Danijela Milisic.
BASKETBALL
Meet the region's latest basketballer to earn Australian team selection.
Illawarra junior rep Danijela Milisic was chosen in the national under-17 women's team for the 2014 world championships.
Standing 190 centimetres with a two-metre wingspan, the Figtree High year nine student is coming to terms with her achievement.
"I was very surprised - shocked actually - but very excited as well," Milisic said. "I sort of didn't believe it at first and it took a while to process.
"The coach gave me some good feedback. He said I was aggressive and strong and that I'd be a good person to have in the team. It was all positive."
The Australian team will take on New Zealand in the Oceania qualifying series this month. The Aussies are expected to comfortably account for the Kiwis.
When Milisic took up the game four years ago, she never imagined it would lead to a green and gold jersey - at least not so soon.
"Early in my career I just did it for fitness. I really didn't try to pursue anything," the 15-year-old said.
"Now I've got dreams to play for the [Australian] Opals one day. I'd love to go to college and play and have basketball as something to do in my life when I'm older and hopefully make a career out of it.
"There's a lot of training and hard work before 2014, but I love training and preparing, especially when you feel like you're learning and improving."
Milisic gets her height from a 208 centimetre father and 185 centimetre mother.
"Mum and dad have always been very, very supportive," she said.
"They pay for everything and get me to training and all the trips away."