Take one look at McCrea and it's not hard to see why.

Like Jackson, McCrea poses an imposing presence on the basketball court, a tall centre who is able to use her size to drive to the rim.

It's early days in McCrea's basketball career, but the Lindsay Park student is making early progress towards replicating her hero after she was selected in the NSW girls PSSA basketball team.

McCrea was picked on the back of an impressive performance for South Coast at the recent NSW PSSA Basketball Championships and while she had hoped to make the NSW team, she was extremely surprised to be selected.

"I went to state last year and there were lots of really, really good players," McCrea said. "There still were good players this year, but I really wanted to get in the NSW team this year, I had more of a drive.

"I was really shocked to be picked, it kind of freaked me out. I didn't expect to be picked, but I was really happy and it made me really proud."

McCrea will head to Bendigo for August's Australian Championships where she will take on the country's best junior basketballers.

South Coast coach Diane Hosking said McCrea was deserving of the selection and she's confident the youngster will thrive at nationals.

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"It's the first time in a while a South Coast player has been picked," Hosking said. "Emerson was very deserving.

"She's only been playing for a little while, but she works hard and is willing to improve and follow her coaches feedback."

Once she returns from the Australian Championships, McCrea will set her sights on improving her game and expanding her skills.

Ultimately, McCrea would like to play college basketball in the USA before playing in the WNBA and WNBL and one day, like Jackson, represent her country.

"I want to keep playing better and I want to try my hardest to be able to go over to America and play in college there, then start playing in the WNBL and WNBA."

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