The year 12 Otago Girl's High School pupil started the decade with a trip to Australia with the New Zealand under-18 Koru development team and was selected for the New Zealand under-18 team which contested the Australian nationals earlier this month.
The pint-sized point guard has been a regular in Otago age-group teams and a member of the OGHS senior side since year 9.
What she lacks in size, she makes up for with speed and vision.
Those are skills which are equally valuable in touch.
When Turnbull is not on the court shooting hoops, she is on the touch field weaving her way around opponents.
And, arguably, it is in touch where she has made the greater impact.
The 16-year-old was named in a 20-strong New Zealand under-21 team after an impressive campaign for Otago at the nationals.
"I was pretty stoked considering I'm only 16 and it's under-21s," Turnbull said.
She is the youngest member of the New Zealand team and the only player from the Otago region in the squad.
Her tenacious defence, evasiveness and all-round ability saw her named Otago women's touch player of the year, and also the Otago under-17 female player of the year.
She links up with the New Zealand under-21 touch team in October in Auckland for a training camp, where the squad will be trimmed from 20 to 16.
Turnbull has lofty goals and would like to follow the path trodden by dual basketball and cricket international Suzie Bates.
Bates, who went to OGHS, played for the Tall Ferns at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"She was at my school and I met her when I was at intermediate. She presented me with a sports award."
Turnbull sticks to touch for most of the summer and basketball in the winter.
But there is some overlap and, eventually, she may have to decide between the codes.
"I'm hoping to stay representing my country at the highest level for as long as I can.
If one day I have to make a decision, we'll have to see what that will be.
"Maybe I can be like Suzie Bates and represent my country in two sports. She has managed to do both."
The precocious teenager is also a more than handy netball player.
She has played for Otago at age-group level and dabbles in volleyball and cricket.
