Basketball: Newcomer's arrival finely timed

By PETER JESSUP

The Auckland team took delivery of a large package from the United States yesterday in the form of 2.08m centre Casey Frank from Arizona via Sweden.

He won't have time for much more than a handshake and a warm-up with his new team-mates before they play Harbour at the North Shore Events Centre tonight.

In fact his match appearance is not certain and if he does play his likely time on court is not yet known.

Player/coach Kenny Stone is still bothered by the hip injury that took him out of the final minutes against Waikato.

Whatever happens with those two, it will be up to others to step up if Auckland are to take their expected win over a rebuilding Kings team.

Stepping up big-time last weekend was 20-year-old Lindsay Tait, whose genes carry an an amazing sporting heritage.

He is the son of former England and New Zealand junior and Auckland basketball representative Mike Tait.

His mother Tui played for the New Zealand juniors and was named in a senior side just as the family shifted to Sydney, where she pursued a professional career with the Sydney Supersonics, Manly and Cronulla.

Her mother, Jane Te Hira (nee Maxwell) represented New Zealand at basketball, softball and hockey in the 1950s and her brother, Henry Maxwell, was an Auckland representative league player who had 20 tests for the Kiwis between 1955 and 1960.

Lindsay is a national junior at his family's favourite sport and what he is looking for now is consistency in his game at Auckland and to perform like he did against Waikato last weekend when he top scored with 26.

Tait finished Avondale College in 2000 and has focused on basketball since then, coaching at Youthtown part-time, training and playing, with the aim of earning an overseas posting, hopefully in the United States.

He was born in Sydney and is qualified to play as a local in Australia or England, through his father.

He has had a couple of offers but as yet hasn't pursued them, in part because he has been learning all he can at home.

He played basketball from the age of six after being drawn in by a video of Michael Jordan. Now his hero is Allen Iverson (note the matching haircuts) but the one thing that has not changed is the home life.

"It's always been basketball, 24 hours-a-day," Tait said.

"Dad's been harder on me than everyone else and that's made me tougher, I guess. He and mum have taught me most of what I know."

He has also had two years under Tab Baldwin at Auckland and is hoping a knowledge of Baldwin's requirements will give him a foot in the door for Tall Black selection.

Mike Tait, coaching juniors for 10 years at Avondale College and through rep teams, has a contract with Basketball New Zealand to train three promising young Auckland guards, Lance Baker, Lawrence Barritt and his son Lindsay.

"I know he's good enough to play over there [the US ]," he said.

"It's a matter of a bit of luck and a lot of attitude."

The Waikato Titans host Nelson tonight, with Tall Black Phill Jones playing after returning from Finland. Waikato coach Jeff Green regards this as the champions' big psychological test.

"If the team who turned up last week turns up again we'll get hammered," Green said in reference to their last-gasp win over Auckland.

Giant Damon Rampton has a groin strain and is in doubt.

Tall Black guard Paul Henare plays his 100th NBL game against the Saints in Wellington.

The Hawks' coach Curtis Wooten says he is after some more intensity and hard, physical play.

"I don't want them to walk off that court saying they got out-played."

The Jets move north to Canterbury after playing Otago last night.