POINT Cook teenager Rachel Jarry is being groomed for the 2009 basketball under 19 World Championships.

The emerging star received a full-time scholarship with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) last week along with 12 other girls, who are set to form the nucleus of the squad for the World Championships.

Confirmation of a AIS scholarship is a budding athlete’s equivalent of winning Tattslotto.

Jarry will now follow in the footsteps of superstars Lauren Jackson and Andrew Bogut and make Canberra her new home in early January.

Jarry, who turns 16 next month, said she couldn’t wait to sink her teeth into the elite basketball program.

“I can’t believe it and I’m just really stoked,” she said.

“It’s a bit of a shock but its great and something I really wanted.

“I think I have improved a lot this year and hopefully the scholarship will ensure I keep on improving.”

Jarry has recently moved from Spotswood to Point Cook with her parents, Graham and Nicole, but will now leave the nest at the ripe age of 16.

“I will have to get used to living away from home but it’s something I’m really looking forward to,” she said.

“I always wanted to go there but never knew what it would take and now I have the scholarship.

“I have worked pretty hard, I guess.”

The scholarship will officially begin with an All-Australian Camp in late January.

Graham Jarry said the next step would be finding his daughter the right school to start her Year 11 studies at next year.

She will live on-campus at the AIS.

“We are just thrilled for her,” Graham said.

“Some very good players have gone through the AIS program.

“It has something that has been on the cards for a while, but now it has actually come to fruition is a bit of a shock

“It will do a lot for her progress and also releases a fair bit if pressure on Nicole and myself.

“We don’t shy away that it is a wonderful thing for all of us.”

Jarry represented Victoria Metro at the Australian under 18 Championships in Tasmania this year as a bottom-aged player.

She also represented her state at under 16 level.

At club level she crossed to Dandenong from the Altona Gators this year, and was quickly rookie listed by the Dandenong Rangers’ Women’s National Basketball League team

“They have been watching her for a couple of years and they keep tabs on them all,” Graham said.

“She is the youngest girl to get a scholarship.

“They are being groomed for the under 19 World Championships so it’s an exciting time for them all.

“She is a very driven girl and has always kept her focus.”