With the Tall Blacks set to play their first game in Aotearoa since 2018 next month – hosting the Philippines as part of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers – BBNZ has today announced a long list of 33 players in contention for this game.
The player list includes:
Guards: Corey Webster, Dion Prewster, Ethan Rusbatch, Flynn Cameron, Jarrod Kenny, Jayden Bezzant, Joe Cook-Green, Kruz Perrott-Hunt, Richie Rodger, Shea Ili, Taine Murray, Taylor Britt
Forwards: Akiva McBirney-Griffin, Benjamin Gold, Dan Fotu, Dominique Kelman-Poto, Finn Delany, Hyrum Harris, Isaac Davidson, Jordan Ngatai, Kenneth Tuffin, Kane Keil, Max Darling, Sam Mennenga, Taane Samuel, Taki Fahrensohn, Tohi Smith-Milner, Tom Abercrombie, Tom Vodanovich
Centres: Jordan Hunt, Michael Karena, Sam Timmins, Tai Wynyard
The players will assemble in the days prior to the Tall Blacks game on 30 June at Eventfinda Stadium in Auckland, with a game day squad of 12 players selected at that point. Tall Blacks Head Coach, Pero Cameron says that the long list contains a ‘solid’ group of athletes from which to pull together a squad to face Gilas Pilipinas next month.
“It’s a good mix; we’ve got veteran Tall Blacks in there like Shea Ili, Finn Delany, Jarrod Kenny and Jordan Ngatai, as well as players with a fair amount of NBL / ANBL experience like Tommy V (Vodanovich), Dion Prewster, Hyrum Harris and Taane Samuel.
“And then we’ve got a group of hungry, young up-and-comers who have proven themselves at the college basketball level in the States; athletes like Kruz Perrott-Hunt, Sam Mennenga and Dan Fotu. These younger guys are the future of our Tall Blacks programme so we want to get them involved now, learning from the vets about what it takes to wear the black singlet and represent Aotearoa on the world stage.
“So I expect all these guys – young and old – to fight hard to earn a spot on the team, as nothing is given out at this level unless hard work and dedication is put in.”
Coach Cameron and the Tall Blacks will also draw from this pool of 33 players for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup, which is being held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 12-24 July.
The Tall Blacks take on the Philippines at Eventfinda Stadium in Auckland, 7.30pm on 30 June. Tickets are available at https://tinyurl.com/ycy6e9dd
Find out more at www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2023/asian-qualifiers
Tall Blacks Long List (23 May 2022)
Akiva McBirney-Griffin, University of California Irvine
Benjamin Gold, Marquette University
Corey Webster, Al Ittihad Alexandria / Franklin Bulls
Dan Fotu, Saint Mary’s College of California / Auckland Tuatara
Dion Prewster, Melbourne United / Sandringham Sabres
Dominique Kelman-Poto, Southland Sharks
Ethan Rusbatch, Hawkes Bay Hawks
Finn Delany, NZ Breakers
Flynn Cameron, Riverside California
Hyrum Harris, Adelaide 36ers / Hawkes Bay Hawks
Isaac Davidson, NZ Breakers / Franklin Bulls
Jarrod Kenny, Cairns Taipans / Hawkes Bay Hawks
Jayden Bezzant, Franklin Bulls
Joe Cook-Green, Canterbury Rams
Jordan Hunt, Hawkes Bay Hawks
Jordan Ngatai, Cairns Taipans / Wellington Saints
Kane Keil, Franklin Bulls
Kenneth Tuffin, Wellington Saints
Kruz Perrott-Hunt, University of South Dakota
Max Darling, Constanta / Canterbury Rams
Michael Karena, Canterbury Rams
Richie Rodger, Taranaki Mountainairs
Sam Mennenga, Davidson College
Sam Timmins, NZ Breakers / Otago Nuggets
Shea Ili, Melbourne United / Sandringham Sabres
Taane Samuel, Brisbane Bullets / Wellington Saints
Tai Wynyard, Taranaki Mountainairs
Taine Murray, University of Virginia
Taki Fahrensohn, Ehingen / Auckland Tuatara
Taylor Britt, Canterbury Rams
Tohi Smith-Milner, South East Melbourne Phoenix / Sandringham Sabres
Tom Abercrombie, NZ Breakers
Tom Vodanovich, Sydney Kings / Wellington Saints
