Harbour Basketball standout Florence Dallow has verbally committed to an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship at the University of Portland.

This fantastic news is the culmination of a wonderful year for the Epsom Girls Grammar School, Harbour Breeze and Harbour U17 representative.

The 185cm wing has performed at a consistently high level throughout 2021.

For Epsom Girls the Year 13 student scored a season high 45 points against Massey High School although perhaps her 30 points haul in Epsom’s Auckland Secondary Schools semi-final Premier League loss against Westlake was her most meritorious effort.

In her other major semi-final of 2021 Flo again top scored with 30 points -  that time for Harbour as her team went down to Canterbury at the Aon U17 Nationals.

Reflecting her good form during the championships Flo was named to the U17 National Championships Tournament Team.

However those performances were just appetizers for the main course that Flo served up at Pulman Arena in mid-August.

Playing just her second ever National Basketball League game the 17 year-old scored a game high 23 points for the Platinum Homes Harbour Breeze in the local derby against Auckland Dream.

It wasn’t just her scoring output that impressed onlookers but the quality of her all-round performance and the purity of her shooting.

She made 6 from 9 shots from the field including 5 from 6 from beyond the 3-point arc as well as converting all 6 free-throw attempts. Add to that 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in a quality display. 

Her NBL debut performance against Canterbury Wildcats 24-hours earlier was equally impressive from a different perspective.

Having played all 40 minutes for EGGS in that Secondary Schools semi-final loss to Westlake she immediately high tailed down the southern motorway with fellow Breeze debutant Mackenzie Chatfield.

“I played over one and a half games in about four hours,” Flo remembers.

“I didn’t come off the court in the game against Westlake then I played the whole of the second half against Canterbury plus the five minutes overtime period.”

“I think that game against Auckland Dream and the Steven Adams High School Invitational in July were the two games that Coach Meek at Portland was impressed with and went a long way towards getting me the scholarship.”

“I had emailed Portland earlier in the year but it wasn’t until they rang me after the Steven Adams Camp that they contacted me.”

Flo had offers from a couple of other universities including the University of California Riverside but after a number of positive chats with University of Portland Head Coach Michael Meek she was happy to commit to the 2020 West Coast Conference champions.

“Over the past two months I’ve had a mixture of Zoom calls and phone chats with Michael which has been really good.”

Committing to Portland was also made easier knowing that another former Harbour rep Emme Shearer is playing for the Pilots and will be in her third year when Flo commences her freshman year in 2022.

“Emme already being at Portland really helped a lot with my decision. She emphasised how good the coaches were, how the team has a good culture and how positive the environment is which all made me more intrigued with the school.”

Tauranga guard Melika Samia has also recently committed to Portland.

“That is an added bonus. It makes me a lot more comfortable going to a school where I will know players,” Flo added.

Flo and Emme not only played all their rep basketball for Harbour but also began their individual basketball journeys at Bayfield Primary School, albeit two years apart. 

Bayfield’s coach and basketball co-ordinator Donna Crampin has fond memories of the pair.

“I am so thrilled for Flo and especially delighted to hear she will be alongside Emme.

“I was lucky to have them in my teams. I knew as soon as Flo came along I had another Emme so it seems very fitting they will be at Portland together.”

Donna knew at the time that she had a couple of talented rep players in the making but perhaps not that they were both destined to represent New Zealand.

Flo’s international pedigree had been spotted at an early age and in 2018 she made her New Zealand debut at the U15 FIBA Oceania Championships in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

However her national team ambitions took a hit  the following year.

Despite a solid showing in PNG and at a National Camp early in 2019 Flo was overlooked for NZ team selections that year, a decision that rankled with her at the time. 

“I was really disappointed when it happened but it made me strive harder to improve my game and prove to the coaches I should have been in the team.”

Many coaches have assisted Flo’s development but she credits three mentors in particular with her continuous rise through the basketball ranks.

“I began playing for Harbour as a 10 year-old in an U11 rep team and since then Lana Wolf and Justine Reed have been the rep coaches for the majority of my Harbour career.

“Saturday  trainings, worked around netball, with Shawn Nance have also made a big difference.”

Reed, herself a former NCAA Division I player has no doubt that Flo has what it takes to succeed at that level.

“I am really excited about Flo’s commitment to Portland. I have been fortunate to have coached Flo over the last three years in both the New Zealand U15 team and Harbour age group teams.

“I have seen first-hand her commitment and dedication to basketball. She has always been one of the hardest workers, willing to put in the time to develop the skills she needs to be a Division I student-athlete both on and off the court.

“It is awesome to see her achieve her goal of earning a Division I scholarship and I look forward to seeing her continue her development. I think Portland is a great fit for her and she will do well there under Coach Meek and alongside Emme Shearer.”

Another who has played his part and had a front row seat in her recent emergence as a talent with enormous potential is Epsom Girls Grammar Premier Coach Wayne Fowler.

“I and everyone at EGGS congratulate Flo on the achievement and recognition that obtaining a scholarship at Portland represents. 

“Flo is highly skilled, plays with great flair, is very resilient and has a very high basketball IQ so I have no doubt the immersion into the life of a student /athlete at Portland will suit her. 

“I also have no doubt Flo can play at the very highest levels in basketball both here and in the US.

“As a coach I could really rely on Flo to always be there and give a full effort, she was a leader by example in the school.

“Her contribution to EGGS basketball over the past five years will be very difficult to replace but that is the nature of school sport. We will watch her progress with great interest and expectation.

All at Harbour Basketball echo those sentiments!