BASKETBALL: Veteran returns to the big-time

In the meantime Daryl Cartwright had got a haircut and a scored real job.
Not only that, but in the years since Cartwright played national league basketball for the now defunct Northland Suns as a stringbean student from Kamo High School, he has gained a few grey hairs and added a wife and child as well.
Now he is making a somewhat surprising comeback with the Tall Blacks in a test series against Venezuela starting in Napier tonight, with an eye on forcing his way into the squad for a tour to Europe, a series against Australia and a possible start at the Beijing Olympics next year.
But it's all a bit surprising since Cartwright last played for the Tall Blacks in 2003 against the Czech Republic; that's four years in the wilderness where he had virtually given up on ever returning to international basketball, got married, had a child and become a school teacher at Mt Albert Grammar School in Auckland.
"Four years is a long time, I thought that was me," Cartwright said.
"Put it this way, the Tall Blacks was definitely not on the plans. I had been out for a while and never really considered I would be named for the trials let alone given a call up to the squad," he said.
But for a number of basketball experts, Cartwright's inclusion was not totally out of the blue. A solid season for national league club Harbour Heat promoted his cause, a season where Cartwright put a long-term back injury behind him and made his mark as a mature forward who could foot it with the best.
That is a long way from the schoolboy who trotted out for the Suns more than 10 years ago. Back then Cartwright was learning the ropes and taking some knocks from some seasoned campaigners. Now he is the wily veteran with experience to boast about.
Cartwright came through Tab Baldwin's champion Auckland dynasty of the late 1990s and attended the world under-23 championships in 1997. He captained the 2001 NZ Development team in the US and Europe, and made his full Tall Black debut against China in 2002.
But it all started as a lanky schoolboy in Whangarei.
"That is such a long time ago it feels like a lifetime or two," he said.
"I mean I went from the Suns to Auckland then down to the Hawkes Bay before coming back to Auckland and North Harbour."
Now Cartwright's biggest challenge is to try and hold his place in the Tall Blacks squad, a task that won't be easy with regular starters Mark Dickel and Craig Bradshaw about to return from overseas duty and another round of selection to survive.
But with worldly knowledge to call on and a `take it as it happens' attitude, Cartwright isn't letting the situation get to him.
"I guess my style of play suits the Tall Blacks right now, Making the squad of 14 was tough and making the 12 will be tougher. All I can do is push myself, train as hard as I can and compete for one of those spots and at least push the guys around me to give their all."
The first test against Venezuela in Napier tonight will be followed with two more games in Wellington on Sunday and Monday.