Larsen makes a point of the three-point plays
University of Hawaii women’s assistant coach Darron Larsen has called on Kiwi girls to put more emphasis on their three-point shooting.
The former Manawatu¯ Jets stalwart was back in Palmerston North as one of the many scouts who came to town to watch the nation’s best young basketballers at the Basketball New Zealand Secondary Schools Nationals.
The Palmerston North-raised coach, who spent 12 years playing with the Jets before nine years in a coaching roles, left for the United States to coach at Pepperdine University in 2015.
He has been with the University of Hawaii since July.
Larsen was keen to see more top Kiwi girls come through the Hawaii programme.
Tall Ferns’ alumni Tania Tupu played for Hawaii in the 1990s, and Ashleigh Karaitiana played for Hawaii between 2012 to early 2016.
More and more New Zealand players are setting their goals on United States basketball scholarships.
Larsen said they have to consider their style of play.
‘‘Probably the weakest thing I’ve seen here at the tournament is the outside shooting. Three-point shooting is such a big part of the game in our days. A lot of countries are getting rid of the mid-range game and they’re either to the rim, or kick out for threes.
‘‘Australia has taken that philosophy and obviously they’re one of the top teams, especially in the junior side and the women’s side too – top four in the world – so their philosophy is one that has consistently shown around the world that you need to be able to shoot from the perimeter.
‘‘So, advice to the Kiwi girls is to work on their perimeter shooting, obviously their ability to get to the rim, and really get some knockdown shooters. That would help them get to the next level, and then take that to the Tall Ferns and lift ourselves on the world stage.’’
But he added that ha had noticed the Kiwi basketball talent evolving.
‘‘When I was playing High School Nationals, you were lucky to have one or two players over 6’ 3’’ (1.9m). You look across the boys’ leagues [now] they have at least three or four guys 6’7’’ (2m) and above.
‘‘On the girls’ side it’s a little more spread out. You have some really talented kids obviously playing in the top schools, but generally the standard has lifted so you’ll have a couple of teams knock off some big teams, it’s become more consistent throughout the girls’ side instead of your standard one or two teams that will win every year.
‘‘the physicality has improved immensely, especially in the girls [tournament].’’