Four athletes from the Sydney Uni Flames Academy Program have been selected to attend the Australian Development Camp to be held at the Australian Institute of Sport in January, 2012.
Academy squad members Brianan Kentwell, Vanessa Panousis, Maddison Penn and Tahlia Tupaea have been included the Basketball Australia camp, which features some of the best under 19 players in the country.
The Australian Development Camp is a key part of the identification and development process for the teams for the 2013 FIBA World Under 19 Championships.
Kentwell, Panousis and Penn are in their second year of the program, while 15 year-old Tupaea is in her first year in the Academy.
The Flames Academy squad trains once per week during the WNBL season, and is designed to provide a link between talented young players and the Southern Design Sydney Uni Flames WNBL team.
Talented young guard Vanessa Panousis has already represented her nation, playing a key role as Australia qualified for the 2012 FIBA World Under 17 Championships with a 3-0 series win over New Zealand recently.
Former Flames Academy member and current AIS scholarship holder Casey Samuels was also named in the squad for the January camp.
Flames Academy coach Peter Lonergan said the selection of the athletes was credit for their hard work and commitment to improving.
“These players work hard on their game not only in our program, but with their local clubs and the Basketball NSW programs they are involved with,” he said.
“It is a great recognition of that hard work for Brianan, Vanessa, Maddi and Tahlia to be invited to such a prestigious camp.”
