Help Me Chase My Basketball Dream in the USA! 🏀

Hi, my name is Manaia, and I’m a passionate young basketball player with a big dream!

I started playing basketball at the age of 10, and ever since, the game has been a huge part of my life. I’ve had the honour of making club and rep teams, as well as proudly representing my school. I currently train 9–10 hours every week—and that’s not including the extra hours I put in at home or the games played, because I truly love the game and want to be the best I can be.

In November 2024, I trialed for the AUSA Hoops team—mostly for the experience and to get feedback—but I was incredibly proud to be selected to join the tour team heading to the United States this coming June/July school holidays!

We’ll be competing in the NXTPRO PUMA Shoe Circuit in Seal Beach, California, and Richmond, Virginia. This is an amazing opportunity to stay in college dorms, train at elite facilities, and compete with and against some of the top young athletes in the USA.

This tour will be a huge step in my basketball journey and could open up opportunities beyond school and club basketball. But as you can imagine, an international tour like this comes with a big price tag—$11,000.

I’m fundraising to help cover the cost of:

• Flights & accommodation to and within the US
• Tournament fees
• Uniforms & gear
• Training and transport costs

If you’re able to donate, any amount—big or small—would mean the world to me and help me get one step closer to this amazing opportunity. Even if you can’t contribute, sharing this with your network would be a huge help.

Thank you for being a part of my journey.