Basketball: Wynyard commits to University of Kentucky

Tai Wynyard. Photo / Sarah Ivey.

Breakers development player and young Tall Black Tai Wynyard has committed to attending one of America's top Universities, confirming he will go to the Kentucky Wildcats in 2016.

The 16-year-old Year 13 Rangitoto College student made his decision following a week-long trip to the US earlier this month, where he also fielded scholarship offers from Villanova University and Texas University.

He attended the Wildcat's home win over Missouri two weeks ago giving him his first up-close look at a US college game.

The 2.01 metre tall power forward is the first member of the 2016 class but that could change if he reclassifies and enrolls at Kentucky for next season after finishing his studies in December.

"Kentucky seemed like the best fit for me," Wynyard told Kentucky's Courier Journal today.

"They are going to push you to their max no matter who you are or what you do. If you are the best player in the country or the world, they're going to push you. That's the thing that really got to me. No other college really said that to me, and that's why I chose them."

Wynyard became the youngest Tall Black when he took the court against South Korea last July, and trained with the extended squad prior to the FIBA World Cup, before missing the final cut.

He attracted interest from American scouts after an impressive showing in the Jordan Brand International all-star game in New York last April, scoring two points and grabbing one rebound.

His amateur status with the Breakers means there are no issues with his NCAA eligibility.

Wynyard's athletic prowess is no doubt assisted by his parents, Jason, who was a world champion wood chopper, and Karmyn, who played for the Tall Ferns.

Word of his wood-chopping lineage spread quickly while he was attending the Wildcats game, prompting fans to call him "The Lumberjack".

While it's a nickname that might stick, Wynyard assured the local media that his own wood-chopping days were long over.

"I didn't want to cut my toes off," he said.