She's the youngest player on the Canberra Capitals' roster, but Abbey Wehrung insists she's ready to step up and boss around Australia's greatest female basketballer, Lauren Jackson.
Wehrung, 18, has signed a three-season deal with the seven-time champion Capitals and coach Carrie Graf is adamant the point guard is a future Australian Opals star.
Graf is preparing to thrust Wehrung into her debut WNBL season with instructions to take charge of superstar and four-time Olympian Jackson when she returns from injury in November. It is a daunting prospect for a teenager from Korweinguboora, a town with a population of less than 300 and about 30 minutes from Ballarat.
But after growing up idolising Jackson and Capitals veteran Kristen Veal, Wehrung says she's ready to take playmaker reins in a team boasting basketball royalty. "I definitely want to [play for the Opals], these three years with the Capitals will be huge for me to develop and grow as a player," Wehrung said.
"That's where I'll start. Vealy is someone I look up to and I know I can learn off her, that will get me a long way. I'll do my best [to give Jackson orders], but it might be a bit tricky. It will definitely be a good experience."
Wehrung's arrival all but completes the Capitals' squad for the WNBL season.
Graf is still working behind the scenes to see if the club can raise enough third-party sponsorship for one marquee recruit from the US, but it's likely the Capitals will stick with what they've got.
Jackson will join the Capitals' pre-season training next week after having hip surgery two weeks ago, and will miss at least the first two rounds of the season.
Wehrung has already impressed Graf in the limited training sessions so far, prompting the former Opals mentor to declare the talented teen as a future star. Wehrung was part of the Australian under-19s team and was being courted by several WNBL clubs.
"She's got some grit about her and her confidence and assertiveness in a leading position, which is what a point guard is, will grow and develop," Graf said. "She's got great size for a point guard, that's the spot for her in the WNBL as a potential professional and Opal.
"My view is if you're good enough, you're old enough. Being 18 doesn't hold you back from being a starter. We signed her long-term because we see her as the future in the point guard spot. It's a perfect fit, if I was Abbey I'd be excited about the opportunities ahead."
The Capitals will start their WNBL season with a double-header against the Melbourne Boomers on October 17 and the Sydney Flames on October 18.
