I really can't see anyone beating Vic Metro in the boys side of things, but the women's side is wide open with Vic Metro, Vic Country, QLD Sth and NSW Metro all well and truely in the mix.

IMO Vic Metro will just miss out on a gold medal game spot.

My dark horse in the girls side of things is for SA Country to snag a top 4 finish!

Let the hate begin!

Yep VIC Metro certainly have a gun team on the boys, will be interesting to see how they cope with the pressure. I think both NSW teams are in with a chance if they catch them on an off day

hows SA met looking in both?

NSWC boys winning gold last year as u16s obviously paves the way for a good nationals this year. You don't win gold with luck or by accident. The 2 NSWC teams played off in the final at Country Cup.

QLDS obviously have the McDowell-White boys who are arguably the best guard combo in the country.

VICC boys should go pretty well, a few kids that have represented Aus. They have great swings and bigs but may lack in the guard depths.

VICM may be simply too deep and good though.

Tahlia Tupea with NSWM girls may simply be too hard to stop. I don't think anyone else at the 18 nationals would have represented Australia at the u19 level or consistently played 10mins+ in the WNBL. NSWM also now have Dan Milisic, no matter your opinions of her, she is still huge and will provide rebounding and an inside presence.

SA Metro girls will go ok, not tall though so they will probably struggle to get to a medal.

SA Metro boys will be terrible. 9th two years ago, 11 last year at 16's and they have lost their best player from two years ago to the US. Plus lots of injury's. I would expect them to finish in the 9-13th bracket again. Just not enough talent or size to compete.

Havent seen enough of Country but I hear the girls may be ok. I would expect the boys to be similar to metro boys.

My top 4 in no order:

Boys- Vic Metro, NSW Metro, NSW Country, QLD South (I can't see Tassie making the 4 even with Kyle Clarke firing)

Girls - NSW Metro, Vic Metro, Vic Country, QLD South

#456904, angry parent? Is JJ up and firing from behind the arc with the SA-M girls team?

Well apply for the job, get the job, then you can do just that i guess.

^ True... although I think they will improve and are a dark
Horse for a medal. Jayden Hodgson, Kouat Noi and Sean Cranney have all been to aus camps and the core of the under 16 Gold Meal team from 2013 will move up this year. One of a few teams to watch IMO

I'd say Vic met girls will take this one this yr, as for Talhia tupea,yes she's playing wnbl, but coach Karen dalton loves her and flames do not have a strong team evident from where they just finished, dalton was also the assistant coach for un19 Australian side last yr, saw her play at un17 Oceania she's not athletic at all infact did not stand out one bit compared to the likes of Alex sharp MVP and anneli malee both new cof e recruits. So don't think nsw met will be able to take Vic met not this yr. can't see Vic country women any where near medals this year not a patch on last years team from what I have been told, last years group should have won the gold In my books they were umpired out of that one only had to look at the foul count to see.

Irrespective of if the coach loves Tupea or not, she still holds her own and plays good minutes. Kristy Harrower isn't/wasn't athletic either, still gets the job done.

When you say you can't see CV anywhere near medals what does that mean? Just because they aren't as good as last year doesn't mean they won't be anywhere near the medals. They also aren't playing the same teams as last year either.

Basically with what Vic Met have to choose from, how easy they have it for travel, how easy they have it for talent depth, how good the competition that all of their athletes compete in weekly is and how much additional support they get they should win every year.

What dates are the national 18's on thanks in advance

@MRT - the nationals are on 10th - 17th April

I reckon a NSW Country vs VIC Metro boys final

I don't see anyone stopping the Vic boys again!

With four of the AIS boys in the squad hard to stop! Jocks rebounding ability Toms length Abi's hustle and Dejans scoring ability no one will be able to stop them

Scrub Qld Sth in the boys , the White brothers and one other have just quit the team. Have also quit the QLD NPP.

How accurate is that re the White brothers Rex? Huge loss to that team and sadly the tournament.

Rumour has been going around Brisbane basketball circles the past few days, all three were not at State Practice last night and looked to have been replaced.
Word is that the Whites wanted to play Volleyball for their school and the powers that be in BQ/NPP refused, they quit everything along with Pulesea.
Not good for all sorts of reasons.

If that's true - wow!! That throws the race for medals wide open.

Hard to believe without getting any confirmation from the players or BQ... Wouldn't surprise me to see them play in Canberra

^ Agree with the above anon, I would have fancied Vic Country to finish higher than QLD South anyway. Vic Metro, NSW Country and NSW Metro will be top 3.

Can now confirm that 4 players have withdrawn from QLD Sth Mens team. White Brothers , J. Pulesea and another who is injured. I also believe that the Whites have left the National Program (BA) as well.

Team will contain 1 player from the team that got Silver at Tamworth in the u16s.

Is now a talking point on the Brisbane basketball forums and should not take too long before the finger pointing starts.

Wow, any early indications as to why?
They are pretty handy players...

Leaves a big hole in Boys U17 Australian team! Any idea why the White brothers pulled out?

I will not dismiss the NSWM young gun Sara ANASTASIESKA. She is named in the U17 squad too. Lefthanded fast and athletic guard, top rebounder and in combination with Tahlia Tupaea and Daniela Milisic it will be very hard to beat NSWM

Pools are out on BA website.

For the boys, looks like Vic Metro and NSW Country will finish top 2 in one pool with NSW Metro and Vic Country (assuming McDowell White boys don't play) to finish top 2 in the other.

White boys are gone,done and dusted.
Playing SEABL for Brisbane this year, this may have something to do with what went wrong.

Do you think this is the start of a move to AFL perhaps?

If the White boys see / saw a basketball future surely playing SEABL is / was a certainty. Big loss to our sport if confirmed.

Tas girls prospects just got worse. With 3 girls gone to Vic Metro (still can't believe they all made it or do I overestimate the Vic girls talent pool?)the most senior member of the team remaining - and almost certainly, their captain - broke her ankle this past week.

well be surprised because they did, how why is a mystery, they do go to school here now but they are still residents of Tasmania and have been all along, so they should be made to represent THAT state not This state, as better VICTORIAN players missed out on selection .

Hearing word that VICM big man and Australian U17 player Jock Perry may have broken his thumb. To be confirmed.

After pulling out of the QLD South State team, hearing that the McDowell-White brothers (William & Darryl) are looking to play for the Northern Territory team if possible

Does anyone have a 'guide' of some sort with all the teams in it? Some great talent at this years champs!