Cooper Adams’ hoop dreams are taking him around the world. The former Waimea College and Nelson College student was a member of the New Zealand under 17 Tall Blacks that won the Oceania Cup in Samoa last December.
No New Zealand team had ever won the event, but after thumping the host nation in the semi-final, expectations were high for the ultimate showdown with Australia. An earlier loss in the tournament fuelled the competitive fire.
“We were up 19 against them in the earlier seeding game and let them come back to beat us.
“We were determined to not let that happen again,” Cooper recalls. An epic encounter followed.
Up by a single point late in the fourth quarter, Cooper sank three consecutive triples to effectively end Australian hopes, giving New Zealand their first win over them since 2018.
“It was a pretty special thing to be a part of and was great to be able to contribute there at the end,” he says.
Cooper finished the tournament averaging ten points, four rebounds and two steals per game.
The victory means the team has qualified for the 2026 Asia Cup in Qatar in July, with the top four teams at this event automatically qualifying for the U19 World Championships in 2027 in the Czech Republic.
The team also travels to Germany in April for the Albert Schweitzer Tournament, the unofficial world championships for under 18 basketballers.
The top 12 countries in the world compete, with iconic basketballers like Magic Johnson and Dirk Nowitzki having played in previous editions.
It is the first time New Zealand has been invited and, for Cooper, it is a chance to further his game against the best in the world.
“It’s an amazing opportunity. We’re in a pool with Brazil, Latvia, Italy, China and Serbia, which will be epic.”
Nelson Giants captain Sam Dempster was Cooper’s coach at Nelson College, and whilst delighted for his success, he is not surprised.
“Cooper is a hard-working young man who always brings energy to the court.
“He’s a great team-mate and provides excellent leadership,” Sam says.
With Cooper also part of the Giants squad, Sam has first hand experience of his rapid development.
“Over the past couple of seasons he has turned into a high level scorer and solid defender.
“He’s always hungry to improve and challenge himself, and this mentality has helped him reach all his goals so far.”
Goals that could see Cooper featuring in New Zealand colours for many years to come.
