Hoops

U17 Mens Squad

They do not have tryouts, never have, what they have is a list of players they are watching all the time, and by the time they hit un19s most are well locked in to that list then the coach picks from that. So those in the NITP program, anyone who has been at nationals and performed well, anyone who's already made an Aus camp previously and anyone who's made an un17 worlds team has a chance of selection.

All the wanting and questioning will not change a thing, team is now about to compete at worlds, when it's finished they are all then fighting for spots on un19s, along with all the rest

sorry ...win... not fin, my bad.

I look forward to seeing the final team being picked and to watching them play in Dubai, just as we were able to watch the Girls in Czech this past week, however there won't be more than maybe one change from the China team I wouldn't think.

I hope the boys can get over their early games without a loss and fin a first up final though, that was what hurt the girls.

I agree that the team really does need to have size and if they do then that might be a winning factor in a particualr game. So will shooting percentages, turnovers and defence at certain stages!

Winning games will come down to many things at this international level, every aspect of basketball will come into play but if we are going to medal we need that special thing to get us over the line in crucial games.

I think the team, potentially, will have all they need to provide the spark or special moments they need to do well, it will come down to how quickly they can settle into the groove and if they can be as confident in themselves and one another earlier and for longer periods than their opposition IMHO...

Go Aussies, good luck to them!

Good d is not fouling but containing, it's not letting them get that shot off, not letting the pass be made or caught, good d is forcing the turn over, you can still play good d without fouling.

^ but if they can't play d and only shoot your just a stuffed

I said that re positions available. The other thing that so many overlook is whilst scoring is important in the game of basketball, you still need defenders, ball carriers and your play makers, these are often not the big scorers, stats don't show these, you could have a player that has the ability to take another top scorer out of the game simply by playing great d, these players are just as valuable as the ones who shoot the buckets. Every team needs a balance.

Last training was yesterday......one got injured at camp so can't do anything about that

Team announcement, I am not concerned with the petty infighting on this thread, cheers...

Camp ends today, does anyone know if the China tour team is selected and the players find out before they leave?

Ever stop to think that perhaps those who couldn't attend nationals due to illness or injury , then the head coach may want to have a look at them against those that did. And give the un17 girls a thought, that team was chosen 'before' nationals, there were some standout players from the girls at nationals who won't get the chance. Stop carrying on about a team none of you have any involvement in, coaches choose who they want and no amount of bitching and backstabbing is going to change that.

Ummmmm go Australia....yay

Having been through the Glandular Fever process with my own boys a couple of years ago I feel for any athlete who is affected.

It is something that you must be vigilant about for pretty much the rest of your sporting life, however unless the boys share saliva they are not at risk of contracting it.

I know they are close and a great bunch of kids who get along well, but I would not be worried about others in the team contracting GD at the AIS.

What seems to be getting overlooked here is spot availability, a coach cannot choose every single good pg or big or forward a team needs a combination of positions and ones that work well together, plus offensive and defensive strength. So whilst yes there may be very good players left behind and it sucks if your one of the 5 best pg or bigs in the country in your age group but they only choose 3 , then end choice comes down to the coaches personal preference as to how they see the players fitting into the overall team. Some players who stand out at nationals because the rest of the team is so mediocre may fall against better opposition, but could also rise even further with a more supportive team.

4 guards for china I'd say from that list

Plus white. Pupavac, mc Mullen and molloy Leigh from cv confirmed

Can confirm NSW players 5 country: hodgson, nori, cranney, glover and cherry. Humphries and yak from Metro.

Does anyone know anything about Miles Cherry from NSW? Position etc?

Cherry is bottom age, from Newcastle. Prob 3-4 in this group. Integral part of u/16 champs last year. Long, left handed, good outside touch. Missed this years champs due to illness. If you were there, you would have seen him supporting his team mates.

Anyone know why the boys c of e team has no senior players unlike the girls. Obviously placing these teams in the senior competition and also the strongest competition after NBL and wnbl gives them a challenge but surely the beatings these boys are getting can't be good for their own confidence

Tom Wilson maybe should go to footy after watching the BA CofE game yesterday against dandenong SEABL , wearne who didn't even get another invite back to an Aus camp took him to pieces along with all the other dande guards. Very disappointing seeing what is supposed to be the cream of Australian junior basketball, there are far better players not even getting a look in. I understand they are young guys playing more experienced and bigger bodied players in some cases, but even there game structure is crap. Who ever picked that bunch of boys needed to get out more and see what else is around. And just because a player is really tall it does not mean you can make them into a great player , you only have to look at steph Collins, that girl has had so much pumped into her and she still can't shoot , or run, or rebound or dribble.

Anon 804, well you explain why Aus lost to NZ last November? What, all the Aus team had shockers except for Vasiljevic.

NZ shouldn't have come anywhere near Aus.

