2013 Las Vegas Tour
In July of 2013 the New Zealand Basketball Academy is planning to take up to eight teams on tour to the United States. Teams will be playing in age group tournaments in Las Vegas, NV during the July recruiting window for college coaches and scouts.
Boys: 13 & Under Girls: 13 & Under
14 & Under 14 & Under
15 & Under 15 & Under
16 & Under 16 & Under
(Age group is based on your age as at the 1st September 2013. For example, if you are 16 on the 1st of September, then you are eligible to play in the 16 & Under age group).
If you want to prove yourself against the best age group players in the world, and have an opportunity to showcase your game on the international stage then this could be your opportunity.
Trials are being held on the 1st & 1nd of December, and the 10th – 13th of January at the ASB Sports Centre in Wellington. Teams will be announced shortly following the final trial.
For more information about this tour opportunity, you can download the information booklet.
2012 Las Vegas Tour
In July of 2012, twenty three players selected from around New Zealand by the Academy set off for their first tour experience to Las Vegas, NV. The 15U Boys and Girls teams competed in the prestigious “Las Vegas Live” NCAA Division 1 scouting tournament which boasts past alumni such as NBA All Stars Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Andrew Bynum.
The experience of being in the very centre of all the summer basketball action with camps, tournaments, and the NBA Summer League all happening in Las Vegas every July led several of the players to describe this trip as “one of the best weeks of their life”.
The players were mentored on their trip by scholarship student-athletes Steven Adams and Kayla Kiriau who had lots of encouragement and advice for those players looking to take the next steps in their basketball careers.
A highlight of the tour was the teams getting to meet Kiwi NBA legend Sean Marks and check out some of the NBA Summer League games.
Tournament Results
The boys team this year faced some extremely stiff competition and finished with a respectable Top 16 placing in the “platinum” championship bracket (40 teams total).
The girls team took things a step further, and powered by the strong inside play of stand-out centre Tanaka Gapare steam-rolled their way to the Grand Final eventually coming out second best to a very good Las Vegas Elite team. Notable victories for the girls included an intense and physical matchup against Denver Fever (quarterfinals) and knocking off previously undefeated Seattle EDC in the semifinal.
Both teams that went on tour to the USA got a first hand look at how the best players in the world train, prepare and play, and so all of our Academy athletes know exactly where the bar is set if they have goals of playing international basketball in the future.
15 & Under Boys
Head Coach: Zico Coronel
Andrew Wilson, Tim Ross, Dakota Simpson, Wilfred Dickson, Mitchell Stephen, Joseph Bowden, Louis Zabala, Danan Swanson, Dion Yee, Connor Young, Dane Brooks, Liam Wilby
15 & Under Girls
Head Coach: Michelle Swain
Katherine Banks, Angel Gotz, Emily Teono, McKenzie Merritt, Brenna Romley, Tamara Sharland-Ngatai, Roimata Blackburn, Leila Blackburn, Tanaka Gapare, Shay Dryden, Sariah Penese.
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