Mcrae gets Tall Blacks shot
Manawatu schoolboy Callum Mcrae has been named in the Tall Blacks training squad ahead of the side’s trip to China and the Fiba Asia Cup in Lebanon next month.
The Palmerston North Boys’ High School student was one of 14 players named to trial for 12 spots in Auckland from July 20-26.
Mcrae has been away with the Junior Tall Blacks at the under-19 World Cup in Cairo.
The towering centre is in his final year of school.
Tall Blacks coach Paul Henare named a development-level group of triallists for his squad’s first foray into the newly aligned international landscape for the Asia Cup in Lebanon from August 8-20, and a visit to China beforehand.
Missing are a veritable who’s who of Kiwi hoops.
He has spared senior Tall Blacks from New Zealand’s first foray into the Asia zone so the likes of Corey and Tai Webster, Mika Vukona, Tom Abercrombie, Isaac Fotu, Rob Loe, Alex Pledger, Jarrod Kenny, Everard Bartlett and BJ Anthony are all absent. Mike Karena is also out injured and Steven Adams continues his national no-show.
Throw in Us-based collegians either injured or not released such as Tai Wynyard, Jack Salt, Sam Waarenburg, Dan Fotu, Izayah Leafa, Yanni Wetzel and Matt Freeman, and it’s a group that, at best, can be labelled ‘‘emerging’’.
Still, Henare is adamant this is the best way forward as he prioritises for the World Cup qualifiers in November, 2017, February, 2018, and June/july, 2018, where the Tall Blacks will seek to book a place at the 2019 World Cup in China, and beyond that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
‘‘Looking at the schedule and looking ahead, we thought we’d use this as an opportunity to rest some of the more experienced guys, but more so to create an opportunity for some of these young guys and see if we can get them up to speed as quickly as possible, because we may need to call on some of them over the next few years,’’ he said from las Vegas where he is scouting talent for the Breakers.
There is at least some international experience among the 14 contenders for the Asia Cup, with Shea Ili, Reuben Te Rangi, Finn Delany, Derone Raukawa, Ethan Rusbatch and Jordan Ngatai all having had time with the Tall Blacks previously.
There is also some decent size provided by University of Washington-based Sam Timmins, 2.12m Mcrae and 2.08m James Hunter.
The other main benefit of sparing so many senior players this event is giving them a proper off-season to refresh and prepare for their commitments ahead, Henare added.
Included among the youthful triallists are Junior Tall Blacks Isaac Letoa, Quinn Clinton, Taane Samuel and Mcrae, who helped the side finish 11th at the recent under-19 World Cup.