International teams in HoopNation mix

Jeff Green will coach a NZ Maori representative team in the HoopNation tournament at Labour Weekend. PHOTO/FILEA-160603NZHKERBREAKERS16

It will not only be some of the better basketball names from the past and present but also full international squads taking part in HoopNation this coming Labour weekend.

With entries now closed for Wanganui's third annual moneyed basketball tournament, co-organisers Paul Berridge and KJ Allen have reached their goal with 30 teams confirmed this year, well up on the 19-20 of last year and continuing the growth which started with 16 squads for the inaugural event in 2011.

Joining the headline Premier Men's division will be the full Samoa national basketball team as well as a New Zealand Maori representative side.

As a part of Fiba Oceania, the Samoan team has a proud history including having been to 16 Olympic Games the last in 2004. Berridge said the Maori team will be helmed by the colourful Jeff Green the original NZ Breakers coach and a four-time NBL championship winner with Hutt Valley and Waikato.

The squad will be a number of the fringe representative players brought together as a group for tournament experience as many of the top Maori basketballers had already committed to HoopNation.

"Players will be spread out through other teams in the Premier Men's grade," said Berridge.

The organisers are planning to stream the finals day on Labour Day Monday live on the internet, and are currently negotiating with SKY TV announcer Dan Hennessey to bring his big voice to the event.

They received a further leg up last week when Basketball New Zealand officially endorsed the tournament, a recognition Allen said they have been working towards since 2009.

"That's a huge achievement, outside of BBNZ, to be endorsed by them. They'll promote and cross market it in their networks."

BBNZ chief executive Ian Potter sent an email confirming BBNZ's approval of their event, which was published on the HoopNation Facebook page.

"The tournament will help positively profile basketball within Wanganui, as well as providing an opportunity for up and coming talent to test themselves against more experienced players."

HoopNation has also anointed their Mai FM Throw Down King from the nation-wide hunt to find the best slam dunk specialist.

Waitakere's "Killa" Cam Stuart was chosen after sending in his video performing a number of crazy dunk routines.

"He's got creativity and he's got timing. And he's got a bit of swagger about him," said Berridge.

Organisers had hoped to choose regional winners and bring them to Wanganui for finals during HoopNation, but Stuart was the clear pick of the handful who did enter and so has won an all-expenses-paid trip to Kuala Lumpur to play on the Asian All Star roster against an NBA Legends team, departing New Zealand on October 31.

HoopNation will be held at Springvale Stadium, October 26-28.