Former hockey player-turned Tall Fern Amy West is flourishing on both American and international basketball stages
Amy West’s dream of dawning a New Zealand singlet spans for as long as she can remember.
Except her original plan didn’t include it taking place on the hardwood, let alone for a sport that she didn’t pick up until the age of 15.
From afar, West’s basketball career is unfolding similar to something that could be championed as an ideal scenario: she’s already been part of two tours with the Sky Sport Tall Ferns and is now living her dream as a collegiate athlete at Saint Mary’s College of California. Yet through it all, her work ethic remains unmatched and contributes to her reputation as a promising player.
Currently, West is a sophomore at Saint Mary’s College of California following her decision to transfer from Liberty University in Virginia last year. Although she has yet to suit up for the Gaels due to NCAA transfer rules, she already feels right at home.
“I’m so happy to be here, it’s a great place and I love it. I definitely found my place at Saint Mary’s which is awesome,” she said.
Although she was unable to take an official visit, she was confident in her gut feeling that Saint Mary’s would be her ideal place.
“The recruiting process is so stressful so I was like, ‘the sooner I can find my place and have confidence in that, the better’. I slept on it, woke up and was like ‘yeah I’m gonna do it.’ It was risky, but the best decision ever.”
West isn’t the first kiwi to find a home in the East Bay town of Moraga: Stella Beck, a fellow Tall Fern and current guard for the Melbroune Boomers in the Australian Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) graduated in 2018 where she finished 10th on the all-time scoring list with 1,439 points. In addition, the men’s team is also home to Dan Fotu of North Harbour. However, West made the commitment before she met up with Beck, yet was reassured of her decision by talking to her teammate.
“It was very quick so I committed before I went on the tour with them. But when I finally met Stella I talked to her about it and she just said all good things.”
West’s competitive nature stems from an early age while growing up in Palmerston North on the North Island. Being active was a family lifestyle, most notably taking after older brother, Alex West.
“I was a kid that played every sport; I tried everything,” West said. “My brother, he’s two years older than me, started playing hockey and obviously at that age I looked up to him and wanted to do everything he did.”
It was no question that hockey was her first love. With the support of her family, West’s hockey career prospered, so much so that she wanted to become a member of the Black Sticks Women, New Zealand’s national field hockey team. However, the rapid trajectory toward her current six-foot-four frame made it difficult to train for that style of sport.
“I fell in love with hockey and played that up until I was 15. My dream was to become a Black Stick, to represent New Zealand in field hockey. But then obviously I just grew, grew, grew,” she laughs.
As her time on the field waned, West knew she wasn’t ready to give up her sporting career just yet. The only obstacle was that she knew she wanted to excel in sport, she just wasn’t sure which one.
She had her answer once her sporting potential caught the attention of renowned Basketball New Zealand skills coach Miles Pearce. Pearce, who was also located in Palmerston North, approached her about trading her cleats for basketball sneakers.
“He approached me and said, ‘why don’t you try basketball’ and I was like, ‘why not’. Ever since then I’ve never looked back,” she said.
With her newfound passion in the gym, West was still determined to balance both hockey and basketball for as long as she could. But upon steady improvements she eventually let go of hockey altogether to focus on basketball. She continued to work with Pearce, who soon opened her eyes on how she could play college basketball in college sports in America. Although she knew she’d have to work harder than most, she knew right away she wanted to jump at the opportunity.
“From the get-go, Miles said, ‘there’s massive opportunities here, you could go to the States’. I didn’t think I’d ever be here it’s crazy. But I’m also so happy to be here and lucky that I decided to give basketball a shot,” West said.
Her increasing talent for basketball didn’t go unnoticed, so much so that it caught attention from Sky Sport Tall Ferns coach Guy Molloy. Joining Molloy’s roster became a gradual goal for West, although was surprised when she received the call that she was being looked at for selection, especially this early in her career.
“I didn’t really think anything of it. I was happy to get the call in the first place and then he called and told me that I made it for the Japan/ Taiwan tour, which was awesome.”
