AUCKLAND (FIBA Asia Cup 2017) - New Zealand coach Paul Henare has settled on his Tall Blacks roster for the FIBA Asia Cup after telling Angus McWilliam, Callum McRae and Quinn Clinton they will not be traveling to Beirut.

The trio were members of the Anchor Junior Tall Blacks that played the FIBA U19 World Cup recently staged in Cairo, Egypt.

Isaac Letoa, Luke Aston, James Hunter, Dyson King-Hawea and Sam Timmins will each represent the country for the first time in a senior tournament.

"The great thing about young players is their eagerness to learn and the freshness with which they approach everything," Henare said.

"Many of them have had a taste of international basketball with the select team but they know that this is another level. I am fascinated to see how they react to the chance they have been given."

Reuben Te Rangi, along with Finn Delany and Shea Ili, have experience in the big tournaments and have been named to a three-man leadership group.

Ili played at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila

Te Rangi will be the captain.

"I am extremely proud of Reuben and his development these past few years," Henare said. "I have known him a long time and watched him progress as a player and as a man.

"He has been superb in camp and has shown natural leadership qualities that will be important to this group. He was a unanimous choice among the management team for the captaincy."

At the FIBA Asia Cup, which tips off August 8 in Beirut, New Zealand will go up against Kazakhstan, Korea and Lebanon in Group C.

"We have spoken about our goals," Henare said. "We have spoken about what is expected of this group and they understand the opportunity that is in front of them, as individuals and as a group.

"The Asia Cup is a great opportunity for us, the first of many international challenges over the next 12 months, and it is important that we continue to build the depth of our playing pool, and ensure that we have players with international experience to call upon at any time."

FIBA