It’s no secret that Basketball New Zealand’s Junior programmes continues to go from strength-to-strength. That looks to continue with the appointment of two proven, championship winning head coaches who will see in the next generation of promising young Junior Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns during the 2027-2029 FIBA cycle.
Inaugural Tauihi championship winning coach, and reigning Tauihi Coach of the Year, Tania Tupu will guide the Junior Tall Ferns over the next few years, bringing with her a wealth of experience.
Tupu herself has plenty of fond memories in the black singlet. Having played for the Tall Ferns (Tall Fern #183) during one of the most, if not thee most, successful time of Tall Ferns basketball. She attended both the 200 Sydney, and 2004 Athens Olympics Games, and she attended 1994 World Championships.
“This is a full circle moment for me. I pulled on the Junior Tall Ferns singlet as a young player, and that’s where my international journey began” says Tupu.
The Aotea College alum has since been an integral part of basketball in New Zealand, and has been a consistent figure on the Tokomanawa Queens sideline as their head coach for all five seasons of Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa.
“Now I get to coach and help grow our future Tall Ferns, and that’s a real honour. The talent coming through at this level is genuinely exciting. We want to compete, we want to win, and we want to develop international-ready athletes. Those all go hand in hand, and getting that balance right is what excites me most about this role.”
Tupu has no shortage of experience around her either, with a star-studded assistant coaching group surrounding her.
Tall Fern #167, Kirstin Daly-Taylor joins her side as an assistant adding to her incredible contributions to basketball here in Aotearoa. Whilst history-making 4-time Secondary Schools National Championship winning Head Coach of Westlake Girls’ High, Bronwen Davidson, will also contribute to the group.
Liam Connelly recommits to the programme after an incredible run at the FIBA U17 World Cup, which saw his side finish an historic fourth place. Another with a wealth of New Zealand coaching experience is Greg Brockbank, who will also assist Tupu in the programme.
“This is a strong, connected coaching group. Liam Connelly, Kirstin Daly-Taylor, Bronwen Davidson and Greg Brockbank bring real depth of experience across the domestic and international game, and they know our young players and our regions really well.”
Another Secondary Schools National Championship winning head coach will take on the Junior Tall Blacks role, as Ben Sheat is appointed Head Coach through to the end of the 2029 FIBA U19 World Cup.
Sheat, who was the head coach of the Tall Blacks Select team that recently travelled to and defeated China, has plenty of FIBA experience himself having been involved with the national programme for a number of years.
“It is always an absolute privilege to be a part of the New Zealand program and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the next Junior Tall Blacks. Excited to get the group started and be part of growing the next generation of Tall Blacks.”
Sheat as his assistants Martin Gan and George Robinson will look to continue the form of recent top performing Junior Tall Blacks teams on the world stage.
“Ultimately the number one goal is to produce future Tall Blacks and through the program building the habits needed to step into the Tall Blacks environment seamlessly. Secondly, it is to qualify and compete at the U19 World Cup in Indonesia in 2029.”
Both teams will start their road to the World Cups at the 2027 U17 Oceania Cups late next year.
