Massey High student aims high

Standing tall: Chevannah Paalvast is head and shoulders above her peers on the basketball court.

By Justin Latif

Chevannah Paalvast wants to do what few New Zealanders have done before and make the women's NBA in the United States. The 15-year-old has been identified as a star of the future after making the national under-19 basketball team.

"My short term goal is to make the Oceania championships with the Junior Tall Ferns next year," she says"But my long term goal is to get a college scholarship in America and eventually make it to the WNBA."

Chevannah hasn't been tempted to make the transition to netball despite the greater popularity of the sport. "I've tried it and I don't really like it," she says. "In basketball you're allowed everywhere on the court, it's more physical and you can dribble."

The Massey High basketball team captain is looking forward to the regional tournament at the end of this month.  But a possible trip to Las Vegas next year with the junior Tall Ferns is in the back of her mind.

"If I make the team we're either going to Australia or Las Vegas," she says. Playing against much older girls in international basketball is a big step up for the Massey resident. "They are way more physical and they have really good fundamentals," she says.

Her mother coaches Chevannah's school team and says the whole family are high achievers in their chosen sports. "I used to be a New Zealand trampolinist," Sheroll says. "Her brother is a top roller skater, she is a basketballer and her dad played basketball too."

"She's also an extremely good high jumper and she's broken the record for the three years that she's been here at Massey High." 

Western Leader