But on Tuesday the wait was over and when squads were revealed, the Echuca Pirates centre had made the cut.
“It was a lot of relief,” Napier said.
“I was in the same position last year, and I didn’t make it, so a lot of relief and excitement.”
Napier will be part of a 12-woman Victoria Country squad which will take on Vic Metro and teams from all states and territories in the Basketball Australia 2024 under-16 National Championships in July.
Basketball Victoria described the championships as the ‘pinnacle event for emerging athletes on a national stage’ in its team announcement.
Lisa Baker, Echuca Moama Basketball Association president and Napier’s coach in the Pirates under-16 girls side, emphasised the significance of Elise’s achievement.
“She’s done so well for little old Echuca to be able to be represented (at the national championships), but she absolutely one hundred per cent deserves it,” she said.
“We haven’t had any athletes get into these sorts of squads before.”
Napier started playing basketball in the Echuca under-10s program before progressing into the domestic competitions and junior Pirates sides.
Over the last few years, she has played with the North East Bushrangers in the Victorian Junior Basketball League, scoring 45 points in nine appearances as a bottom-age player last season, and starting off this campaign with a team-high 12 points in her only game thus far.
After being part of the Future Development Program in previous years, she was this season, selected to join Basketball Victoria’s State Development Program.
In January, Napier played for the Victoria Goldminers in the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup, averaging 7.75 points across eight games, including 13 in the semi-final and 11 in the final as the Goldminers won the under-16 girls championship.
In February, she was part of an Echuca Pirates side that earned division one status, leading the Pirates with 40 points across their four games as they fell two points short in the quarter final.
These achievements earned Napier a place at the State Combine, where athletes were rigorously evaluated on a wide variety of basketball criteria.
“They really focus on quite a few different qualities,” said Baker.
“They look at IQ, sportsmanship, coachability, whether they can follow instructions, fitness levels, and obviously their shooting technique.
“They take a lot into consideration it’s not just if you can put a ball in the hole.”
Napier said she loves the competitive and fast-paced nature of basketball.
She believes her rebounding, ability to finish at the rim, and defence will be an asset to the Victoria Country side.
Coach Baker shared a similar evaluation of Napier’s game, adding that she has a good mind for basketball.
“She’s a very smart player,” she said.
“She’s got a good basketball IQ, is very strong under the basket and can play both ends of the court, offence and defence, equally as good.
“Her hard work and determination is one of the best I’ve seen in a very long time.
“She’s up here at every opportunity when the stadium’s open to practice.
“She practises by herself; she practises with someone else or practises as a team, she’s very, very dedicated.”
The National Championships are set for July 7-14 in Bendigo, with Napier to continue playing domestically and in the VJBL, and training with the Victoria Country squad in preparation.
