Gentle giant to 'menacing machine'

WHANGAREI teenager Megan Craig has set her sights high but, at just over two metres tall, it's impossible for this 17-year-old not to be head and shoulders above the rest.
It's not just her height that causes people to look up to her. High-achieving Megan, a top young basketball player, leaves Whangarei next month to take up a four-year scholarship at the prestigious University of Albany in upstate New York.
In five years since she first took to the court Megan has played for her Kamo High School, Tai Tokerau, North Harbour, New Zealand under-16s and under-17s, been in development squads, competed in Australia, and is now in the senior women's national squad.
Before the fast and furious indoor ball game became all-consuming two years ago, Megan was also a promising netballer being nurtured in the Netball NZ development programme.
She says she never really liked individual sports although she shone at discus and shotput, training under Whangarei man-of-athletics Ian Babe.
"I only got to love sport when I started playing basketball. Before then I was too tall, too overweight ... I thought people were looking at me all the time. I had good friends and good support from my parents, but I still felt that way."
And yes, it's a bit of a cliche that tall kids should be good at basketball, the now 6ft 8in (2.03m) girl admits. She got interested in the sport at the age of 12 when a friend of hers started playing. Megan was already 193cm (6'4") at that age.
"I'm pretty competitive and I thought if he can do it, so can I."
She's proof it takes more than height to elevate her to a pay-all scholarship worth hundreds of thousands. She "fills space".
"I'm good at blocking people. I love blocking someone from shooting. I'm not super-fast but I have a very long stride. I get down the court quick."
And then there's that competitive drive, the killer instinct.
"It's a mindset. As soon as I walk on court I turn from a gentle giant to a menacing machine. I try to make myself look as tall as I can to intimidate the other team. It seems to work."
(Okay, so the sweet-faced young woman with a beautiful, lilting voice looks scary when she's in the zone, but not when she's chatting and relaxed after finishing high school in her home town, and preparing to head off to the States.)
While Megan's aiming high in her sport - her US scholarship will allow her to extend herself there - equally important is academic success. She's looking forward to studying English, history and business management.
"I am aiming for a professional basketball career but you only have that for so long before the body starts breaking down. I want a degree under my belt to fall back on."
A COUPLE of years ago Megan caught the eye of Otago-based American coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson and her colleague Leonard King.
They bundled her into the under-17 Oceania World Qualifiers and, both now back in the US, continued to take an interest in her. It was Abrahamson-Henderson who contacted Megan about trying for the scholarship to Albany.
"And I got it. I went over and met the people, it's a beautiful campus and everyone was so welcoming. I even met the university director. Apparently that was quite something, him coming personally to meet me and chat."
Albany, the New York state university, is in the top, if not quite ivy, league and has a high academic reputation. Megan's scholarship means fully paid fees, books, living costs, sports uniforms and gear, free public transport and accommodation.
The only child of Linda and Alan Craig has never lived with anyone her own age before so "dorm" living is a fun concept, as is living in a truly international environment.
"Everyone we met there talked about wanting to create a diverse cultural base. The university has actively sought to bring in students from other places and backgrounds."
The Maori teenager from Whangarei fits the bill on several levels. As well as her sporting talent, she has a fairly compelling connection to the most famous New Zealander ever. Sir Edmund Hillary was her grandmother's first cousin - so she'll probably be taking a stack of New Zealand $5 bills with her to the States.
"My grandmother used to tell me what fun they had when they were growing up. They spent a lot of time together as kids but I didn't really know him.
"I don't, well, trade on it but it's a pretty cool thing to be able to say that he's a distant cousin of mine. It's always a conversation starter, or stopper.
"After all, he is the guy on our five dollar bill!"
A family trait, then, to scale great heights, to reach the pinnacle of personal endeavour, to knock the bastard off?
"I understand that competitive spirit and determination to reach the top. When I first played basketball I felt in my element for the first time.
"Throughout my years in the sport I've never felt out of place. I love the high fives, the team spirit, the shared challenge.
"And I've learnt to accept my height. You have to love what you've got, use what you've got, take it as far as you can."