Connect with us

Rising Australian star and likely WNBA draftee Ezi Magbegor has been given a big thumbs up by her Opals’ team-mate and FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup sensation, Liz Cambage. (Photos – FIBA.com)

While BlueStar Media has heard mixed views on whether Magbegor can develop into a bonafide WNBA star herself and follow in the footsteps of her colourful colleague, there can be no bigger endorsement than her frontcourt partner.

“She is already so great and she is so young, with so much still to come her way,” enthused Cambage.

She is about to get drafted and is about to grow into an unstoppable force,” insisted the center.

Cambage was the center of attention in Tenerife recently with her phenomenal displays catapulting an injury-hit Australia to an arguably surprise silver medal and only the second Final in their history.

It perhaps overshadowed the signs of promise shown by Magbegor who was making her FIBA senior tournament debut, rewarded for her super progress through the youth ranks and having used the Commonwealth Games as a warm-up for the Worlds.

We have been tracking the evolution of the athletic prospect for some time, having seen the teenager play at no less than three different FIBA Worlds at youth level.

BlueStar Media was present in 2015 in Chekhov, Russia, when Magbegor showed no fear as she played against opponents 3-4 years older than her at the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup. She then returned to the subsequent edition last year in Udine, Italy – with a historic U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup title and MVP accolade sandwiched in the middle.

It’s no surprise with her shot-blocking ability, bags of development potential and the fact she is now playing in the WNBL to ‘toughen up’, means she is an attractive option in the WNBA draft.

As for Magbegor herself, she has also been loving the chance to be around a superstar like Cambage.

She explained: “Jumping into the seniors from the junior level is a big deal, but the girls are great with me.

“They make me feel amazing and part of the team.

“Playing in the World Cups at junior level gave me an early insight into the different kind of style played in the international game, so I knew it was more about competing more physically at the senior level.

“So getting the chance to go up against Liz (Cambage) is incredible for me, because I get to learn so much from her. She is such a great player and a role model to me because she gives me so much encouragement on the court. Even when she is on the bench she won’t stop yelling constructive things to me. She is such an asset to have.”

Meanwhile even though Magbegor is just a young player herself, she is already getting excited by even younger prospects who may be joining her at senior level in future years. Players such as Shyla Heal – someone that made the All-Star Five at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup in Minsk earlier this year and has shaped her game around former Boomers’ Olympian and NBA player, Shane.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl0zgX2nTG2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

“It was great to see the Sapphires get third Place at the World Cup earlier this year and they will have more experience to come soon as they play qualifiers to get to the U19 World Cup,” said Magbegor.

“Shyla is one to watch for the future and is now playing WNBL with Perth and to be able to do that at such a young age is absolutely awesome for her.

“I am sure she will be around with the seniors in the next few years,” she insisted.

While some concerns have begun to trickle through about the overall standard of some of the younger generations in Australia, the main aim is to find 1-2 players from each year group who can push for senior status. With Magbegor having been successfully fast-tracked, perhaps it won’t be long before Heal follows in her footsteps.

Meanwhile we wait with real interest to see how Magbegor goes in the WNBA draft – with the player keen to be recognized and get selected.

She concluded: “The WNBA is something that I definitely want to do in the future and so playing at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup is a great exposure.

“It gives people in the States a chance to see me against some of the best players in the world and hopefully that helps towards the draft situation – but we will see what happens and go from there.”

Keep it locked to @Basketmedia365

Related Topics

Paul Nilsen lives and breathes women’s hoops. He’s is a freelance writer working for the sport’s world governing body FIBA where he pens a weekly ‘Women’s Basketball Worldwide Column’ - as well as providing daily content on major club competitions, international tournaments and the women’s youth game. He has an extensive network of contacts across the globe, including an array of elite play-callers and players. Also a qualified coach and referee, he is a big supporter of Blue Star Media and joined as a blogger during the fall of 2016.

More in Paul Nilsen