'She is on the path': Canberra Capitals coach Paul Goriss lauds WNBL young gun Jade Melbourne

Why would the Opals assistant, in quarantine after returning from the Tokyo Olympic Games, wake so early while still days away from being set free?

Because the Canberra Capitals coach wanted to feel the buzz of watching live as emerging WNBL star Jade Melbourne led Australia into a gold medal game against the USA at the FIBA under 19 World Cup in the Hungarian city of Debrecen.

Melbourne and the Australians ultimately finished with silver, and the now 19-year-old was named in the FIBA under 19 World Cup's all-star five.

She registered 12.6 points, five rebounds and 3.4 assists per game to secure her place among some of the world's brightest basketball prospects. But it's not the numbers that Goriss loves most as he prepares for another WNBL season with the young Capitals player. It's the smile.

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"She always, as Jade does, leaves her game out on the court and plays with 100 per cent effort," Goriss said.

"It's happy seeing her still smiling on the court during games, the smiling assassin is still there, and she always looks like she's enjoying it and having fun, but she competes really hard.

"That cemented in my mind that she's different in that respect, she has got that competitive nature but she can still actually enjoy the competition and enjoy the competitiveness of it all, and be a great teammate and leader at the same time.

"At times she really put the team on her back to get them over the line. She is on the path to being an international senior player and doing things really well, not only in Australia, but hopefully we can make her dream of making it to the WNBA someday."

There are things to perfect, like her three-point shooting and strength. The latter is one teenagers find they need to improve drastically.

It's why under 19 success isn't necessarily a barometer for more at open age level. Some players can't adjust to the physicality, their bodies aren't up to it, and some drop out because basketball hasn't necessarily been a viable career option.

"It's a poisoned chalice in a way," Goriss said.

"[Australia] have always had a history of success at the under 19s tournament and being a top three team and winning a medal ... whether that's bronze, silver, or gold.

"That's the other thing I reflect on after watching Jade's group, having a look and seeing how many actually transition from that under 19 age group through to being a senior international player.

"Not all of them are going to make it obviously, there's 12 in a team so not all of them are going to make it. There are definitely some exciting players in there."

The tournament did highlight a lack of big players in Australia's ranks, which hurt against the USA and, to an extent, Mali. It's a problem Goriss knows all too well as he tries to replace Marianna Tolo for the upcoming WNBL season. Right now it's like "trying to find a needle in a haystack".

What Goriss does have, is one of the game's brightest young talents in Melbourne looking to back up her breakout rookie season.

"You look at it and go 'she was so under the radar last year that no one even knew who she was'," Goriss said.

"It's my job to prepare her and to add some tools, but it's her personality and the way she approaches the game, she's always going to play hard and she will have an impact.

"She is talented at the end of the day, and talent rises."

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