A new breed of ACT basketball star has arrived in the form of a pair of towering teenagers who are keen to follow in the footsteps of their idol, Canberra-born Australian point-guard Patrick Mills.
Swapping the classroom for the court, 15-year-old forward Stephen Rowe and 14-year-old centre Alexandra Bunton will represent Australia at the under-17 Oceania youth tournament to be played in the Micronesian island of Guam later this year.
Head basketball coach at the ACT Academy of Sport Brendan Parnell has overseen the youngsters' development over recent years and said the duo had dominated rivals at the recent Australian under-16 championships in Perth.
''I watched the championships and they were two of the bigger kids there,'' he said.
''They will have no problem handling the age-gap [in under-17s] with their size and mobility.
''I am doing a lot of individual work with them, especially skill development, and I am sure they will be ready for it [Oceania tournament].''
Standing at 198cm and wearing size-15 shoes, Rowe was recruited through the academy's talent identification program.
''Stephen has only just attended his first championships so to now be 15 and gain selection is just astounding,'' Parnell said. ''Over the last year his physical growth and mobility have come along at such a rapid pace and he is still growing.''
Rowe hoped his selection for the Oceania tournament would lead to bigger and brighter prospects.
''I was ecstatic. This opportunity opens heaps of doors for me,'' he said.
Rowe said the success of his favourite player Mills, who debuted for the Boomers last year, had been an inspiration.
In Bunton's case, selection for the national under-17s team at the age of 14 is an indicator of the tremendous potential of the centre who has dominated her older rivals at the last two national championships.
''It is just such a thrill. My family and friends were screaming and jumping around everywhere,'' Bunton said.
Parnell expected Bunton to figure prominently in the Australian's march for the title.
''It is unusual at her age, but there is a possibility she could start,'' he said.
''Alex is very tall [194cm] and mobile, and she gets up and down the court very well.
''Close to the basket she is especially hard to stop, and is ambidextrous so she can shoot off both hands.''
Rowe and Bunton will take part in a four-day junior development camp at the AIS from September22 as a final preparation for the tournament.
The Australian under-17 teams will be strong favourites when competition gets underway in Guam from September27 to October4.