UCLA D-Day looms for Gemma Potter as Canberra Capitals eye emerging WNBL star

August 1 looms as D-Day for Potter with UCLA desperate to have the 18-year-old prospect link up with their college basketball program.

But the COVID-19 outbreak threatens to shatter Potter's hopes of heading to the United States with tight travel restrictions delaying her visa application.

Now the Victorian product has linked up with the Capitals for a week of training in Canberra, with the WNBL's reigning champions set to sign Potter for a tilt at a three-peat should she farewell her college dream.

"At the end of my time at the AIS I had this grand plan of what I was going to do with my life," Potter said.

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"That kind of went down the drain quite quickly. I'm taking it day by day with what I need to do and trying to make a new plan in my head.

"I'm still trying to get my visa, that's still not happening at all. Nothing has progressed with that. With this contract, August 1 is the date where I have to opt out of going to college and stay here, so that's the date where I have to decide.

"It's all a bit uncertain, I'm taking it day by day. Each day restrictions change or go back or improve. I'm just taking what the government says, and my health comes first. I've got to stay safe, and if that means staying here for a bit longer then that's what I'm going to do.

"I guess no one really predicted it so no one really knows what they're doing during this time, what they should be doing. There's no right or wrong, so I'm just trying to keep to my normal which is not my normal at the moment."

Potter was a revelation for the Capitals in her first WNBL season but missed the club's championship win with an ill-timed ankle injury.

Now she has laced up her basketball shoes for the first time in months as Canberra coach Paul Goriss puts Potter through her paces alongside Alex Delaney and Keely Froling this week.

She may find herself in the capital for a little longer than a week following a spike in coronavirus cases in Victoria.

"I think I took for granted before the whole isolation thing, having access to an indoor court or even just basketball to be honest. Being home tested that a lot, so it's good to be back," Potter said.

"I've been doing a lot of circuits at home, body weight [exercises], nothing like we used to do. I got mum down rebounding for me at the court a couple of times but that's about it.

"I love Canberra, it's basically my second home. I've been here for three years now, so I really like getting to see everyone here.

"They've been supportive of every one of my decisions I make with college and WNBL. It's really good to know they are supporting me through this and letting me come back here."