Steven Adams heads back to Rotorua

FLYING VISIT: Steven Adams chats with his sister Gabrielle.PHOTO/APNZ

One spectator stood head and shoulders above the players on day one of the Basketball NZ Under-23 National Championships at the ASB Arena in Tauranga yesterday.

Oklahoma Thunder's Steven Adams paid a surprise visit courtside and the 7ft 0in (2.13 m) tall centre from Rotorua was so impressed with the facilities he wants to run coaching clinics in the future.

"It is nice here, real nice. The courts are really good and I am probably going to try and get an academy or something down here," Adams said.

"It would be good to run a few camps. That would be pretty mean."

Adams, 20, hung out courtside with his mentor and Wellington coach Kenny McFadden, former Wellington teammates in action against Tauranga City and his sister Gabrielle Adams, who is a talented player in her own right with the Rotorua women's team.

In June Adams became the first New Zealander to be picked in the first round of the NBA draft when the Oklahoma Thunder selected him at No12.

He is in New Zealand on a working holiday for a week which included running a training camp for young Wellington basketballers and an autograph session with the Tall Blacks.

Adams was on his way to see his extended whanau in Rotorua before flying back to the US to renew his NBA dreams on Sunday.

"It was definitely good to catch up with old friends from basketball and Scott's College, where I went. It is always good to see the people who supported me along the way and visiting the family," he said.

The inaugural national under-23 tournament replaces the traditional under-21 event and concludes with finals on Saturday afternoon. Due to a double booking at the ASB Arena, the finals will be held at the QEII Youth centre.

Adams is a big fan of extending the age group category. "I think it is really great as there is a bit more time for the basketballers to get exposure," he said.

"There is something for the older guys as the NBL teams can come and have a look at them, check out their playing, so it is good exposure for the boys especially as well organised as this tournament is.

"It is positive for the future of basketball in New Zealand."

Adams' main goal is to make the Oklahoma Thunder's NBA roster rather than playing in the development team. He says this is his last holiday for six months.

"No more breaks bro. No days off. Just straight full-on."