Throwing back a number of years, I recall former Central Western Daily sports editor Michelle Cook telling me to keep an eye on a young shooter from Robin Hood, whom she'd watched go to work in the circle the previous weekend.
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She said something along the lines of "her name's Milly Wilcox, she's about as tall as you and she could be anything".
That was 2016, at the time Wilcox was 13 and in her second season in the Toyota Cup, having been blooded by her previous club Vipers as a 12-year-old the year before. By the way, I'm 187 centimetres.
Like the sides Orange-born NSW State of Origin five-eighth James Maloney has played over the years ... Wilcox's outfits just seem to win.
Hearing that about a 13-year-old nearly floored me, but that year Wilcox's Robin Hood - now Orange City - side went on to win the title. In the decider she shot at 85 per cent overall and didn't miss at all in the fourth quarter or extra-time.
Since then she's gone a long way to proving Cookie's prediction too - in the last three years Wilcox has won two more titles with the Lions, been a focal point of Orange's senior and junior representative success, been a Western Region Academy of Sport mainstay and worked her way onto NSW selectors' radars too.
This year, she's helped lead Orange High's stunning Toyota Cup resurgence, linking with the Hornets after winning player-of-the-final in the Lions' 2018 decider victory.
I wouldn't dream of suggesting the Hornets' surge to contender status this year is completely down to Wilcox, nor has influence been the only reason for the Lions' and Orange's recent success.
There does seem to be a trend developing though.
Like the sides Orange-born NSW State of Origin five-eighth James Maloney has played over the years, although Penrith's campaign this year is an exception, Wilcox's outfits just seem to win.
There's always a lot of factors at play and in Orange High's case the recruitment of fellow young gun Annalise Maier has played a role, as has the fact the entire side is a year older, more experienced and more mature. Tegan Dray's influence as a coach can't be underestimated either.
But it can't be considered a coincidence the side, which won just two games in 2018, has surged to the competition's top three after Wilcox's addition to the attacking circle.
I'll point to Orange City coach Cindy Gilchrist's recent comments as justification too, following the defending premiers' loss to Orange High earlier this year.
"By my calculations she didn't miss a shot ... not one," Gilchrist said.
"[Dray] and I always knew her value but I think some people might have still underestimated her, but Milly is an absolute powerhouse.
"Poppy Keegan, since playing with Milly her confidence has skyrocketed ...I think [Orange High] can do whatever they want in this competition."
This isn't about putting too much outside expectation on Wilcox, although in the past she's shown she absolutely thrives with the spotlight on her.
This is about the Hornets having the potential to do something very special in this year's Toyota Cup, and their 16-year-old shooter being the key to unlocking that success.
It's still hard to fathom Wilcox is only 16 too.
Looking across Orange's rugby league, rugby union and basketball teams as examples you immediately think of the likes of Hawks' Willie Heta, Emus' Nigel Staniforth or the Eagles' Mitch Selwood, respectively, when the topic is influential players.
Wilcox appears to be in the same realm.
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