At the junior level, especially in girls basketball, it’s very easy to mistake early physical development for “talent.” The tall girl. The strong girl. The girl who hit puberty early. The girl who can score a layup (usually only on one side). The girl who runs faster because she also plays Rugby or Netball. People look at those things and assume they’re looking at the future stars. But after coaching so many girls who have gone on to play at National level and at some of the top colleges in the USA, I can tell you something honestly… The early bloomers are rarely the ones who make it the furthest. The ones people overlook because of their height. The quieter girls. The girls who work in silence with determination and a dream. Those are usually the ones who break through. Because eventually the “tall girl” just becomes another girl. The “fast girl” becomes the girl who relied on athleticism instead of skill. The Netball girl realises she can’t dribble under pressure. And that’s...