MELBOURNE (Paulo Kennedy's View from Downunder) - The New Zealand National Basketball League (NZ NBL) has long been a well-kept secret.

With a compact 8-10 team format, and most of the highly competitive New Zealand national team taking part, the standard has been likened to that of the better division two European competitions.

But things have changed a little of late.

With the New Zealand Breakers encouraging their stars to pick up short-term European deals after the shortened Australian season, we now see Tall Blacks guns Mika Vukona, Corey Webster and Tom Abercrombie in Italy, Serbia and Spain respectively.

When you consider Kirk Penney, Rob Loe and Isaac Fotu are also in Europe, with Steven Adams and Tai Webster stateside, the majority of Tall Blacks are no longer in the local league.

While that is bad news for the standard of the competition, the good news for Kiwi basketball is someone needs to fill the hole left by the country's best players.

Long-time Tall Black Paul Henare has taken over the coaching reins from the legendary Nenad Vucinic, while doubts linger about the availability of Adams and Penney for this winter's FIBA Oceania Championship, the Olympic qualifying series against Australia.

Basketball New Zealand this week announced a pretty decent pre-Oceania tour featuring dates with Great Britain, Croatia, Slovenia, China, Mexico and Venezuela.

The big question is who will be in Henare's 14-man touring squad? Perhaps the answer to that is similar to the answer to who's filling the talent gap in the NZ NBL.

Four rounds into the season, one name that stands out is Brook Ruscoe, who showed the planet at the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship that he can hoop.

The dearth of professional opportunities for youngsters in Australia and New Zealand have hurt him in the interim, but he appears to be making some serious strides this season.

Averaging 19.6 points and 4.4 assists for the Manawatu Jets, Ruscoe is making an early claim for a guard spot this international season, an area where the Tall Blacks definitely need some fresh blood.

Richie Edwards was another member of the 2009 Junior Tall Blacks, and while a lack of appetite for the less glamorous aspects of the game have supposedly held him back, he is putting up some impressive numbers for the Canterbury Rams.

Four games in the 24-year-old is averaging 19.5 points and shooting a spectacular 46 per cent from long range. Those are eye-catching figures.

Of course, the key questions about defence, desire and willingness to make the team better remain. They will be answered in time, but hopefully his time with the Adelaide 36ers and their international veterans last summer has instilled some good habits.

Reuben Te Rangi will be competing with Richards for the back-up small forward position and, after an Australian NBL season that was undoubtedly hampered by his assault charges, he has made a solid start to the Kiwi season.

Averaging 15 points and 5.8 rebounds, Te Rangi is again looking like the precocious teen who burst onto the senior international scene with deserved fanfare.

His 29 per cent three-point shooting is a concern, however, particularly after connecting at just 26 percent for the Breakers and compared to the efficient shooting of fellow small forwards Abercrombie, Edwards and...

Leon Henry, who is nailing 42 per cent from deep as he contributes 15.4 points and 6.8 rebounds for the in-form Wellington Saints.

Henry appeared to be in hoops limbo after his conviction on serious assault charges - and it is still unclear how that will affect his international career - but after a surprisingly strong season for the Townsville Crocs he will be in the mix if available.

Another name to consider is Nelson Giants young gun Finn Delaney, who at 19 is averaging 9.5 points and 6 rebounds in 18 minutes.

While he may not be pressing hard for Tall Blacks selection on current form alone, rest assured Henare is aware of the combo forward's enormous potential and will be looking to help fast-track his development.

Perhaps on a slightly disappointing note is the combined 9-of-40 three-point shooting of young shooting guards Brad Anderson and Marco Alexander.

Both enjoyed time in NBL programs this summer - development players for New Zealand and Melbourne respectively - and the Tall Blacks desperately need some young guards who can punish defences from deep, but it hasn't happened to date.

The good news is Anderson is shooting 50 per cent from inside the arc on his way to 13.3 points and 2.5 assists for the Taranaki Mountain Airs, so expect to see him in national team camp if that continues.

From an Australian point of view, two emerging players who have both worn the green and gold have been putting their stamp on the NZ NBL.

Todd Blanchfield would be delighted his Townsville club appear certain of continuing in 2015/16 after time in voluntary administration, and he would be just as happy with his 25.8 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Southland Sharks.

The 23-year-old is continuing the super form that delivered him the NBL's Most Improved Player award and All-Second Team selection this past season.

While his 28 per cent three-point shooting is a concern, with Joe Ingles missing the FIBA Oceania Championship expect the ever-improving Blanchfield to be squarely in the mix to replace him.

Jason Cadee could be described as an enigma given his impressive performances in the FIBA U19 World Championship, Nike Hoop Summit and World University Games haven't translated to professional level.

But the reality is he is a late developer who has a boy's body, but when he truly becomes a man look out - his 23.8 points, 4 assists and and 41 percent long-range shooting confirm there is no lack of talent there.

Whether that talent will ever be converted to a back-up role for the Boomers remains to be seen.

The NZ NBL might not have the stars we've been accustomed to, but don't ignore it, because the future is on the Kiwi hardwood and at the moment it's shining bright.

Paulo Kennedy

FIBA

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