Basketball: Tall Blacks tour China in preparation for Asia Cup
Photo:
Photosport
The final Tall Blacks roster spot for the FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah in August will be filled after a five game tour of China.
Basketball New Zealand has announced an 11-man squad for the Asia Cup with three more players vying for the last place on the team at the tournament where New Zealand will play Chinese Taipei, the Philippines and Iraq.
Prior to the Asia Cup, the squad will travel to China for a series of warm-up games. The Tall Blacks will play three games in the FIBA Solidarity Cup against Brazil, Guangdong and Montenegro, before playing in the Four Nations Tournament again against Brazil and a yet to be decided opponent.
The games in China are an opportunity for
under-19 player
Hayden Jones, 12-cap Tall Black Jordan Hunt and debutant centre Luca Yates to impress coach Judd Flavell.
"We'll have 13 guys to rotate through in China, and I guess we'll see what we like, what we need and where we need cover, whether that be in our wings or in our guards," Flavell said.
"We want to give guys a chance to actually pull on the black singlet and play up there. Then that'll give us the flexibility to make that decision as late as we can.
"We've basically got two or three practices together over that time in China, so we've got more games than practices.
"Overall, and I think the games in China will do this, we just want to speed up our connection. This group is very new in terms of a lot of new people coming in for the first time, there'll be new faces in the room. We want to make sure we keep things as simple as we can, so that we can have the highest execution rate leading into the Asia Cup."
Flavell has named an Asia Cup squad that includes three debutants, Jack Andrew, Mojave King, and Dontae Russo-Nance after being impressed with how the trio had performed in their respective Sal's NBL sides this season.
"The form that they've played with in the Sal's NBL and the roles and responsibilities that they've had with their teams. All of their teams were successful this past season, and a large part of that was down to how these guys contributed. All three of these guys I'm super excited for, they have an amazing opportunity in front of them right here."
The youngest of the debutants, 20-year-old Russo-Nance, is someone who Flavell has been keeping an eye on for quite some time.
"He's been on the periphery the last few windows. We just needed to see him on the floor for a large period of time so that we could see him with the responsibilities of leading his team, and carrying a workload.
"If you look at the Jets success, they probably surprised a lot of people with how well they did. They only just missed out on the playoffs, and Dontae was a big reason for that."
In Otago basketball, the last name King holds significance. With dad Leonard playing for the Nuggets, later turning to coaching, and mum Tracey also with a glittering collegiate career, Mojave King will be an exciting new addition to the Tall Blacks set up.
"We always knew that Mojave was very talented. When you look at the Tall Blacks in the past, we've had to have a guy that can score, shoot the ball and get hot. And we know Mojave can put on 10-12 points in a short period of time."
With an already well-travelled start to his young professional career, King has shown the ability to score the ball in numerous ways. In first most recent Australian NBL season with the New Zealand Breakers, King averaged 8.5 points. Alongside his recently completed Sal's NBL season with the Tauranga Whai, King averaged 22.2 points, shooting at 38 percent from beyond the arc.
Andrew's debut inclusion into the Tall Blacks squad has come from a lot of grit, hardwork and determination. He averaged 13.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.2 blocks per game over the course of a breakout season with the Taranaki Airs.
"Jack has had a phenomenal jump this season. He just really seemed to grow in confidence as well. For a big man to actually run and have a high activity rate that's something that we really like about them. He's been the first man down the floor, he's been active on the glass, and he's had great success in tandem with Carlin [Davison] off the pick and roll. I think those two have been one of the most dynamic duos."
Jones and Hunt, both of whom have had standout seasons in the Sal's NBL, will provide depth and energy for the Solidarity Cup and Four Nations tournament alongside 21-year-old Yates who holds a development player contract with the NBL champion Illawarra Hawks squad.
"I first saw him playing for the Illawarra Hawks and then got to see him up close and personal playing in the Sal's NBL. That gave us a great opportunity to see him perform each week, and playing against a lot of guys that were competing for these positions - and we just really liked what he had to offer.
"We're just really excited to have another quality big man that has good size and good level of skill. He shoots the ball well from outside, it may not be his known quality but that's a skill we really like when it comes to playing international basketball."
