Function nets funds to help basketball project

Former All Black Jeff Wilson, at the Heretaunga Club during a fundraising auction on Friday night. Photo / Glenn Taylor

An ambitious project to take young Hawke's Bay basketball hopefuls to the world and tackle problems linked to the prohibitive costs of some sports at the same time is going ahead with more than 30 flying to the US in the next two months.

Hawke's Bay and New Zealand basketball star Paora Winitana said a "Junior" group of 15 athletes leaves on November 23, and a "Senior" group of 16 leaves on December 5, part-funded by Friday night's fundraising function in Hastings featuring rugby broadcasting personality and former All Black Jeff Wilson and basketball coach Tab Baldwin.

Winitana said some of the costs families have to pay to get young hopefuls away when selected in representative and national away matches are "ludicrous" and often out of reach of some of the best young talent.

"There's no help ... no plan of attack," he lamented.

Enter the IMS Paul Henare and Paora Winitana Basketball Academy and he hopes there's now a game-changer to help some families realise the dream, developing not only basketball skill but also leadership skills "on and off court," and organising the International Eye Open Experience tour where the teenagers will meet NBA players and watch them train and play, and attend skills sessions.

"The whole object of the fundraising was to help lower the costs to the families," he said.

"We always knew it was highly improbable we would be able to cover the full cost."

At about $4000 per player, about $120,000 is needed and fundraising continues, with a dinner at the Thirsty Whale, in West Quay, Napier, later this month, and support also able to be offered at basketballacademy.co.nz

or by email: info@basketballacademy.co.nz

Last night the sums from Friday night's function were still being done, but a better-than-expected profit is expected, with all items in the night's charity auction having sold in excess of reserve.

Coaches Clifton Bush and Reece Tuala-Fata introduced the 31 players, who are:

Senior Academy: Andrew Wilson, Dominic McGovan, Mateus Marsh, Joshua Anderson, Preston Tatana, Amariah Luki, Wilfred Dickson, Jacob Cowan, Ricky Hayes, George Kalliadasis, Midge Forshaw, Kimiora Poi, Anecia Wilkie, Demi Forshaw, Mahia Isherwood, Kresna Crouch.

Junior Academy: Charlie Hartridge, Jershon Tatana, Toby Kendon, William Clark, Travis Wright, Paora Winitana Jnr, Adam Winnie, YuQing Jiang, Sam Marshall, Jacob Murphy, Catlin Stent, Fiora Goed, Zharnei Adams, Andriana Kalliadasis, Etana Luki.An ambitious project to take young Hawke's Bay basketball hopefuls to the world and tackle problems linked to the prohibitive costs of some sports at the same time is going ahead with more than 30 flying to the US in the next two months.