The talented youngsters are representing NSW Country at the annual Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup in Albury starting from Saturday.

The Maitland representatives include under-16 girls player Kayla Romaniuk and under-14 girls Mercydes Metcalf, Sophie Williams, Isabella Jennings, Claudia Boyle, Sinenna Burgess and Mila Wawszkowicz.

Under-14 boys Ashton Proctor, Dan Welbourne, Alex Martin and Mayson Metcalf are holding up the men’s side of the equation.

Maitland is also sending five coaches with Callum Wade, Russell Potter, Kristy Bultitude, Peter Proctor and Mark Wawszkowicz part of the NSW coaching panel.

Wade said NSW Country will be playing against teams from New Zealand, Tasmania and country Victoria and South Australia.

Wade said the Cup starts with training sessions on Saturday and Sunday before a round-robin competitions starts on Monday and finals on Friday.

“It’s a great honour for the players to be selected in the NSW Country team and at the end of the carnival teams will be selected to tour New Zealand this year,” Wade said.

“We have a really exciting group of young players coming through, especially at under-14 level which is exciting for the future.”

More than 90 basketball players who have participated in the competition have gone on to represent Australia or New Zealand at international level.