BASKETBALL: Taihape-born James Paringatai flies to Sydney this weekend to trial for the Australian champion Sydney Kings National Basketball team team.
The 18-year-old 6ft 5in former Wanganui City College player is regarding the trial as "another stepping stone to my aim of an American Collegiate scholarship."
Paringatai, who played for the Palmerston
North Jets in the New Zealand NBL this year, is one of two New Zealanders chosen to trial for the Sydney Kings next week.
The other is talented Aucklander Leon Henry who is also a wing or swing player.
The Kings, who are coached by Australian men's coach Brian Goorjin, are chasing a third successive Australian NBL title.
Paringatai, who played two seasons with Wanganui City College and went to Australia with the New Zealand under-20 and under-23 teams, has just recovered from a lung collapse. He was disappointed he did not get more game time with the PN Jets, who finished fifth in the NZ NBL this year.
"We were a better side than that ? we should have reached the semi-finals. It was a disappointing season really."
Paringatai, who is a member of the Tab Baldwin New Zealand high performance school, is delighted at an invite to the week-long Sydney trials which he regards as "a great opportunity to advance my career."
His aim, however, is to play basketball in America.
The Sydney Kings invite is another feather in the cap for long-serving Wanganui City College basketball coach Stacy Williams who has a fine record in the sport.
At least six of his college squads have made national honours including Paringatai, Jesse Wallis (2004 NZ under-18 team) and Eric Hancox (recently named in the 2005 NZ under-18 side).
Williams, WCC coach for six years, guided to the college to seventh place in the nationals this year.
