NBL championship-winning coach Rob Beveridge says Adelong product Amelia Hassett has the tools to make an impact after being impressed by her displays at the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup in Albury.
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Centre Hassett, 16, played a key role in helping the NSW Kookaburras under-18s side to third overall after pipping NSW Waratahs 39-38 in a thrilling bronze medal playoff.
Beveridge has filled an unofficial mentoring role with both NSW sides and said the tall Wagga Blaze product is learning to use her skill set against older and bigger opponents.
"We're really pushing her to handle physicality and use her mobility against bigger players, to use her agility and finesse rather than trying to outmuscle them," Beveridge said.
"She's been identified through Basketball Australia's programs, an athletic six-foot kid coming through, but she's got a big upside with her athleticism and the way she moves down the floor.
"She's got great hands and is finishing really well. It's been a gruelling week with the number of games, the smoke and the heat, but right now she's ticking a lot of boxes."
Beveridge said Hassett, who represented NSW Country under-16s last year and was selected for a development camp at Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence in October, is very coachable.
"I gave her a rocket the other day for not playing harder and she came out and kicked arse," he said.
"She has a great attitude and it's a good test for her this week, physically and mentally.
"All players are going to have their ups and downs, but she's had more ups."
Cootamundra's Alex Oliver also took home bronze as part of the under-16 girls Waratahs team which beat the Kookaburras 52-48 in the bronze medal playoff.
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