ZARAGOZA (2016 FIBA U17 Women’s World Championship) – Canadian ace Laeticia Amihere can lay a strong claim to having posted the best display so far in Zaragoza and that includes both the women’s and men’s tournaments.

As she walked off the floor having starred in a thrilling 60-57 success against Latvia, several members of the Canada men’s team were on their feet and paying tribute to her phenomenal efforts.

“I love what Kia Nurse brings to any game and she is a role model to me already. - Amihere

Amihere corralled a magnificent 18 points and 21 rebounds. But if that wasn’t special enough, she also blocked seven shots.

There is also the fact that she lit up the FIBA U17 Women’s World Championship having not even celebrated her 15th birthday yet – and that means that she could re-appear at the event in 2018.

“Age really isn’t a big deal for me as I don’t feel like I am the youngest as I am so tall, so I use that height to my advantage and nobody seems to realise,” smiled Amihere in the after wake of her superb performance.

“The game felt great because coming out last year at the FIBA Americas U16 Women’s Championship, I was new to the international game and to the Canada team.

“I’m really pleased to have been able to show this kind of performance and do it as part of a win with the rest of the team, which is so together and with the one aim of improving.”

She added, “It was really nice to get support from the guys off the court and it was the same last year in Mexico, when we get great support from our families too – it makes these games even more enjoyable.”

Amihere is not the first Canadian player to have made their name at this tournament and while she roams the frontcourt, it’s actually a backcourt general who she admires most.

It's also someone who knows what it takes to turn heads at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Championship and is now about to play at the Rio Olympics.

“I love what Kia Nurse brings to any game and she is a role model to me already,” said the center.

“She has so much energy and to have started as a young freshman is something I can really relate to and I think what she’s done in winning the NCAA with UConn is amazing.”

Whether the 14-year-old Amihere can follow a similar path to Nurse remains to be seen.

But if she continues in this same vein, both here in Zaragoza and possibly at the tournament during 2018 should her country qualify, then it looks like the sky is the limit for yet another great Canadian prospect.

FIBA