The 17-year-old earned a trip to the AIS via a scholarship with the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in mid 2019.

Since dealing with injuries and illnesses last year, the former St Patrick's College student was primed for a 2020 comeback.

But in-keeping with 2020's modus operandi, things quickly deteriorated.

"I came up at the start of this year, had a good hit-out ... and then everyone got the flu so they had to isolate then everyone was sent home for two months because of COVID," she said.

Wise would then spend two months doing her own workouts and having group training sessions via Zoom to keep herself and her teammates connected.

"Once we got up there, everyone was pretty meticulous and safe around COVID," she said.

"Our training's were a tad different from the start and at dining halls, food was put out for us instead of us getting it.

"Luckily enough, training got back to normal pretty quickly, we could do contact early on about July or so."

But Wise saw the positives in her COVID 2020, and used the experience to develop her grit.

This was aided by a pep talk from Opal Marianna Tolo, who injected a lesson of independence into the up-and-comers at the CoE.

"I think it was a good developmental stage for your personal growth in being able to do it yourself," Wise said.

"Up at the AIS we're in a very controlled environment where we have our schedule set out for us by our coaches.

"Obviously we're not always going to have that.

"We had Tolo working with us and she pointed out that once we got out of there [CoE], we'd have to learn how to push ourselves, by ourselves."

Wise is back in Launceston for summer, eager to get ready for a 2021 full of opportunities.

This includes state teams, the NSW and ACT-based Waratah League as well as the national under-18 team.

"I think next year will be good for me just on a continuous pathway - I've had a few injuries and sickness that blocked out my trainings," Wise said.

"Since coming back up from COVID, I've had a good hit at training and I haven't been injured.

"I just think if I keep working over these holidays and then get back up there above where I was before, I'll be able to make a good run at it in 2021."