She debuted during the 2019 Tall Ferns tour to Japan and Taiwan, where they make the annual trip to the William Jones Cup. She wasn’t alone in her debut: she joined five other rookies including Mary Goulding, Ella Fotu, Zoe Richards, Matangiroa Flavell, and fellow WBC teammate Esra McGoldrick. The team placed second overall in the tournament after falling to a tough Japan team that prevented them from defeating their 2018 title. Regardless of the outcome, she looks back fondly on her first run with the senior team.
“It was such a big dream and big goal to be ticked off so soon, it was pretty special.”
She went into the tour with an open mind, but also with an understanding that even though she had expectations for herself, it was still a learning opportunity, especially being a developmental player for the team.
“I was like, ‘embrace the moment because I have nothing to lose. I’m young here, I’m a development player for the Tall Ferns so I don’t have any pressure on me’.”
While there was plenty of excitement, she also wanted to make a solid first impression on her new teammates.
“It’s kinda weird; I think I was more nervous for the first practice than I was for the first game because it was the first time seeing and taking the court with them. I think I was just nervous to make the first impression, that type of thing,” she said.
And it didn’t take long for her to establish herself as part the connection that is the Tall Ferns culture.
“I had that calmness when I walked out onto the court like, ‘wow, let’s go!’ It’s definitely a family and very close and I’m just lucky to be a part of it.”
“They’re the best and I love them so much. It’s definitely a family and very close and I’m just lucky to be a part of it.” — West on the connection with her teammates on the Tall Ferns
The culture is set in part by captain Kalani Purcell, who recently took over captaincy duties from her older sister Natalie Taylor. Although she picked up basketball later than some, West still lists them as her influences. But it’s not just because of their legendary status on the court that she admires them for, but also because of their long-lasting legacy.
“The Purcell sisters, they’re legends. They’re role models for every kid in New Zealand, every single one of them. I love them. It’s crazy even to me now that I get to play with them and be part of their team and I’m so lucky.”
Just as she is with all the other opportunities that have come her way, West is thankful for the support that she has received from the Gaels when it came time for her to accompany the team to the FIBA Asia Cup in Bangalore, India last September. Thankfully, it wasn’t a question in the school’s mind whether she should attend, despite her fall semester workload.
“I’m lucky to have coaches that have my back. I think that was paved as well by Stella so I had that prior connection with the Tall Ferns. I was very lucky to have the support of the school too. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to go due to my academics but my professors were really great in helping me through that,” she explained.
Back in New Zealand, West also suited up for the North Canterbury Spirit, a tier two team part of the Women’s Basketball Championship (WBC). She joined fellow Tall Fern Esra McGoldrick, who also debuted for the Tall Ferns at the same time.
Her time with the Spirit in addition to America has taught West to appreciate the style of international basketball.
“The style of play we play is awesome and I love the way it translates to college,” she said.
Aside from the style of play, West also praises Molloy’s coaching style and how much she’s grown since learning from him. Above all, she’s grateful that his coaching style can help her develop into the player she hopes to become.
“[Molloy’s] coaching style is so smart. He’s already taught me so much and I couldn’t say enough good things about how he coaches. Even with Saint Mary’s, the international basketball that Guy plays helps me here too having bigs that are versatile and that’s everything I want to become.”
On and off the court, Molloy continues to help West develop her game and her style into a force to be reckoned with come future years. But another aspect of their relationship that she cherishes is something she’s earned: his faith in her to develop as a key member of the team.
“Having his confidence in me is super special and how he believes in me, in the kind of player I can become and the role I can play when I get older.”
“Having his confidence in me is super special and how he believes in me, in the kind of player I can become and the role I can play when I get older.” — West on her relationship with Sky Sport Tall Ferns coach Guy Molloy
She also praises the growth the sport has seen in her country. West made the trip to Auckland as part of the initial list of 14 players named by Molloy for the Olympic pre-qualifiying tournament held back in November. Although she didn’t end up making the final 12 on the roster to suit up, it didn’t stop her from being in awe of all the support they received.