What about David Moyes and Alex Ferguson. Did Alex Ferguson leave David Moyes a terrible squad? I don't think so.

It's called Man Management. Give the players a purpose, a vision, make them feel valued, give them a common cause, mould them into a team.

Something like "the whole is greater than the sum of the parts".

Don't want to rain on anyone's parade but there are 7 potential Aus U17 players already at the AIS.

The AIS have two or three SEABL games scheduled for when they are meant to be in China?

So, unless the dates change I'd suggest a number, if not all, of the AIS kids won't be going to China.

If all go to China, the AIS will be down to 4 players with Perry out. Can't see that working.

Anon 801

They weren't exactly the same NZ teams. The recent team only had 6 from last November. But they were 6 of the better performers from last November, including Freeman.

So how do you explain the NZ team beating Aus U17 last year, nearly twice?

If Vic Country, NSW Metro & Vic Metro can all beat NZ, then what does that say about Aus losing to them?

For me it says the coaches got it wrong, big time.

Wrong game plan, poor rotations and having the players too scared to take the game on for fear of making a mistake or losing their spot in the Aus team.

For me this is the single biggest obstacle for this team going to the worlds. Having all 12 players being valuable contributors. Who are the best coaches - the ones that get every player playing a level above where they are.

Of course the coaches won't admit they get it wrong, they never are. It's always the players fault. They didn't execute, etc.

Well, for me it is the coaches that are the single biggest hurdle for the players with all the negative stuff.

Agree, Humphries better, at the same age and long term. Also, in case this is lost on some he is a year younger (bottom age in this age group).

Agree with post above Wilson has more to his game than Mirko. I saw them play in an Aus Schools Champ Final two years ago. Mirko was with Lake G & at the AIS, also had Dante V Luxford match-up in the same match. Fantastic game. The year Mirko/Dante/Luxford went to the worlds.

From memory Wilson and Mirko both played nearly the whole game if not the whole game. Wilson shot about 15-20 points, Mirko was like 1 from 20 shots. Just kept shooting long bombs. Couldn't find any other way to score. Wilson was cool beyond his years, maybe that's why he's now at the AIS?

As for Jack White V Dante in the 2 spot, I think you've got White in the wrong spot. White will be a 3 man in this team. Vasiljevic will be the 2 man.

It's all relative. Yes there are stats, but you can only play who's put in front of you at the time. Extremely difficult to compare generations.

The team of two year's ago achieved a fantastic result. Hopefully this team can perform & do themselves and Australia proud.

IMO Perry will be given every opportunity to get right to go. 7+ footers don't grow on trees. That's another reason why this group maybe the equal of two years ago. They didn't have any 7 footers. This group have 2 & Gak is almost there as well.

Also, Froling, Jack White & Noi, as well as having good inside games, can all knock it down from outside.

Two years ago they did not have this versatility with the 3-4 men.

Yes, great to see some kids of African origin start to make it.

Just for a moment, let's not compare stats as someone else has suggested.

I have it on very good authority that this year's Vic Metro U18 team beat the Vic U20 team in a practice game just prior to the U20 team going to the nationals in Feb. Now consider this, that Vic U20 team contained three Aus U17 team members from 2 years ago - Purchase, Jackson & Luxford. In case you need it pointed out - these kids are two years younger. The U20's were bigger, stronger, but not better! Oh and by the way the Vic U20 team won the Nationals easily.


Now let's go back to the stats - the 3P% of this group of U18's in undeniably better, at least 10-20% better & there's more of them that can shoot well from 3 point land. So it might be fair enough to say this squad is every bit as good as the U17 team of two years ago. Maybe even better, dare I say it.

Think Anon 649 is on the money, according to a source close to the group. I wouldn't be surprised to see 3 bottom age players in the final team. No way of assessing Cherry against the competition as he was unwell and didn't play at 18s.

Great to see players of African origin coming through junior programs, wonderful opportunity for them.

Agree, good team. Unfortunately, I don't think Will White will go if his brother doesn't make the team. I wish he would, but he's already knocked back an AIS spot as his brother wasn't in the mix. Difficult for the parents and the boys.

Sad for Will if that happens. I've got a couple of kids and unfortunately, as much as you hate to you have to be realistic with their abilities, sadly some aren't.

Agree with post above, with the exception of Owies, to be replaced by Will White as 2 man. Either Vasiljevic or Wilson to play point instead. They're playing that in the AIS SEABL team.

Colton, unfortunately, won't even go to the camp. Great tourny stats wise, but plays big minutes, so you'd expect good stats.

Agree Owies is a great team player with great attitude and team spirit, but unfortunately we're at the pointy end now and we have to be brutally honest. He's not enough of a threat from 3 point land. Look at his %age, 3 from 21. Compared to the others, unfortunately IMO, he's got more limitations.

He should go to the camp, but I don't think he will go to China or the worlds. If he goes it will be to be a lock down player for hassle and harassment.

