EAGLES SIGN AUSTRALIAN GEM, MIKAYLA PIRINI

Filling one of the last places on the Diamond Valley Big V State Championship Women’s roster for season 2016 is WNBL player from the Adelaide Lightning, Mikayla Pirini.

Originally a Willeton junior out of Western Australia, Pirini has a demonstrated track record of growth and promise as an emerging young guard, competing in W.A Metro State teams across her junior career.

Pirini got on the radar of the local WNBL team, at that time named the West Coast Waves, and played 2 seasons where she featured sparingly in games as she got to know the league and become accustomed to the sport at that level.

In the offseason of 2015, she was offered a scholarship to Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Canberra where she trained daily with our own Alex Sharp and competed weekly in the SEABL against elite senior women, averaging 3.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Her season high was 10 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist against the Canberra Capitals Academy.

It was also in 2015 that Pirini became well and truly on the National program’s radar – selected as a squad member of the World Uni Games’ Emerging Opals team, and representing the green and gold as a member of the Australian Gems that competed and won Bronze at the FIBA U19 World Championship for Women, held in Russia. Pirini featured in all 7 games at that tournament, averaging 3.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists against international powers such as Serbia, Spain, Russia and China to name a few.

‘I am fortunate enough to have previously coached Miki at the FIBA U/19 World Championships and I was immediately impressed with her work ethic and basketball IQ’, SCW Head Coach, Dee Butler notes.

Many athletes her age show promise, but the worldly experience and WNBL experience that Pirini has is a separator. Experience is always a valued commodity, and she has it – and will be bringing it to our club in spades.

Pirini has spent this current WNBL season with the Adelaide Lightning, adding to her 60+ national league games she’s been a part of a program for. Backing up WNBA/Australian Opals Point Guard, Leilani Mitchell has seen her opportunity be limited in games, but allowed her the chance to train with and against her daily in practice – a currency within itself for a young player wanting to continually reach the next level.

‘Miki is the type of player every coach wants to coach, and every player wants as a teammate. I have no doubt she will fit into our team and structure and I am excited to have the opportunity to work with her again. Her experience at the CoE, Worlds and now WNBL with Adelaide will hold her in great stead to continue developing her leadership and to have a huge impact on the league this year’, Dee said.

DVBA CEO, Ross Wignell added ‘Mikayla’s addition to the club continues the trend of bringing elite examples of high level experience and work ethic to our club. Mikayla has represented the country at an U19 World Championships and is in her 3rd year in the WNBL, both of which would require her to form great habits, mentally and physically, in order to achieve. The example she will set, in the work required to achieve, will be valuable for our younger players in the Association to be exposed to. We look forward to having her on board.’




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