WELLINGTON (FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018) - New Zealand may be making their debut at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup this summer in Argentina but Sam Jenkins and the Oceania side will be out to make a statement according to one of their youngest players. 

Jenkins won a spot on David Bublitz's roster even though he did not play at the FIBA U16 Asian Championship. And the 16-year old will be heading to the U17 World Cup in Rosario and Sante Fe from June 30-July 8 with extra confidence after performing well at the recent Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Asia Camp in India, where he was named to the All-Star Game - despite being a year younger than the competition.

"WE JUST WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT AND SHOW THAT NEW ZEALAND BASKETBALL IS REALLY ON THE COME-UP AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN JUST BE PUSHED OVER."Jenkins

 "This camp has really helped my confidence in my own play. I have gotten more confidence in dribbling the ball, passing, shooting and my leadership as well," Jenkins said. "I think I can bring that back to the New Zealand team to hopefully have success at the U17 World Cup."

Bublitz was impressed with Jenkins at the New Zealand training camp, saying: “Sam Jenkins shot the ball really well and also picked up the new concepts quickly."

The 6ft 1in (1.84m) shooting guard said he was blown away with the learning experience at the BWB in India.

"It was amazing going there and getting a feeling for the game. Coming from the small island of New Zealand, especially to India, such an amazing place and then getting the opportunity to get coached by not only the NBA players but NBA assistant coached as well. Playing against great competition from everywhere across Asia is also a great opportunity as well," Jenkins said.

Sam Jenkins and Mac Stodart (left and second to left) played together at the Basketball Without Borders Asia Camp and will team up at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018.

Also in India was Mac Stodart, another New Zealand 2002-born player who will be making the trip to Argentina after not playing with the U16 squad.

"He came up from Christchurch to Southland, where I was. I see him basically every day and he's a great fella and going to the other side of the world with him and play the sport we love is just an amazing feeling," Jenkins said.

"SAM JENKINS SHOT THE BALL REALLY WELL AND ALSO PICKED UP HTE NEW CONCEPTS QUICKLY."Bublitz

 The two will team up next in Argentina, where New Zealand have been drawn into Group C along with Canada, Egypt and Montenegro. And Jenkins said New Zealand do not want to just make up the numbers.

"We just want to make a statement and show that New Zealand basketball is really on the come-up and it's not something that can just be pushed over," Jenkins said. "We have to show what we are really made of." 

For Jenkins, he is made up of more after participating in the BWB Asia Camp.

FIBA