O’Brien to draw on Harrison’s experience for upcoming Europeans

IRELAND Under 16 Women’s team head coach, Paul O’Brien insists that Portlaoise Panthers’ rising star, Katie Rose Harrison is among several players he will be relying on heavily at this summer’s FIBA Youth EuroBasket tournament in Greece.

Harrison is one of four players named in O’Brien’s 12-strong squad who have international competition experience at this level, with herself, Robyn Walsh of Limerick Celtics and Killester pair, Ayotade Ademokun and Sorcha Kelly having competed on the European stage in Turkey last year.

O’Brien will certainly be drawing on that experience at this year’s tournament, which takes place from 6-11 August, telling the Laois Nationalist: “Having Katie Rose and the other three, who played last summer, is going to be massive for us. We will be leaning on them to help the other girls through, what is, an intense programme.

“Katie Rose has really improved over the course of the last year and is bringing more to the table on both ends of the floor.

“She is much more vocal and being a great teammate. Her reading of the game and decision making are at a much higher level and perhaps the experience of playing in the Euros last summer helped her in that regard,” he said.

A delay in confirming a host country for this summer’s tournament, led FIBA Europe to announce that the Under 16 Women's Youth EuroBasket 2026 would be run as a series of mini-tournaments, similar to the Euro Challenger competitions that took place in 2021.

Ireland, who join Denmark, Greece, Great Britain, Iceland and Norway as part of the six-team competition, have been drawn in Group E of the re-formatted tournament alongside Denmark and Greece.

Two teams will advance to the semi-final stage from each of Group E and Group F, with one team ultimately securing promotion to Division A for 2027.

Harrison who was part of a very successful Portlaoise Panthers Under 16 team that, this season, made a clean sweep of Midlands League, Cup and Top-Four titles, will be hoping also make her presence felt on the international stage, and her club coach, Jackie Coleman is backing the young guard to do just that.

“Katie Rose has been a fantastic player for us in Portlaoise and we’re delighted to see her named on the Ireland Under 16 squad again,” Coleman told the Laois Nationalist.

“She has progressed hugely over the last couple of seasons, both in terms of her skill level and her understanding of the game. She’s a player with real athleticism, strong defensive instincts and a great finisher.

“Having experienced the Euros environment last season will stand to her massively this year. She now knows the standards required at international level and that experience should give her great confidence going into the tournament. It’s a brilliant achievement for her and her family, and everyone in the club is very proud of her,” she added.

Ireland boss, O’Brien insists there is great potential with the squad he has chosen, remarking after the announcement of his final selection “This selection process was so difficult, as the level of players that we had in the squad was incredibly high and it is a testament to the hard work they all have been putting in.

“We really feel we have a squad that has a great blend of attributes that we feel will be key to us trying to be successful this summer.

“I am really looking forward to the challenge and know this group of players is going to embrace it,” he insisted.

Ireland will face off against Denmark on Thursday 6 August before taking on Greece the following day.