New Zealand basketballer Pahylss Hokianga Photo: Supplied
The Tall Ferns have called up Hawke's Bay teenager Pahylss Hokianga to replace injured star Charlisse Leger-Walker in the Olympic Qualifier squad.
Leger-Walker will undergo reconstructive surgery to her right ACL after getting injured playing for Washington State this week.
The 22-year-old guard will miss the remainder of the college season as well as the FIBA 2024 Olympic Qualifier Tournament in Xi'an, China.
Sixteen year old Hokianga has joined the Tall Ferns in training in Xi'an on Friday.
Hokianga is yet to make her senior debut after playing in the New Zealand U15 and U16 teams.
If she does get court time against China in the Tall Ferns opening game of the tournament on 9 February at 16 years, 115 days old, she will become New Zealand's youngest ever Tall Fern - besting Charlisse Leger-Walker who debuted at the 2018 Commonwealth Games aged 16 years and 202 days.
Charlisse Leger-Walker wont play for the Tall Ferns at the 2024 Olympic Qualifier Tournament in China. Photo: Photosport
Hokianga played for the Whai in last season's Tauihi league, alongside fellow Tall Ferns Amy West and McKenna Dale, and says she comes into the Tall Fern camp without "too much pressure".
"It's an honour and I'm excited to be selected. I was confident that I'd be chosen [at some stage of my career] and I can't wait to join the team in China.
"I feel like being in a high-level environment [in China] and playing some of the best teams and players from around the world, is only going to make me better."
Hokianga says the squad and the staff have been incredibly supportive of her selection.
"A couple of the players reached out and congratulated me, I know they'll look after me in China. I've played with - and against - a lot of them in the past.
"Their advice is that I don't have anything to lose by being here, not to put pressure on myself and to just give it my all when I get on the court. It'll be an amazing experience."
The Tall Ferns high-performance programme manager Lisa Wallbutton says that the team has placed an increased focus on having the right support systems in place for its players - particularly with young athletes such as Hokianga, Lauren Whittaker and Ritorya Tamilo.
"It's important to us and the players that we can provide a safe, supportive space for our younger athletes so they can feel comfortable in the Tall Ferns environment - both on and off the court," says Wallbutton.
The FIBA Olympic Qualifier Tournament tips off in Xi'an, China from 8-11 February, with the Tall Ferns facing France, Puerto Rico and China in pool play - the top three ranked teams earning a ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.