Basketball Victoria has released the names included in the under-16 and under-18 boys and girls State Development Program squads — important parts of the Victorian High Performance pathway — while Basketball Australia has announced the Rollers squad which will vie for selection ahead of the Tokyo Paralympic Games.
Included in the national set-up for the Rollers — the men's wheelchair basketball team — is Waaia's Jeremy Tyndall.
Tyndall will head to Canberra for the January 28 to February 4 training camp at Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence at the Australian Institute of Sport.
“With a little over six months until the Paralympic Games, this camp is extremely important to our Tokyo preparations,” head coach Craig Friday said.
“Due to COVID and the travel restrictions involved both domestically and abroad, we’ve not been able to train together as a squad since October 2019. So during this week-long camp there will be plenty of court-time where we will work on technical and tactical aspects of our game in readiness for the challenge ahead.
“With some key members not in camp due to travel restrictions and other commitments, there is a great opportunity for squad members to put their name up in lights in front of the coaching staff.
“There is plenty of competition for spots in the final Rollers team for the Paralympics and I’m expecting that competitive spirit to be on show in Canberra.”
Tyndall has plenty of experience playing wheelchair basketball for his state, but has also tasted national action — including when he snared a bronze medal at the under-23 World Championships in 2017.
Shepparton Gators in the female State Development Program squads include Holly Egan (under-16) and Hannah Onley (under-18), while Seymour's Maddison Ford and Shelby Hutchins — a former Gator herself — have also made the cut in the older squad.
“It is always impressive to put your hand up to try out for our high performance pathways,” high performance head coach Jenni Screen said.
“Every opportunity to work on your game, mentally and physically is a gift and I am very much looking forward to working with these athletes throughout the year.”
Fellow coach Zoe Carr said BV was impressed with the fitness levels of those who trailed.
“It is an exciting time to be able to return to basketball and start the high performance season with trials,” Carr said.
“We have some outstanding athletes and I was incredibly impressed with the level of fitness and skill that everyone at trials displayed.
“It is a credit to the athletes, their parents and their home associations for preparing them. I can’t wait for the program to begin in February.”
In the boys’ squads are Riley Onley, Jack and Matt Whitlock (under-16), Boston Dowling and Tom Gorman (under-18).
Seymour's Jesse Brock (under-16) and Harrison Stones (under-18) have also been included.
“The competitive nature of our boys at try-outs was impressive to see and highlights the strong foundations of basketball our athletes already possess,” coach Ash Arnott said.
“Now in the SDP program, these skills will be built upon and these athletes will be shaped as individuals both on and off the court.”
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