Basketball: Young guard shows his mettle

By PETER JESSUP

Lindsay Tait was rated the best guard in the national competition by his coach Kenny Stone this week - high praise indeed for a 22-year-old playing against Olympians and experienced imports.

Tait showed he was worthy by leading the Auckland Stars to two away wins, and this weekend he is looking to do it again.

He opposed Hawkes Bay Hawks' and Tall Blacks' point guard Paul Henare last night and is up against the Manawatu Jets and their four-Australian line-up, plus new import Anthony Lever, today.

Tait grew an arm and a leg in his just-completed season with the Breakers.

He had limited experience of the Australian league when drafted into the Victoria Giants in mid-season 2002/03, playing only one game.

Last NBL season he played 20 of the Breakers' 33 games, getting a chance due to injuries, and grabbing it with both hands to finish the season as a regular.

The franchise has signed only four players so far for 2003/04, waiting to see out the domestic league before committing, but Tait is sure to be one of the first snapped up once contracts are on offer.

And he has no intention at this stage of going anywhere else.

Tait has the benefit of his well-experienced father, Mike, as his harshest critic.

"He's giving me tips all the time, he's always coaching me. He keeps me on the straight and narrow, too," Tait said.

Tait is focused on a shot at the Tall Black team for the Athens Olympics. He had a taste playing the Czech Republic at home and going with the squad to the Istanbul tournament that prepared them for the Oceania qualifying series against Australia.

"International level is the ultimate - to make that team to Athens, that's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Tait has been marked for greatness for some time, not least because of his family.

His mother, Tui, was heavily involved in the game as player then coach, and she and sister Wana help with court management for the Stars.

Tait was part of an Avondale College team who produced several national junior reps and NBL players, and was in national teams from the age of 18.

In 2000, the then-Auckland coach, Tab Baldwin, started him in the NBL and he has been with the Stars since, improving gradually until the past year, when he dominated on court .

He admits that is something he learned in the Australian league.

"It is tougher, more physical. I always thought I was equipped to handle it, but after that season, well, if you're confident in one of the best leagues in the world then you should be confident in the New Zealand league, too."

Against Canterbury, the Stars took a 20-0 lead before winning 81-63. Tait top-scored.

He decided to grab the game. "We hadn't been doing too well up to then, so I tried to come out and be aggressive and it worked."

It worked again against Otago, another in which he top-scored.

The months with Victoria helped him to grow up a bit, he said.

The Breakers have matured him. He is not afraid to say now that he wants to make the same impact in the Australian league next season.

"That's what you aim for, to contribute at the higher level."

It helped having known players such as Pero Cameron and Dillon Boucher through the Auckland team.

And training with the Breakers prepared him for the physicality of the big Australian players.

"Training every day with Pero, Iona [Enosa] and Mike [Homik], it was just like a game and I got used to it."

With the less-intensive training regimen for the Stars, Tait is taking coaching clinics in schools, but still makes time every day to get in extra practice with Homik and Stars forward Reece Cassidy at Youthtown, where Tui works.

"I want to keep improving my game."

Tait said the Stars were never despondent during their slow start to the season. They have known each other a while and knew their combinations would improve, but two away wins certainly lifted their confidence.

LINDSAY TAIT

* Born 8/12/82.

* 190cm 90kg point guard, shirt No 4.

* Auckland Stars 2000-04.

* Victoria Giants 2002/03.

* NZ Breakers 2003/04, 20 games, 114 points (44/90 f/g, 5/14 3s), 30 rebounds, 20 turnovers, 28 assists.

* NZ rep from U-18 level up, Tall Black 2003.