The 12-year-old Echuca Pirates young gun has taken the next step on the path to basketball stardom after she was selected in the under-14 Victoria Country Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup girls squad.
Twenty players have been divided into two teams of 10 after a rigorous selection process which began at a Swan Hill skills day in April before concluding with the Gold Nugget camp held in September.
Now, Leary is set to compete against the best regional players from across Australia next year in an elite environment.
“It's a great opportunity to make myself a better player,” Leary said.
“Playing games every day is going to be very different but I just want to get on the court as much as I can.
“I'm looking forward to playing with different teammates and learning from other coaches.”
While other players her age may have a big goal in mind, for example playing in the WNBA in America - what many consider to be the best women's competition in the world - Leary has an open mind.
But already she is showing her determination by training three times a week, twice with her domestic side and once with the Pirates.
“I just want to get as far as I can with my basketball,” she said.
“It's going to take a lot of hard work but I'm willing to do it.”
Despite the honour of pulling on the Big V on the horizon for Leary, she can't help but think of playing more basketball with her older sister Ashlee in future.
“We've played one season and I really enjoyed it,” she said.
“Despite the difference in our ages, I'm hoping one day we can play on the same team again.”
The ACJBC will be held at the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre in Albury from January 11 to 18.
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