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Crowder Lady Roughriders’ point guard Jordan Hunter is going global.
The sophomore from New Zealand has received and accepted an invitation to play for her country’s national team. She could potentially be playing in the 2012 London Olympics for New Zealand.
Hunter is one of 15 players from her country to be invited to try out. Of those 15, 12 will make the final roster for New Zealand’s qualifying campaign next month.
New Zealand is part of the Oceania qualifying group. If they can take two-of-three games from Australia in early September, they will be invited to compete in the Olympics. If Hunter makes the team and they make it through qualifying, it is a safe bet that Hunter would make the Olympic roster next summer.
“I am very excited for her,” Crowder basketball coach Tina Robbins said. “Obviously, she will be leaving and be gone for a couple of weeks, and we’ll miss her, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for her. So, we are sending her off with our blessing to represent her country and Crowder as well.”
Hunter will depart for her native country on Aug. 30. The trials begin Sept. 1 and go through Sept. 4. If she makes the team, she and her team will take on Australia on the Sept. 7, Sept. 9 and, if necessary, the Sept. 11. If she does not make the team, she will return to Neosho on Sept. 5.
“I announced it to the team that Jordan had this opportunity during our first team meeting,” Robbins said. “We have been waiting for NJCAA approval for a while now and we just got it today. They are all very excited for her. They think it’s cool that they might be sharing the court with an Olympic athlete.”
Last season, Hunter averaged more than seven points, seven assists and six rebounds per game for the Lady Riders. She earned second team all-region honors at season’s end.
Crowder Lady Roughriders’ point guard Jordan Hunter is going global.
The sophomore from New Zealand has received and accepted an invitation to play for her country’s national team. She could potentially be playing in the 2012 London Olympics for New Zealand.
Hunter is one of 15 players from her country to be invited to try out. Of those 15, 12 will make the final roster for New Zealand’s qualifying campaign next month.
New Zealand is part of the Oceania qualifying group. If they can take two-of-three games from Australia in early September, they will be invited to compete in the Olympics. If Hunter makes the team and they make it through qualifying, it is a safe bet that Hunter would make the Olympic roster next summer.
“I am very excited for her,” Crowder basketball coach Tina Robbins said. “Obviously, she will be leaving and be gone for a couple of weeks, and we’ll miss her, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for her. So, we are sending her off with our blessing to represent her country and Crowder as well.”
Hunter will depart for her native country on Aug. 30. The trials begin Sept. 1 and go through Sept. 4. If she makes the team, she and her team will take on Australia on the Sept. 7, Sept. 9 and, if necessary, the Sept. 11. If she does not make the team, she will return to Neosho on Sept. 5.
“I announced it to the team that Jordan had this opportunity during our first team meeting,” Robbins said. “We have been waiting for NJCAA approval for a while now and we just got it today. They are all very excited for her. They think it’s cool that they might be sharing the court with an Olympic athlete.”
Last season, Hunter averaged more than seven points, seven assists and six rebounds per game for the Lady Riders. She earned second team all-region honors at season’s end.
