Basketball: New Zealand under-15 girl basketball player Maia Jones following in dad's footsteps

A member of the New Zealand under-15 girls basketball squad is proving the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. 

Maia Jones is looking to follow in the footsteps of her father, former Tall Blacks three point ace Phil Jones. 

Just like her dad, she's not afraid to shoot from distance. If you leave Mia Jones open from beyond the arch, there is only one thing that's likely to happen.

"I like to shoot like dad," Maia Jones says. 

And there's good reason to, as Phil Jones has had his fair share of success doing it throughout his career. 

Jones was the Tall Blacks top scorer during their historic fourth place finish at the 2002 world championships

"His ego is really big so he talks about it a lot," she says. "I'm just around him a lot, getting a sense of the game as well as the shooting game.

"She's never seen a shot that she doesn't like, which she definitely gets that side from me," former Tall Black Phil Jones says.

It's paying off as well. Maia recently earned a spot in the New Zealand under 15 side.

She's already cracked a national side, but having bragging rights over dad may take a little more work.

"He always wins," Maia Jones says.

"The day that she starts beating me is probably the day that I will stop playing," Phil Jones says.

Dad is not the only tough opposition she is used to taking on. Her team in Nelson play against boys teams due to low numbers of local girls teams.

"It's tough. We struggle but it's good for us," she says.

That toughness could see her follow in dad's footsteps and she might not be the only one. 

"I probably do more coaching with Hayden my son and Ava's our third child," Phil Jones says. "She's coming through as well so it's gonna be busy times."

Meaning it could be a case of keeping up with the Jones' for this generation.

Watch full story above.