AUCKLAND (FIBA Asia Cup 2017) - New Zealand coach Paul Henare and a group of promising players hoping to have a role in future Tall Blacks sides have gone on a 12-day tour of China.

Among those that have travelled to the Far East are Finn Delany, Derone Raukawa and Ethan Rusbatch, a trio that made brief appearances with the national team last year.

Henare, who will coach New Zealand at a FIBA Asia Cup for the first time in August and then lead the national team in its first two FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asia Qualifiers in November, says the trip is important.

"The purpose of this team is to expose players to some international hoops to see how they perform and to see how they interact within the group," he said. "We're looking for guys that can step into the Tall Blacks if called upon – that is the guts of why this team exists and why Basketball New Zealand has invested in the concept.

"It's a short window where some of the Tall Blacks coaching and management team can get to know these guys a bit better, which helps if or when their name is called for higher honors."

Three of the youngsters on the trip have been playing college basketball in the United States. They are Joe Cook-Green (Northwest Florida State College), Sam Timmins (University of Washington) and Yanni Wetzell (Vanderbilt University).

Wetzell, who spent most of his youth playing tennis before playing in his last year of high school in New Zealand, is an intriguing prospect for the Tall Blacks. The 6ft 10in (2.08m) forward played at NCAA Division II St Mary's University in Texas before recently being offered a chance to transfer to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Wetzell's new team, the Commodores, will square off against the Kentucky Wildcats in the SEC. New Zealand's Tai Wynyard is a member of the Wildcats.

Henare is looking to add more players to the Tall Blacks player pool

"The youth we have will create some really good energy, too," Henare said. "Guys like Jo Cook-Green, Sam Timmins and Yanni Wetzell have all been plying their trade in the U.S. for their respective teams and will no doubt be looking to impress in this short time frame. But I know every player, coach and member of the support staff will be champing at the bit to make the most of this experience."

Timmins, who just had his freshman season with the Washington Huskies in the Pac-12, is a FIBA 3x3 U-18 World Championship winner.

Southland Sharks duo Luke Aston and James Hunter, and Dyson King-Hawea of Australian MEBA side Nunawading Spectres, are in the 12-man group. It's the first time that each has been selected to represent New Zealand.

Some of the players could contend for a spot on the Tall Blacks roster in August when the Kiwis take on Kazakhstan, Lebanon and Korea in Group C of the FIBA Asia Cup.

Henare will also coach squads in the World Cup Asia Qualifiers First Round against China, Korea and Hong Kong.

FIBA