HARD OUT: Isaac Fotu does press ups at the PG Arena in Taradale, Napier. PHOTO/Paul Taylor
HARD OUT: Isaac Fotu does press ups at the PG Arena in Taradale, Napier. PHOTO/Paul Taylor
THE youngsters in the Tall Blacks are restless before embarking on a tour of Europe and Asia tomorrow.
"The young bring enthusiasm and things we haven't seen so what they add to the mix is great," said assistant coach Pero Cameron before the Tall Blacks left Napier for Auckland onThursday after a five-day camp at the Pettigrew-Green Arena, Taradale.
"We have a relatively young group and will still have to narrow it down to 12 from 14," said the 41-year-old who coaches Wellington Saints in the Bartercard National Basketball League (NBL).
Cameron said it was inevitable for teams to man the revolving door of new players coming in and older ones leaving. The balance of the bigs and smalls in the Paul Henare-coached team was "satisfying".
"They are itching to play and you need them to do that for preparation."
Asked what the Kiwis' chances are against the Australian Boomers next month, he replied: "Good - as good as any."
A healthy number had played under Australia coach Andrej Lemanis, who was at the helm of the New Zealand Breakers for eight ANBL seasons and led them to three consecutive crowns (2011-13).
"They know what he does and what he wants. A lot of our players also have played against some of the Australian players [internationally]."
Cameron says NZ will try to catch glimpses of "a good 12" Boomers who will be touring Europe next week.
"They have quality but right now it's about us," he said before the Olympic qualifying matches against them on August 15 (Melbourne) and August 18 (Wellington).
Lemanis this week reportedly dropped a bombshell in declaring future Boomers squads might be devoid of NBA players because of the depth and quality across the Tasman.
Pero Cameron
NBA championship-winning Warriors centre Andrew Bogut, Jazz point guard Dane Exum, Cavaliers cult hero Matthew Dellavedova, Bulls forward Cameron Bairstow are in the Boomers' Olympic-qualifying mix. So are NBA prospects Brock Motum, Chris Goulding and Ryan Broekhoff as well as former NBA players David Andersen and Nate Jawai.
Spurs point guard Patty Mills, Pistons centre Aron Baynes and Jazz utility Joe Ingles missed the cull with Ben Simmons and Thon Maker touted as the next kids on the NBA block for the Aussies who had a record seven players in America's premier league last season.
Steven Adams is New Zealand's only NBA player but it doesn't look like he'll be slipping on his country's singlet anytime soon.
Rookie Tall Blacks coach Henare this week said "big deals" at Adams' camp meant "from OKC's [Oklahoma City Thunders] point of view we're way down the pecking order in terms of priorities".
Pero Cameron rates the NBL "pretty good. I've been part of it when it hasn't been good and part of it when it has been better so our NBL is about something that's good for our players and putting on a good show for fans," said the former Tall Black captain.
Cameron said this year's NBL, which Southland Sharks won, had succeeded in exposing some good players and coaches.
"It's tough. A lot of players here are in Europe or play in the NBL but, once upon a time, all our Tall Blacks came from the NBL."
While Hawke's Bay was cold this week, Cameron said the people had been warm during their five-day camp at Taradale.
"It's great to see all the kids come out to support us and that's what it's about - developing for those who are aspiring to be Hawks or Tall Blacks," he said after the New Zealand team members also polished their haka, Tu Kaha O Pango Te Kahikatea.
Former Tall Black Paora Winitana, who was the IMS Payroll Hawks player/coach this year, has been in camp with the team in an "educator's" role pertaining to the haka. Winitana and Bay rugby stalwart Don Hutana specifically created the haka, which was first introduced in 2006 and went around the world via YouTube when the Tall Blacks played the USA at the World Cup late last year.
The Tall Blacks tour itinerary leading to the Olympic qualifiers:
