Best, alongside fellow Bathurst junior Teagan Germech, was announced as a member of the regional talent squad back on December 18.

Bathurst product Olivia Johnston was picked in the metro squad due to her commitments playing for Penrith District.

Best, who’s prefers to play as a goal attack, was over the moon when she found out she had been selected in the team.

“I was at school, going to period five. While on my way to class, I was looking at my phone and found the email. I was like, ‘Oh my God!’,” she said.

“I opened it and I clicked on the first squad and couldn’t find my name, but I kept scrolling down to the next squad, the regional talent squad. I called mum and was like, ‘I got picked!’. 

Best was one of 26 players selected in the talent squad, which will keep players engaged in the Netball NSW High Performance Pathway.

Each player in the talent squad impressed selectors with their potential to play for NSW in the future.

The regional squad features players from not just the Central West, but the Hunter, Far North Coast, South Coast, Northern Inland, North Coast and Riverina.

The regional talent squad is a new initiative by Netball NSW, which is focused solely on providing regional athletes with coaching that may not normally be available to them. 

Best will now travel down to the Genea Netball Centre, at the Sydney Olympic Park, throughout 2019 to participate in training camps.

The 15-year-old MacKillop College student said it will be a great opportunity to experience high level coaching.

“It’s just a great opportunity to be exposed to high level training and coaching,” she said.

“The two talent squads will all train and build up for state selection next year.

“Next year will be my last year trying to make the under 17s squad.” 

Her first training camp will be on January 19. 

Best has played representative netball for Bathurst for the past five years and in 2018, she played locally with the Panther Agriwest in Bathurst Netball Association A reserve grade.

She featured in the grand final, her side defeating Bulldogs Hurricanes 42-35 in the decider.

Playing netball since she was six-years-old, Best said she’s extremely thankful for one her best opportunities in the sport yet. 

“A big thank you to my coaches and my parents for driving me to play netball,” she said.

“Also to Netball NSW, to give regional players an opportunity like this.” 

The selection is not the only recent success for Best, as she was named the most valuable player for her Western Region Academy of Sport side’s strong Academy Challenge campaign in Orange during the October long weekend.