Hokianga To Join Tall Ferns Following Leger-Walker Injury

Basketball New Zealand has extended its best wishes to Charlisse Leger-Walker (178-G-2001, college: WSU) with her recovery, following Monday’s injury - which sees the 22-year-old guard miss the remainder of her 2023-24 season at Washington State due to reconstructive surgery to her right ACL.

With Leger-Walker unable to participate in the FIBA 2024 Olympic Qualifier Tournament in Xi’an, China, the 2degrees Tall Ferns have drafted guard Pahylss Hokianga into the wider squad; the 16-year-old guard joining the team in Xi’an today for training.

Hailing from the Hawke’s Bay region, Hokianga is in line to make her Tall Ferns debut after appearing in the New Zealand U15 and U16 teams; earning silver at the Oceania Champs in 2022 and bronze last year at the Asian Champs. She also appeared for the Whai in last season’s GJ Gardner Tauihi league, alongside fellow Tall Ferns Amy West and McKenna Dale.

Should Hokianga make her debut 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.

Hokianga says that she comes into the Tall Fern camp without ‘too much pressure’, and sees this tournament as a huge opportunity to improve her game.

“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,” says Hokianga.

“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.”

Tall Ferns High-Performance Programme Manager (Women), 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.

New Zealand Tall Ferns Squad, 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Xi’an, China)

Stella Beck, Tokomanawa Queens

McKenna Dale, Bendigo Spirit / Whai

Tayla Dalton, Saint Mary’s College, California

Pahylss Hokianga, Whai

Lauryn Hippolite, Mainland Pouakai

Esra McGoldrick, Bendigo Spirit / Mainland Pouakai

Tera Reed, Melbourne Boomers / Northern Kahu

Zoe Richards, Southern Hoiho

Sharne Robati, Mainland Pouakai

Ritorya Tamilo, Bendigo Spirit / Northern Kahu

Amy West, Oaklands Wolves / Whai

Lauren Whittaker, Mainland Pouakai

*Eva Langton (training player), Tokomanawa Queens