Basketball On The Internet.

BRENDAN Joyce could not be more enthusiastic about his latest camp in Canberra with his Aussie Opals.

Mixing experienced multiple-Olympians and raw kids with stars in their eyes, and teaching the culture of success and commitment synonymous with the Australian women’s basketball team is a joy for Joyce.

“The first day we had Laura Hodges, Natalie Hurst, Tess Madgen and Jenni Screen address the squad on different aspects of being an Opal,” he said.

“It was just so positive. Laura, for example, spoke about how nervous she was when she first trained with the squad at 17 and here she is now as a veteran and a triple-Olympian.

“That’s got to resonate for a Lauren Scherf, for example.”

Dandenong centre Scherf, 17 and 195cm, is one of the rookies getting her first inside look at what makes the Opals tick.

“You know, some of these kids won’t make the team for the World Championship (later this year) but Rio is just a couple of years further along,” Joyce said, referring to the 2016 Olympics.

Joyce also said that other than tours to China and Europe, the Opals would play the USA before the WNBA season and he also hoped to confirm some matches against quality WNBA teams.

Here is what he additionally told me at News Corp in relation to injured Adelaide Lightning co-captain Jess Foley: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/opals-coach-brendan-joyce-says-injured-star-jess-foley-will-not-be-overlooked/story-fnia3gmi-1226801583914

IT is remiss of me not to sooner offer my condolences to family and friends of Pam Willmette who died at 79 two weeks ago.

Inducted into the NSW Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011, Pam was one of the game’s great volunteers, not only working for the sport in NSW but also for Basketball Australia.

Among a list of achievements longer than your arm, she also was manageress and/or tour leader of Opals teams to the 1971 Worlds in Brazil and the 1975 Worlds in Colombia.

I first met her through her friendship with my sister and she later was on the 1975 Australian team which included my wife.

I know she will sincerely and profoundly be missed by all who knew her.

NOTHING really beats a visit to the White House and the chance to chat with the President, Barack Obama.

Just ask Opals star Erin Phillips who got to do it last year as a member of the 2012 WNBA champion Indiana Fever.

Tomorrow, the NBA champion Miami Heat get to do it for the second year in a row.

“It's a very special day,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

“You get to be a kid again. When you have an opportunity to visit the White House and spend some time with the President, when our families are so excited to go, you realise that most people never have this opportunity in their lifetime.

“It's a continued celebration for what we accomplished last year.”

For most successful sportspeople though, the most meaningful moments come in the 30 minutes spent alone with the President, away from the cameras, before the public ceremony.

“He spent 30 seconds-to-a-minute with every one of us, which I thought was an incredible touch,” Spoelstra said.

For Erin, her best moment of the Fever’s White House visit came when the President threw a “G’day” her way!

“It is quite a surreal time,” she said.

So, in case you missed it: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/basketball/erin-phillips-has-met-the-president-reggie-miller-and-larry-bird-but-is-ready-to-return-to-play-wnbl-for-adelaide/story-fni2u9cl-1226791163069