Henare casts eye over young talent
Tall Blacks coach Paul Henare has one eye on the future as he prepares to put his best available Kiwi hoopsters through their paces in a four-day training camp in Wellington from tomorrow.
While there has been plenty of attention paid to the Kiwi basketball royalty missing from the latest national men’s team gathering – notably NBA star Steven Adams and the otherwise engaged Webster brothers – Thursday’s announcement of an extended squad of 20 to prepare for games against Hong Kong (June 28 in Rotorua) and China (July 1 in Auckland) also offered an insight into Henare’s forward planning.
Among the squad Henare will gather are 17-year-old Christchurch jumping jack Max Darling, 17-yearold Auckland schoolboy Kruz PerrotHunt and 18-year-old Australia-based seven-footer Tyrell Harrison.
The trio may not make the final cut for the pair of Fiba world cup qualifying games – though Henare has never been afraid to pitch a green youngster in when the occasion warrants – but the Tall Blacks coach is excited to get a close-up look at all three as he continues the process of taking care of the present while also planning for the future.
Throw in young US college-based players such as Isaac Letoa (Dartmouth University), Tobias Cameron (Abilene Christian University) and Jackson Stent (Houston Baptist University), as well as the more seasoned Jack Salt (University of Virginia), and it’s a group Henare is enthused about working with.
‘‘The process of choosing the 20 guys has been really cool,’’ said Henare. ‘‘We wanted to cast the net a lot wider, and it felt like a good time
to get some of these guys back.
‘‘I can’t wait to see the development in Jack, Jackson, Tobias and Isaac in the time they have been away, and to further integrate them into our national team culture.’’
Salt’s return, ahead of his senior year at Virginia, is especially timely, with experienced centre Alex Pledger unavailable. The 2.08m Aucklander has become a central figure in Tony Bennett’s Cavaliers who were the No 1 ranked side in college hoops this year before being upset in the first round of the national tournament.
‘‘We’re really look forward to having a look at him and seeing how he has developed,’’ added Henare. ‘‘The body has certainly developed. He has turned himself into a big unit, and big humans are always good on the basketball court.’’
Darling, the former Christ’s Col- lege standout who is making big strides with the Canterbury Rams in the NBL, is another Henare is keen to work with
‘‘We’ve been really impressed with what he can do on the court. He’s got some unique features, a massive wingspan, athletically he’s very gifted and physically he’s got some great tools. What a great opportunity it is for him to rub shoulders with Mika Vukona for four days.
‘‘Hopefully we get to know him better and he sees what we’re all about as well.’’
Harrison, a 2.13m Aussie with a Kiwi father, has also popped up on the radar as a potential bonus pickup.
‘‘He expressed an interest in playing for New Zealand one day. There are not many seven foot, athletic, long and lanky kids rolling around out there. To have one almost fall in our laps is quite pleasing.
‘‘This guy could have gone down the pathway of playing for Australia but sees something he likes in the Tall Blacks environment and it will be good to have a first-hand look at him as well.’’
Henare will have his work cut out against China without the Webster brothers, as Tai pursues an NBA tryout with the Sacramento Kings and Corey, ironically, not being released by his club in the Chinese NBL.
But there was good news with rapidly rising young point guard Shea Ili expected back in time from his tryout with the Dallas Mavericks, and still a handy core of proven performers on hand in Isaac Fotu, Tom Abercrombie, Mika Vukona, Rob Loe and Reuben Te Rangi.
Henare is well used to missing big names for national team duty and, as always, backs himself and his coaching crew to get the best out of what they do have on hand.
That process starts tomorrow in the capital.
MARC HINTON BASKETBALL