Mika Vukona: NBL player to watch

MELBOURNE (The View from Downunder) - One year ago, if it had been announced that New Zealand Breakers (NBL) combo forward Mika Vukona had signed with the league's bottom team, it would have been very hard to find someone who cared.

But when Vukona last week signed with the South Dragons, who won just five games last season, the news was celebrated by Dragons fans, lamented by Breakers supporters and lauded by Australian Boomers coach Brian Goorjian. The past 12 months have seen the Fijian born Vukona develop into one of the most exciting prospects in Oceania.

And that is exciting news for New Zealand international coach Nenad Vucinic, who will be taking his Tall Blacks to Athens in July attempting to snatch one of the three remaining Olympic berths.

Vukona made his major tournament debut for his adopted New Zealand at the 2006 FIBA World Championships, and while he made just a cameo appearance, with the retirement of "super pest" Dillon Boucher, the 25 year old will have to play a significant role of his country is to progress to Beijing.

Standing just 198cm tall, Vukona plays with an athleticism and vigour that must be seen to be believed, averaging 9 rebounds in just 22 minutes per game last season. For those familiar with rugby union, Vukona is the hoops equivalent of All Black captain Richie McCaw. For those who strictly follow hoops, his game is best summed up by saying "stay out of Vukona's way, as nothing gets between him and a loose ball."

Goorjian described Vukona's signing to the Dragons, whom he will take charge after six years with the Sydney Kings, as one of the highlights of the off-season. "He's the type of player everybody wants to play with because he's so good he makes everybody around him better," he said. "He's very, very young and he's just blossoming as a basketball player. I think he's somebody that everyone had their eye on when the free agents list came out so I think he's a tremendous signing for the club."

"Mika is a tremendous athlete, he's a tremendous defensive player, he's a team player and I think he's excited to be a part of this and again, that was one of the key criteria in the recruiting, we wanted guys who wanted to be here."

"I think he's the one that's under the radar but I am very, very excited about him."

High praise indeed. But if New Zealand do make it to the Olympics, you can bet Vukona played a large part, cleaning the glass, diving on every loose ball and setting picks to free up the Tall Blacks' super shoters Kirk Penney and Phill Jones.

Keep an eye out in Athens.

Paulo Kennedy