BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Although she's only 12, Kristine Lalonde has
made a big impression on Basketball Canada.
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Kristine Lalonde is the only girl
from Northern Ontario to be selected for Canada
Basketball's elite performance camp. |
Lalonde recently went through two try-outs,
and was selected to attend the Canada Basketball's Nike Centre
of Performance, as she has been identified as an athlete with
National Team potential.
Lalonde is the only girl from Northern
Ontario to be selected.
The Carl A Nesbitt Grade 8 student made it
through the Sudbury try-out, advancing to the Toronto camp,
where 50 of the top girls in her age category showcased their
skills in front of provincial and national coaches.
Lalonde was one of only 30 girls, aged 12-18,
selected to attend the prestigious venue. Overall, there were
500 girls from Ontario who participated in the try-outs.
She will now attend four training camps over
an eight-month period in Toronto, where she will be exposed to
intense training by national and provincial coaches.
Lalonde, who plays as a point guard, worked
hard to get the opportunity. Even though she has already earned
her spot, Lalonde knows the real work is only beginning.
"This is really important to me," said
Lalonde. "Now, I have to try my best at everything I do to stay
in the program. I am proud to be one of the girls
selected."
Lalonde knows the experience will be
strenuous, but it will also help hone her skills and prepare
her for a potential journey to the national team one day.
"It will be tough," said Lalonde. "They're
going to see who's the most fit and who works the hardest. It
will improve my game."
Being in the spotlight has its drawbacks
though.
"I am nervous because I have never done
anything like this before," said Lalonde. "But I want to
improve different parts of my game, and this will do
it."
Lalonde is no stranger to elite competition.
She was on the 2003 Nike Bantam Development Program (BDP)
provincial team when she was 11 years
old.
Her coach from that team, MaryLynn Turk,
agrees with the selection.
"Canada Basketball are identifying talent
that has the potential to make the national team," said Turk.
"Kristine has the skills to be an elite player. It's a
combination of two things. First, she has great speed and
athleticism. Second, her basketball IQ is very high. Because of
her parents both being
involved in basketball, she has a very mature
sense of the game for a 12-year-old."
Lalonde will benefit greatly from the
exposure.
"This will be a great way for her to match up
against the best in her age category," said Turk. "She will
have the chance to play against 16, 17 and 18 year olds, and
that will help her challenge her own game and become a better
player. She's a great kid with a lot of potential. Put it
together, and you
have a very unique player."
