Deas named in Australian Gems squad
Young gun Bonnie Deas has been rewarded for her strong debut WNBL season with the Sydney Flames by being named in the Australian Gems under 19s squad.
Announced on Wednesday by Basketball Australia, the 24-person squad, which Flames assistant Renae Garlepp will coach, will head to Canberra’s Australian Institute of Sport, from March 31 to April 3 for a camp – ahead of July’s World Championships in the Czech Republic.
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Garlepp has been a part of the development and journey with the group and looks forward to setting the foundations for Czechia in July.
“I am excited to see this cohort come together at camp as we look to select a tough and competitive group,” said Flame #149 Garlepp.
“The camp will be a great opportunity to see who can handle the physicality, compete every possession, and push each other to grow as a team.”
“Many of these players have played together before, which helps with chemistry.
“Our focus will be on developing a style that allows us to compete at the highest level while maximising this group’s strengths.”
Flame #228 Deas, who has represented previous Australian junior teams, is excited to be named in the squad.
“Making the under 19 World Cup squad means so much to me,” the Frankston product said.
“Being given the chance to attend an Australian camp is such a privilege and it is something I never take for granted.”
The Arkansas commit believes her maiden season with the Flames has set her up perfectly to not only make the final 12-person squad but also impact the team’s success at the tournament.
“My time with the Flames has been incredibly valuable in preparing me for this Australian camp,” she said.
“The competitiveness and intensity of daily training, along with learning from veterans and WNBA players, has pushed me to improve throughout the season.
“Working with Guy [Molloy] as my coach has helped me unlock new aspects of my game, and I’m excited to bring that growth into the camp.”
Tickets to the Flames’ semi-final against Bendigo at Quaycentre are now on sale here.