A concern that her deep sleeping patterns would cause her to miss the trials had the opposite effect the night before she took to the court earlier in the year.

"I didn't sleep properly," the teenager said.

"I'm a deep sleeper and was worried they wouldn't be able to wake me up so I played pretty badly and I was surprised (to be selected) because I didn't play well at all.

"I was just tired and nervous."

The selectors were impressed enough to name her in the Australian Country side for a six-day tour of New Zealand this week.

The team flies out on Wednesday and for the majority of them, the first training session they have soon after touching down will be the first time they have seen each other.

Eggleton has never been overseas before and while nervous about the experience, she was also excited about meeting new people and forming new friendships.

"I'm looking forward to the games and meeting people; I just want to help it make me a better player," she said.

"The coaches (at the trials) gave me things to work on like walling up on defence so they can't score.

"They told me I need to keep practicing my layups because most big people can't do them and I need to own the key."

The 13-year-old admitted she would learn from being around some of the best players from regional areas as well as the coaching staff.

"They're probably pretty experienced coaches that will go there so they'll have good feedback and give good advice," she said.

Port Macquarie Basketball Association president Jason Berry has overseen the teenager's progress both in his role as president along with being her representative coach.

"She is lovely young girl who works very hard on her basketball," he said.

"She is now reaping the rewards of this hard work and great attitude with her selection in the team to tour New Zealand.

"She has been very well supported by her family and Port Macquarie basketball."

Berry said "to the best of his knowledge" no other Port Macquarie basketball member has been selected in an Australian Country team before.

"We have had quite a few juniors selected in NSW Country teams, but none at this level," he said.

"There aren't NSW Country teams at the under-14 level, so to be picked in this team to tour New Zealand is outstanding.

"Her selection followed on from a strong performance at the Australian Country junior basketball championships in Albury in early January."

Eggleton has only recently turned 13 an is a member of the Port Macquarie under-16 girls' rep team that plays in the NSW Country Championship League.

"Unfortunately we don't have sufficient numbers for an under-14 girls team, so Hayley is playing up an age group & holds her own on the court," Berry said.

Along with several other Port Macquarie juniors, the teenager has also been picked in the NSW Country Talented Athlete Program and the North Coast Academy of Sport squad.

At the weekend weekend, she travelled with the NCAS basketball team and competed at the Academy Games in Newcastle, where she gained further invaluable experience.

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