NZL - Junior Tall Blacks taking shape

AUCKLAND (2009 FIBA 019 World Championship) - From a pre-Christmas extended squad of 30, the NZ Junior Tall Blacks squad for July's 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship for Men in Auckland has almost reached its final form.

Head coach Kenny McFadden and his coaching staff, including assistant Judd Flavell, video technician Joszef Molnar and technical advisor Mike McHugh, trimmed the squad to 15 following the JTBs third preparation camp at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua over Easter.

Porirua's Matt Aird and Tipene Friday, Nelson's Josh Bloxham and Hutt Valley's Riki Buckrell, who all made their JTB debuts at the Big V Pre-season Tournament in Melbourne last month survived, along with fellow rookie, Otago's Tom Rowe, while five players who suited up for the JTBs in 2008 did not escape the cut.

Also included in the squad were Richie Edwards, Dion Prewster and James Holland, who have not been part of this JTBs process to date, with high school and junior college commitments in the USA.

Returning players include Canterbury point guard Logan van Beek, Porirua shooting guard Brook Ruscoe, Harbour centre Rob Loe, Wellington's David Beck and Hemi Pairama-Lewington, and Otago's Sam King and Morgan Nathan.

"It's starting to get really serious," McFadden said. "It's time to start fine-tuning. The last cut we had and now this cut, it's very close. There's not much difference talent-wise between the players.

"It's just who do we think we can do our best with in those first round games against Argentina, Croatia and Kazakhstan. That's what it's all about. We need players who are versatile and can cover different positions."

Holland will return to New Zealand in mid-May and be worked-out by McFadden, while Prewster will return in late-May and Edwards in early-June.

"We've still got our last cut to do, down to 12, that will be at the end of May and that will be the 12 that go to the world championship. We'll pick probably four reserves that will be there in case we have some injuries.

"We pretty much know what Dion and Richie bring to the table but we need to see what James Holland can do."

Counties Manukau's Poutu Edwards, Waitakere City's Duane Bailey, Nelson' s Adam Rainbird and Wellington's Tom du Chatenier and Thomas Webb, who all represented the JTBs last year, missed the cut, as did Auckland's David Garbett Ovens, while Melbourne-based Te Puao Silver was also elminated from consideration.

Between now and late-May, when the squad will re-assemble in Porirua for the final preparation phase, the group is split between Auckland and Wellington, with specific workout and training schedules.

Ruscoe, Friday, Buckrell, Beck, Pairama-Lewington and Aird train with McFadden, and occasionally with the Wellington Saints, in the capital. Van Beek, who has joined the Auckland Stars squad, Rowe, Loe, King and Nathan train with Flavell as part of the NZ Breakers Academy on the North Shore, while Bloxham is based in Nelson as a starter with the Nelson Giants, where Molnar is assistant coach.

The 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship, featuring 16 of the best U19 teams in the world, will be held at the North Shore Events Centre and ASB Stadium from July 2-12.

NZ Junior Tall Blacks Squad

Matt Aird (Porirua), James Holland (USA), David Beck (Wellington), Josh Bloxham (Nelson), Riki Buckrell (Hutt Valley), Richie Edwards (USA), Tipene Friday (Porirua), Sam King (Otago), Rob Loe (Harbour), Morgan Nathan (Otago), Hemi Pairama-Lewington (Wellington), Dion Prewster (USA), Tom Rowe (Otago), Brook Ruscoe (Porirua), Logan van Beek
(Canterbury)

Head coach: Kenny McFadden
Assistant coach: Judd Flavell
Video Technician: Joszef Molnar
Technical Advisor: Mike McHugh
Manager: Debbie Webb
Programme Director: Deslea Wrathall