Basketball: Tall Black Penney not cleared

Tall Blacks basketball guard Kirk Penney is training with the national team in Auckland, although he still has not been cleared to play against Australia tomorrow night.

He has been diagnosed with a mild disc sprain in his back.

New Zealand and Australia play the first of three World Championship qualifiers at Waitakere Stadium.

Kirk Penney top scored with 25 points in New Zealand's loss to the Boomers in Sydney last week .

More should be known this afternoon whether Penney plays.

Australian coach Brian Goorjian says Penney is a class player, but the Tall Blacks have depth in their squad.

Goorjian says the strength of the Tall Blacks is their balance, with a large group of experienced players who have been together for a number of years.

- NEWSTALK ZB