KEY POINTS:
New Zealand basketball prodigy Jessica McCormack is headed for the United States after today signing with the University of Washington in Seattle.
The 1.94m Northcote College teenager, who became a Tall Fern last year at the age of 15, and has represented New Zealand Schools in netball, won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne this year.
North Harbour forward McCormack, who has 23 international caps, is believed to be the youngest-ever to play international basketball for New Zealand.
McCormack picked Washington over Oregon following recruiting visits to both schools and told Washington Huskies coach, June Daugherty, of her decision last Sunday.
Tall Ferns assistant coach Sean Dennis who accompanied McCormack to the United States along with her parents, Neil and Jane, said McCormack will make an amazing impact for the Huskies.
"She has the potential to be New Zealand's version of Australian Lauren Jackson, the Storm's perennial WNBA All-Star," Dennis said on the Huskies' website.
"I don't know if she'll ever be as good as Lauren Jackson - Lauren is a very special and unique player," Dennis said.
"But certainly there are things you see in Jessica that are the same as Lauren at the same age - a great pair of hands ... the ability to get up and down the floor.
"I think Jessica will have an amazing impact.
"I know that within two years she'll be considered one of the best players in the nation.
"Her work ethic and willingness to be coached are second to none. She's an intelligent young lady. A superstar in the making."
Hamilton-born McCormack will graduate from Northcote College this month and plans to enrol at Washington in January, in time for the winter quarter.
While she will begin practicing with the Huskies immediately, it's possible she might preserve her first year of eligibility by not appearing in games.
"We'll wait and see," Daugherty said. "It would be a tough situation for her."
Daugherty said McCormack was an accomplished world class athlete.
"She is a player with a multitude of skills and experience and may quite easily be the most talented post player for her age of 17 in the world.
"She has exceptional size, athleticism and skill...can play either forward position...and is an amazing, talented rebounder with an up-tempo game mentality."
McCormack, who picked the game up at 13, and by 14 was in the national under-16 side, is the tallest player in the New Zealand team, towering by 10cm over the next tallest, Donna Loffhagen.
She made her international debut at the William Jones Cup in Taiwan in July last year.
She is also a member of the New Zealand under-19 team where she averages 10.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.
Daugherty was made aware of McCormack last spring.
Bruce Twaddle, an Auckland doctor who became a fan of the Huskies women's team a few years ago when he was studying in Seattle, wrote to Daugherty about McCormack.
At Twaddle's suggestion, Daugherty requested a DVD of McCormack.
"I looked at it for two minutes and said, 'Get me a flight to New Zealand'," Daugherty said.
"I thought it was Lauren Jackson."
- NZPA