Not at the camp, maybe the worlds though.

Have watched Matt Owies play for a number of years, saw him in several games at 18 Nat's last week and he has improved his shot and his offence.

What he brings to the team above the other guards in the Vic Metro team is his team play and explosiveness.

He should be a lock for China and a big chance for worlds, great kid with the right team spirit and attitude, disagree with anon^ on several counts here.

Although Owies should probably go to the camp. Others are starting to pass him. He's not as good a shooter as some of the others. Great hussle and harassment, but limited offensively as far as scoring is concerned. If he can't be more efficient at scoring he needs to be an assist beast. Not sure he realises this or if someone's told him.

Yes, actually an oversight. I think Cranney will go to the camp.

I did say Angus would probably go to the camp, but won't make the worlds team unless there are injuries.

Well I might be forgetting some injured athletes, but seriously, are any of them of the same calibre as Humphries, Froling, Will White as bottom agers?

As an extremely outside chance, Andrew Panayiotou (VICM).

Name who you think. I've named my squad. Don't forget, ECC and country cup were taken into account as well.

Oh, in my squad above forgot to mention Thon Maker for the worlds.

Would like to know who the other bottom agers are who performed better than those I listed. The Stats are a reasonably good indicator and they show none of them did.

For what it's worth, IMO, the squad will be:

Jock Perry (VICM)
Isaac Humphries (NSWM)
Tim Molloy-Leigh (VICC)
Deng Gak (NSWM)

Harry Froling (QLDN)
Abi Akintola (VICM)
Kyle Clarke (TAS)

Kuoat Noi (NSWC)
Jack White (VICC)

Dejan Vasiljevic (VICM)
William McDowell-White (QLDS)

Tom Wilson (VICM)
Jayden Hodgson (NSWC)

Darryl McDowell-White (QLDS)
Trent McMullan (VICC)
Matt Owies (VIcM)
Jacob Pupavac (VICC)

Honorable Mention:
Angus Glover (NSWC)

All these kids were either good or great in the recent U18 AJC in Canberra and deserve their opportunity. Most have been to previous camps or already played for Aus in this age group.

For me, the big improvers were Harry Froling, Jack White, Kuoat Noi & Tom Wilson (whilst some others fell away a bit). I think the penny is starting to drop for these four kids and they are realising they can have some serious influence upon games. They just don't need too much advice or structure from the coaches.

Whoever they pick, the coaches would do well just to encourage them ALL to TAKE THE GAME ON, play without fear of failure.

There has been some talk about kids from last year's U16 AJC's in Adelaide forcing their way
into this group. Unfortunately, IMO, only one
new U16 player (Angus Glover NSWC) showed anything good enough in Canberra. But, IMO, didn't quite do enough. He may go to the camp, but won't go to the worlds unless there is an
injury. But he is certainly one to watch for
the future.

For the other bottom agers their chance will come in the U19's in 3 years time.

IMO, this group of kids are every bit as talented as the U17 squad from two years ago.

A close examination of the Stats from this year's U18 AJC compared to two years ago would seem to indicate this. The kids listed above boast 8 or 9 that are either good or great from beyond the arc including some of the 3-4 men. This is better than the group from two years ago.

This is a coaches dream.

Good luck to all who get picked, it is a fantastic opportunity.

If Will McDowell-White is not included in
this camp and doesn't go to the worlds this
year it will be a GREAT tragedy for
Australian Basketball. It is not often that
someone with his talent comes along.

He is a great YOUNG talent along with one or
maybe two others in this age group who have
the X-Factor.

Unfortunately too many of the Junior coaches
going around can't see his and other's talent
and want to stifle it with too much structure
and have them play their way only. As if
their way is the only way to win.

In a lot of cases it is too much about the coach and his ego, not the players. Well it didn't work in game two and three of last year's FIBA Championship against NZ. Aus nearly lost it.

Sorry the coaches nearly lost it with the
wrong game plan & structures and not letting
players do what they do best - PLAY on
instinct and not being afraid to take it on, look what NSWC were capable of in Canberra.

The NZ team that played in the U18 AJC in
Canberra had 6 or 7 key players from the team from last November, yet only finished 5th in the AJC, but they beat the Aus U17 team in game 3 and
nearly beat them in game 2. HOW? I'll tell
you how - wrong game strategy & not instilling confidence in each and every player to play on instinct, take the game on, have a crack. Let's face it, all these kids can seriously play, but a lot of them went into their shell, scared to make a mistake, they were like rabbits in the headlights.

Give them a little structure but please let them play and use their instincts and give them confidence to play that way. You just might be a little surprised with what they are capable of achieving.

Guessing there are at least 8 from GF, not sure about whether injured players were named despite not playing at tournament.

Should be announced on the BA website soon I'd imagine. Top three teams at Nationals would likely make up the bulk of the squad from what I saw. May be a surprise or two as well... Who knows!