NET SUCCESS: Orange's Clary Annis-Brown and Kobe Mansell are climbing the representative ranks. Photo: NICK MCGRATH
BASKETBALL
By NICK McGRATH
THEY'RE not quite tall enough to touch the hoop on a basketball court just yet, but it won't be long before both Clary Annis-Brown and Kobe Mansell start making plenty of slam dunks in the world of Country NSW basketball.
The talented pair last month earned selection as two of 32 boys for the 2013 Great Murray River Under 12s Jamboree at Albury in November.
They earned selection after shining in a group of 72 boys at the NSW Country Under 12s Jamboree at Port Macquarie over five days from September 22, a development tool presented by NSW Country Basketball and Basketball NSW every year.
As players in the under 12s age group, it's the highest representative honour either can earn.
And both can't wait to get out on the court in Albury.
Annis-Brown expects it to be the toughest competition he has played in.
"It's going to be fun playing against all different people," the 10-year-old said.
The 32 players selected to represent Country NSW at the Jamboree will be split into four sides of eight to compete against the likes of New Zealand, ACT, South Australia and Victoria.
Mansell, 11, believes it'll be the New Zealanders who pose the biggest challenge.
"Playing against overseas players is going to be tough," Mansell, naturally a huge LA Lakers and Kobe Bryant fan, said
NSW Basketball country basketball program head coach Scott Balsar said this year's Jamboree was a great success, adding the talent pool was one of the best he has seen in the 15 years the Jamboree has been running.
As a result, it was extremely hard for the selection panel to narrow it down to just 32 boys and 32 girls.
But both Annis-Brown and Mansell survived the cut.
And they're expected to shine again in Albury.
The four-day 2013 Great Murray River Under 12s Jamboree begins in Albury on November 24.