Tall Blacks head coach, Pero Cameron has today named his final squad of 12 for the FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup, held in the Philippines from 25 August–10 September 2023.
The 12 athletes selected for the Tall Black’s FIBA World Cup squad are:
Finn Delany, Flynn Cameron, Hyrum Harris, Isaac Fotu, Izayah Le’Afa, Jordan Ngatai, Reuben Te Rangi, Shea Ili, Taylor Britt, Tohi Smith-Milner, Walter Brown and Yanni Wetzell.
Delany, Fotu, Ngatai, Ili and Smith-Milner will play in their second straight FIBA World Cup for the Tall Blacks; this group having appeared in the 2019 edition in China. Fotu will make his third FIBA World Cup Appearance, joining rare company that includes Kirk Penney, Mika Vukona and Tom Abercrombie as one of eight Kiwi basketballers to achieve this feat.
For the remaining seven athletes, this will be their first FIBA World Cup and with it, the chance to play on the biggest international stage of their professional careers.
With an average age of 26.7 years, this is a blended squad of veteran talent and young athletes; Walter Brown the youngest in the team at 20 years, while Shea Ili and Jordan Ngatai – both 30 – fill the roles of experienced vets. Ngatai comes in as the most capped player in the squad with 71 Tall Blacks appearances, while the reliable quartet of Ili, Fotu, Smith-Milner and Te Rangi all average almost 60 caps each.
For 28-year-old Te Rangi, who will captain the squad in his first ever World Cup, he says it is a great honour to lead the Tall Blacks team in Manila under Coach Pero.
“Obviously the last World Cup I was out with injury, I had to get surgery on my knee so that was disappointing. This opportunity coming around now is amazing and I can’t express how excited I am to be here and to play in this World Cup,” says Te Rangi.
“To lead this team is an easy gig, we have a lot of leaders on our team and anyone of the boys could’ve been captain, so it’s easy on that part. My style is to lead by example; I speak up every now and then when I need to, but otherwise it’s just lead by example.”
Coach Pero says that the team is happy to have landed in the Philippines, following over a month of intense preparation that included friendly games played in Japan, Germany and China.
“Really happy to finally be here, there’s nothing like getting to the World Cup and getting into Manila, and preparing for the challenge ahead of us. This last four to five week campaign of building towards this has been great and I’m just excited to be here,” says Cameron.
“With the six games we had [in the month prior to the World Cup], we always wonder if it was enough or too much, especially in a five-week campaign. You want these games to get you battle ready and for us to improve every day – and have those moments where you recognise you are getting somewhere. And we want to get some results that help you acknowledge and get belief within the group, and we got a mixture of that so I’m happy.”
The Tall Blacks will first face USA in Group Play at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, followed by games against Jordan and Greece. Watch all games live and free at TVNZ+ and Duke.
Find out more about the FIBA World Cup at www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2023
Tall Blacks Squad of 12 – FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup
Finn Delany, Telekom Baskets Bonn / NZ Breakers
Flynn Cameron, Melbourne United
Hyrum Harris, Hawkes Bay Hawks / Perth Wildcats
Isaac Fotu, Utsunomiya Brex
Izayah Le’Afa, Wellington Saints / NZ Breakers
Jordan Ngatai, Hawkes Bay Hawks
Reuben Te Rangi, Auckland Tuatara / S.E. Melbourne Phoenix
Shea Ili, Melbourne United
Taylor Britt, Canterbury Rams
Tohi Smith-Milner, Wellington Saints / Adelaide 36ers
Walter Brown, Canterbury Rams / Tasmania Jackjumpers
Yanni Wetzell, Alba Berlin
Head Coach – Pero Cameron
Assistant Coach – Michael Fitchett
Assistant Coach – Zico Coronel
Assistant Coach – Aaron Young
Tall Blacks 1st Round Schedule – FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup
New Zealand vs USA – Sunday 27 August, 12.40am NZT
New Zealand vs Jordan – Monday 28 August, 8.45pm NZT
New Zealand vs Greece – Thursday 31 August, 12.40am NZT