“Having the pre-qualifiers for the Olympics held in Auckland, that was massive because the amount of people that came down to support us. The youth was great and even though we didn’t get the result we wanted, the bigger picture of this is that so many girls watched us because it was televised and had a lot of media coverage. A lot of people knew about it and what we had achieved.”
At the end of the day, she hopes the experience of hosting such a tournament on home soil will help instill in young girls that they, too, can have a future in basketball.
“Hopefully and more girls will know that coming to the States is a realistic thing. It’s an awesome thing not just for development in basketball but for development of yourself and experiences. It’s a lot of fun and I wish more people would come over from New Zealand.”
Having Auckland host the tournament was no doubt a big deal for West, who’s passionate about helping put the silver fern on the map. One thing that people may not know, though was that she was born in Grimsby, Northeast Lincolnshire in England.
“I was born in England then moved to New Zealand when I was five. I love it and I’m proud to come from there, I’ll say it loud and proud. My whole family’s English,” she said.
But when asked about her true hometown pride, West doesn’t even hesitate about who she wants to represent.
“It’s always been New Zealand because that’s where I’ve grown up and that’s almost like a pride thing, too knowing everyone there. Even though a lot of my heart is in England, New Zealand is what I know and I love it with all my heart. There’s no other country I’d rather represent.
She also credits Aotearoa for shaping her and her brother into the people they are today.
“It was the best decision ever. I don’t think me and my brother would be who we are today without New Zealand because it has that heavy sporting culture and it makes you what you are.”
In regards to her schooling back in California, West is on track to graduate the same as she would have back in Virginia. She has three years left of eligibility for the Gaels and can play for the Gaels starting the 2020 — 21 season, all while continuing her studies in the process. As to what she hopes to pursue after basketball, her goal is to do something within sport.
“I started in criminology but I changed that because the criminal justice systems are so different. I decided to stick to sport which I know and love,” she said.
“Luckily enough Saint Mary’s has a sports management degree so I’m doing kinesiology with an emphasis on sport management. I enjoy being part of a team and the game scenarios.”
She also loves the atmosphere that the game brings and credits that for helping her gravitate toward the sport, especially when she was in the beginning stages.
“I also love the atmosphere; that’s what drew me toward basketball. When I was 15 I wasn’t very good; I was just athletic, tall, I could grab the ball when people couldn’t reach it and try and put it back into the hoop. It was more of the atmosphere that kept me going.”
“It was the best decision ever because I don’t think me and my brother would be who we are today without New Zealand because it has that heavy sporting culture and it makes you what you are.” — West on the pride with representing the silver fern
When it comes to her goals for the near future, it’s simply to establish herself as a role player for the Gaels while also maintaining a relationship with the Tall Ferns.
“I think it’s just establishing myself as a player at Saint Mary’s and having a big role here and being able to deliver,” she said.
She hopes to do the same with the Tall Ferns in the future, which means balancing her connection with the team whilst juggling collegiate commitments.
“With the Tall Ferns, it’s keeping that relationship and even though it’ll be hard because next year I’ll be playing so they’re gonna want me here, but it’s just trying to make the [tours] so that I can keep that connection as best as I can while I’m here.”
In terms of the balancing act, her message to young athletes is a simple one, although it’s not easy to maintain.
“It’s so important to have a balance and not get carried away with just basketball and having basketball define everything that you are,” she said.
“It’s hard to balance academics and basketball; there’s no easy answer it’s just going to be hard work. You’re going to be tired but it’s worth it and extremely rewarding. But I’d say taking the time when you can to go out with friends, experience things something different then focus in on when you’re the basketball court and make the most of your time here because it will fly by.”
At the end of the day, what West misses most about home isn’t just the mince and cheese pies or baked beans (which are some of her favorite home-cooked meals), but her family most of all. Every time she steps on the court she remembers that she wouldn’t be there without them in her journey. And with that she has a special message for them back home:
“Shout out to my mum and dad: I love you and I miss you.”
