Shyla Heal, 19, reveals plans to follow in her famous father Shane’s footsteps by becoming a basketball champion… as she shoots down claims that she’s too short for the sport
She’s the next sports star to come onto the basketball scene.
And as the daughter of NBA star Shane Heal, Shyla Heal is set to impress.
The 19-year-old has been playing the sport since she was a child – and she hopes to see a bigger career than that of her 50-year-old father.
Aiming high! NBA star Shane Heal’s 19-year-old daughter, Shyla (pictured), has revealed her dreams of becoming the next big player on the basketball scene, just like her father
Shyla told News Corp Australia’s Stellar magazine on Saturday she dreamt of being drafted onto the United States’ Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
She also wanted to represent Australia at the Tokyo Olympics in 2024.
‘When I was growing up, I didn’t have anyone to look up to in the women’s game. That’s why I feel in Australia that we need to be giving these younger girls something to look up to and to build our basketball program,’ she told the publication.
‘We need to stay away from the idea that girls don’t eat much and don’t go to the gym – like, why can’t we be strong? I don’t want to just be known for basketball. I’d like to be known as someone for the younger girls to look up to.’
‘I didn’t have anyone to look up to in the women’s game. That’s why I feel in Australia that we need to be giving these younger girls something to look up to and to build our basketball program,’ Shyla told Stellar
One of the quirkiest facts about Shyla is that she’s not overly tall at 167cm – and is usually the shortest basketball player on the court.
However, the blonde does not allow that to get her down – telling Stellar she has to have ‘different strengths’ and be better at shooting, passing and dribbling.
Standing at 181cm, her father also faced criticism because of his height at the start of his career.
Wow! One of the quirkiest facts about Shyla is that she’s not overly tall at 167cm – and is usually the shortest basketball player on the court. However, the blonde does not allow that to get her down – telling March 14’s edition of Stellar (pictured) she has to have ‘different strengths’
Like father, like daughter! Standing at 181cm, her father (right) also faced criticism because of his height at the start of his career. However, Shane went onto compete in four Olympics and played in the NBA twice
However, Shane went onto compete in four Olympics and played in the NBA twice.
When asked whether she feels pressured to follow in her father’s footsteps, Shyla said she used it as an advantage.
‘Everything he’s been through, I’m going through. I get one of the best coaches in Australia training me every day. I can’t say, ‘Dad, you don’t know what you’re talking about!’ But I can say that to Mum,’ she told the publication.
‘Everything he’s been through, I’m going through. I get one of the best coaches in Australia training me every day. I can’t say, ‘Dad, you don’t know what you’re talking about!’ But I can say that to Mum,’ Shyla told the publication on Saturday