ he said.
Kereama was disappointed he was not able to take a full-strength squad into such an important campaign but accepted that collegiate commitments often took precedence.
Leger-Walker’s older sister Krystal, having recently completed her first season at the University of Northern Colorado, was not able to commit to the campaign.
Beck, women’s player of the year at the Basketball New Zealand awards, is entering her senior year at Saint Mary’s College in San Francisco and Davidson is also embarking on her final campaign at the University of California, Berkley.
‘‘I believe the programme has done a great job of blooding so many players over the last few years that we will have enough experience and developing talent to get the job done,’’ added Kereama.
Following the camp the Ferns will tour China and Singapore before competing at their first Fiba Women’s Asia Cup in Bangalore from July 23-29.
For the first time Australia and New Zealand will compete alongside six Asian teams in Division A, with the top four at the tournament qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
Having previously had to defeat the world No 4 ranked Australians to make it to the global event, the new international setup with Oceania joining the Asia zone presents the Ferns with their best pathway to the World Cup.
New Zealand has been drawn in Pool A of the Asia Cup alongside perennial powerhouse China, Chinese Taipei and North Korea.