New Zealand - Mixed news for Saints in squad

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X-factor Saints forward Leon Henry is among four Wellington Saints players selected for next month's Tall Blacks trials.

The selections of Henry, Brendon Polyblank, Nick Horvath and Lindsay Tait in a 19-man national squad named yesterday were a boost to the Saints four days from their National Basketball League home semifinal.

But the omission of veteran guard Troy McLean and versatile forward Arthur Trousdell will be greeted with some dismay by their teammates.

"I think Troy and Arthur deserved to be there," Saints coach Doug Marty said. "They are certainly performing to a level high enough to be in that group. But I've been in that position before as a selector, and it's hard to narrow it down."

It is particularly surprising McLean, a Tall Black in 2006, has not been included on the list. The 28-year-old has had a strong NBL season, averaging 14.6 points a game and shooting 40.7 per cent from three-point range.

"I would certainly put Troy up against any shooting guard in the NBL, import or otherwise," Marty said. "It's hard to know why he's not there and I would have to talk to Nenad, but I guess - not that Troy's old, I think he's in his prime - but they could be going for youth maybe."

Tall Blacks coach Nenad Vucinic could not be reached in Estonia last night, where he has just accepted a job to coach professionally.

But Vucinic has clearly gone for a mix of height and youth for a squad that is missing familiar faces in retired veterans Dillon Boucher, Tony Rampton and Phill Jones, and unavailable point guards Mark Dickel and Paul Henare.

There are nine new faces in the trials, including relatively unknown American-based 21-year-olds, guard Tom Abercrombie, and seven-footer Alex Pledger.

For Polyblank it is a return to the fold four years in the wilderness and reward for a strong season in Switzerland and return to NBL, where he leads the league in field goal percentage.

Henry is picked more on promise that actual deeds, but for those who have seen him play this season the 2007 emerging Tall Black is a welcome addition.

"I think that's why he's on that list, because he just has so much talent and so much upside," Marty said.

"He reminds me of Scotty Pippen [former Chicago Bulls player] because he has all the tools to do so many things."

The trial squad will be whittled down to 14 for the Tall Blacks series against Australia later this month, then 12 for the Fiba Olympic qualifying tournament in Greece.

Meanwhile, the Saints' semifinal opponent will be the winner of tomorrow night's quarterfinal between the Bay Hawks and the Nelson Giants in Napier.

In the other quarterfinal to be played on Wednesday night, the Harbour Heat will host the Auckland Stars with the winner to play the Waikato Pistons on June 13.