Basketballer gains national recognition
Year 13 Tysxun Aiolupotea (Ngāti Koata) has played basketball since he was in year 7. Now this talented and humble player has been selected for the NZ Māori Mens basketball team.
The selection came during an iwi tournament in Rotorua where he played for Ngāti Toa.
At the moment Tysxun is doing pre-season training with the Giants five days a week, as well as fitting in extra training of his own on his two off days. He’s preparing for the Nayland College season, as well as an upcoming 3 x 3 national tournament to be held in Tauranga. This version of the game is played on a half-court with only three players a side on court at one time.
Ultimately Tysxun would like to go pro with his basketball. “NBA would be mean,” he said. He credits his success to the support of his family members, especially his Mum, and his coach, ex-Nayland basketball star Sam Dempster.