UNION, N.J. — Hard to believe that two rising freshman from Austin, Texas are embarking on a basketball challenge that will span at least three more summers. It was also hard to believe that a club team from Texas would venture to the northeast for a tournament outside of the NCAA open period for women’s coaches.

First, the Texas sized bucket-list by the precocious youngsters Hanna Wheeler and Nicole Leff of Cedar Park Middle School. The two are suiting up for the Cedar Park Wolves 17 this summer and trekked with most of their future teammates (from Cedar Park High School) to the USJN Big Apple Challenge this weekend at Kean University.

For Wheeler and Leff, the goal is to play against a summer team from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Coincidentally, the Wolves summer coach, Falyn Myers, pulled off the feat as a high school player while at Cedar Park. No surprise her father, Mark Myers, was her high school coach at Cedar Park, and has commandeered the program for the last 17 years. Last season, the sage mentor won his 800th game.

“You need a little help along the way to pull this off,” Mark Myers said. “The tournament organizers helped my daughter do it a few years back and now these two [Wheeler and Neff] are motivated to do the same.”

Actually the Wolves are motivated to seek better competition following an 18-18 prep season, one in which they failed to qualify for the Class 5A playoffs. But with six regulars and four starters back plus the strong possibility of two impact freshman making contributions, here’s to future days.

After New Jersey, the Wolves host the John Drielino Classic next weekend and then are trips to Minneapolis, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas and Indianapolis.

“Playing together in the summer will develop team chemistry for the upcoming season,” Mary Myers, who under Texas state guidelines cannot coach his players on the summer circuit.

In the meantime, the Wolves rolled out a solid roster at the Big Apple Challenge:

Hanna Wheeler, 5-6, 2020: For a 13-year-old, Wheeler looks at least with players four years her senior. She possesses court vision, 3-point range and a serious handle. No question she’s ready for the varsity and now colleges can take note of her progress.

Aubrey McCarty, 5-11, 2017: She’s pass-first point guard with solid playmaking skills but is a role player with the Wolves.

Chika Onyia, 6-0, 2017: The Nigerian born freakish athlete is still raw. She’s only played basketball for two years and his close to dunking a volleyball with her sick hops. Onyia runs the floor like a gazelle and has above average defense and shot blocking. She’s still perfecting the footwork. The high honors student has piqued the interest of nearby Texas State but on this trip she visited New York University and Columbia.

Kimberly Webb, 5-7, 2017: She’s considered an offensive threat and Hanna Wheeler’s older sister.

Pujita Shukla, 5-8, 2019: Quick hands lead to deflections and that’s a college’s dream. Shukla logged plenty of minutes as a freshman and is another honor-role student.

Cami Rettinger, 5-11, 2017: A primary scoring threat who is a typical gym rat and spends hours daily putting up shots from all angles. She can easily hit for 20 points per game and with her tallish frame might be best suited in a structured system. Physicality is a question but ability to play at the next level isn’t. Likely will play Division II but if she’s a fit for the right Division I that would not be a stretch.

Nicole Leff, 6-0, 2020: The left-handed post might have the most upside. Leff already has attended national showcase events and showed a scorer’s mentality. She could push up to 6-1 or 6-2. Her footwork and defense are improving but the pieces are all there for a high-major program in the coming years.

Shannon Hazard, 6-1, 2017: She’s a big with a nice outside touch and passes well from the high post. Battles on the boards and is a shoo-in for a Division III program.

5 that caught my eye on Day 1/Saturday …

Serenity Anderson, 5-9, 2020: She’ll enter Manchester Township High in the fall but for now she’s on Mid Jersey Lady Heat. Playing up with the 17s is the best move. She plays on the wing and thrives in transition, where she attacks the rim and will absorb contact. Long and lean, she still is growing and will fill out. Keep this young thoroughbred on the radar.

Rose Caverly, 5-10, 2018: She’s a coach’s daughter and it shows with maturity, ledership and high basketball IQ. She dictates the pace and commands the ball when the game is on the line. Typical go-to player with instincts at both ends. She attends respected program Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic and plays with the Central Jersey Hawks/Lightning. A few observers courtside think she would be an impact Division II player but there’s still another year before that is verified.

Zenzele Apesemaka-Vital, 5-8, 2018: Maryland Pride: James, a combo guard, orchestrates the offense and is offensive minded with a scorer’s mentality and laser focus on the goal. She attends Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) and uses a quick first step to leave an unsuspecting defender in her wake. She takes a charge on defense and isn’t fearful of mixing it up.

Kayla Rodriguez, 5-4, 2018: The smallish combo guard preps at Nazareth Regional (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and plays for New York Lightning. She plays well in an up-tempo pace and will spot-up from 3-point range. She’s quick and still needs work on defense.

Jada Smith, 5-11, 2017: The Philadelphia resident attends Merion-Mercy Academy (Merion Station, Pa.) and is a 2 or 3. Quick off the dribble she excels in transition. She was the main offensive threat for a challenged squad. She plays for the Philadelphia Belles.

On Tap for Sunday

The event wraps up today with eight bracket championship games, tipping on the three Harwood Arena courts at 1 o’clock EDT. — Christopher Lawlor