Porirua teenager Shalae Salmon is preparing to study and play basketball at Brigham Young University in the United States.
Raised in a basketball family, both Shalae's older sisters, Jasana and Camece, were New Zealand Junior Tall Ferns.
Shalae has been trialling for the Junior Tall Ferns and has been invited back to the squad's next camp.
She says her goal was to attend Brigham Young University (BYU). Other universities and colleges were interested in her playing for them, but she felt drawn to BYU.
"I think it will be easier to be there without my family," she says. "I don't have to explain that Sunday is the Lord's day and everyone will understand my values."
Shalae says she enjoys "sciences, physics, chemistry and biology."
"My sister Camece is studying engineering at Auckland University," she said.
"Her advice to me is: 'Take all the practice tests seriously. Study hard, because they will help with the end result.'"
In addition to her two older sisters, Shalae has two younger brothers. Her parents are Melody and Jason Salmon.
Read more at the Dominion Post.