MIA Mills is the rookie at 13. Jae Leddin the veteran at 37.
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Together they hope to play key roles in Warrnambool Mermaids' return to Big V's division one competition in 2020.
Mills, who turns 14 in July, is aiming to become the youngest Mermaid debutant since her current teammate and former WNBL guard Louise Brown.
Leddin is the roster's oldest player, a former US college basketballer who has also won championships with Geelong.
Mills was to travel with the team for its round one game against Camberwell Dragons on Sunday, eager to watch and learn from the bench, and Leddin, who mostly played home games when the Mermaids featured in the top tier last year, was to suit up.
But the Big V on Friday afternoon postponed the season until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Warrnambool College student Mills, who also plays netball for Hampden league club Koroit, said being part of the Big V program at such a young age was "super cool".
"This is a really cool experience. Being able to play a couple of games this season or come off the bench and get some minutes would be absolutely awesome," she said.
Mills said it would be humbling to follow in Brown's footsteps and become one of the youngest players in the team's history.
"It would be good to get a game under my belt before I turn 14," she said.
"When I was top-age under 12s she got me into the Mermaids' training system which is aimed at developing younger players.
"Then I got her as my squad coach and her IQ and basketball knowledge is something pretty unmatchable."
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Mills is one of the shortest players on the Mermaids' roster and is fine-tuning her point guard craft.
She harbours ambition of making Vic Country teams and training against experienced players is helping her development.
"It's been a little bit difficult when I go up against those bigger girls but just keep striving to be a lot better," Mills said.
"I'd like to say my shooting is probably a strength at the moment, especially from outside because I can't get to the basket against these bigger girls, and maybe my ball handling comes into it too, being able to get myself an open shot or get my teammate a good pass is really important.
"I am a big fan of Shyla Heal. She plays for Bendigo Spirit and has represented Australia at 3x3.
"She is short and someone I look up to in that regard."
The Mermaids have a training squad of about 20 players. Mills is not the only teenager on the radar.
Matilda Sewell, 13, and Meg Carlin, 14, are also waiting in the wings.
"It's cool we all get to train together now at this level," Mills said.
Mother-of-two Leddin grew up in Warrnambool before moving to America at 18 to play for community college Iowa Central.
She progressed to National Collegiate Athletic Association division one school University of Acron where she bumped into now NBA legend LeBron James before he hit super-stardom.
"He was only in high school when I was there and he used to train in our gym," Leddin said.
"I'd be watching him and they're all saying 'he's the next best thing'. He really was the next best thing."
Leddin returned to Australia in 2005.
The St John's Primary School PE teacher moved to Port Fairy two years ago after 10 years in Geelong, where she won Big V championship and division one titles, and felt the time was right to rejoin the Mermaids.
"I had the itch a bit once I got back. I played netball in Port Fairy and enjoyed that but basketball has always been my thing," she said.
"I wanted to get back where I started. I haven't got that long left to play so it's nice to finish off where I started. (Coach) Lee (Primmer) coming back has been fantastic. He coached me when I was a junior."
Leddin, who is mum to Jack, 5, and Millie, 2, plays a similar role to Mills. She will rotate through the point and shooting guard positions and hopes at some stage to take to the floor with her protege.
Leddin said Mills didn't take a backward step at training and appeared ready for the challenge of women's basketball.
"I walked in and was like 'gee, have a look at this kid' and they were like 'yeah, she's pretty good'," she said.
"It's really nice to be playing with some kids who really want to be here."
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