C - Jack Andrew* (Taranaki Airs), debutant
G - Taylor Britt (Canterbury Rams & New Zealand Breakers), 34 games
G - Flynn Cameron (Franklin Bulls & Adelaide 36ers), 28 games
F - Max Darling (Canterbury Rams & New Zealand Breakers), 9 games
F - Carlin Davison (Taranaki Airs & New Zealand Breakers), 4 games
F - Ben Gold (Marquette University), 7 games
G - Mojave King* (Tauranga Whai), debutant
G/F - Taine Murray (Brisbane Bullets), 10 games
G/F - Jordan Ngatai (Wellington Saints), 84 games
G - Dontae Russo-Nance* (Manawatū Jets), debutant
F/C - Tohi Smith-Milner (Canterbury Rams & Brisbane Bullets), 69 games
New Zealand Tall Blacks Squad additions - FIBA Solidarity Cup & Four Nations
F - Jordan Hunt (Franklin Bulls & Surrey 89ers), 12 games
G - Hayden Jones (Nelson Giants & University of Wisconsin), 1 game
C - Luca Yates* (Hawke's Bay Hawks & Illawarra Hawks), debutant
26 July - Tall Blacks v Brazil
27 July - Tall Blacks v Guangdong
28 July - Tall Blacks v Montenegro
30 July - Tall Blacks v Brazil
31 July - Tall Blacks v TBC
5 August - Tall Blacks v Iraq
8 August - Tall Blacks v Philippines
10 August - Tall Blacks v Chinese Taipei
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Fiji coach doubles down on claim NZ Rugby contracts restrict players from representing Pacific nations
Byrne claims he has spoken to some player agents who confirmed that there is an agreement players sign, and these are attached to their contracts. Photo: Fiji Rugby Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne has told RNZ Pacific that New Zealand-based players of Pacific Island heritage have signed letters of agreement attached to their contracts, which bar them from playing for teams other than the All Blacks. In an exclusive interview with RNZ Pacific, Byrne said that while New Zealand Rugby has publicly stated that players contracted to NZ-based Super Rugby clubs are free to choose which national team they want to represent, he has been told otherwise. This follows comments he made in June, stating that some players of Fijian heritage playing Super Rugby Pacific in New Zealand have been unable to play for Fiji because their contracts ban them from doing so. Byrne claims he has spoken to some player agents who confirmed that there is an agreement players sign, and these are attached to their contracts. "I know New Zealand Rugby came out and said they're not contracted; well to the letter of the law, they're probably not, but they have a letter attached to their contract that they signed that they can't play," Byrne said. "At the moment, I'm trying to chase down a couple of players. Since we spoke, a couple of the players have been taken into wider training squads, but there's still a couple of players there that I'd like to talk to, but we still need to get their approval. "I know New Zealand Rugby said I was wrong, but I've done some investigations and spoken with agents, and they've told me that the players actually signed a letter attached to their contract, and there's a little bit more to it. "I'd actually like to get some more details. I'm investigating and trying to find out exactly where we're at." NZ Rugby Photo: Photosport However, he said there is light at the end of the tunnel, as there is a process that can be followed to get players released from their current arrangements while still honouring their player contracts. "But my understanding is I can't just say if a player wants to play for Fiji. I can't just sign him and get him to play. "I have to go through a process to get him cleared to be released from current letter of arrangement that New Zealand Rugby have with these players." Last month, a New Zealand Rugby spokesperson told RNZ Pacific that, while the they could not comment on individual players, the union was clear on what it can do, including offering contracts to up to three players who may not opt to play for New Zealand. Responding to Byrne's claims, New Zealand Rugby maintained that players have the freedom to choose which national union pathway they wish to pursue and that is declared at the time they sign their contracts. "NZR's five Super Rugby Pacific clubs have the ability to contract up to three 'non-NZ eligible players' who have already played internationally (including for Pacific Island nations Samoa, Tonga or Fiji) or who have declared their intent to play internationally for a non-NZ national team at international level and therefore not make themselves eligible for NZ national teams. "All other players contracted to NZR's five Super Rugby clubs have declared their availability and intention to represent NZ national teams over the duration of their contract." Byrne is interested to discuss options with Blues' Hoskins Sotutu, Crusaders' George Bower and Highlanders pair Jona Nareki and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens. Former All Black Sotutu will be eligible to play for Fiji this year and is also eligible for England through his mother. Bower, who was also going to be eligible to play for Fiji this year, has since been recalled into the All Blacks by head coach Scot Robertson, and is named on the bench for Saturday's third Test against France in Hamilton. Both Nareki and Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens are currently contracted to the Highlanders and have both indicated their willingness to play for Fiji. Byrne said he will continue to pursue the issue and hopes to have some positive news soon. With the 2027 Rugby World Cup in 24 months, the Fiji head coach is hopeful he will be able to use some of the New Zealand-based players during the 2026 build-up campaign.
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
F1: Liam Lawson's confidence just fine
New Zealand F1 driver Liam Lawson. Photo: ANTONIN VINCENT / PHOTOSPORT New Zealand driver Liam Lawson said his confidence has never taken a hit. Lawson is preparing for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend with the pressure remaining well and truly on his shoulders. He is 16th in the Drivers' Championship standings having scored points just twice in 12 races so far this season, while his Racing Bulls team is seventh out of 10 in the Constructors' Championship. The 23-year-old started the season alongside world champion Max Verstappen at Red Bull, but was demoted after just two GP's, replaced by Yuki Tsunoda. With a three week break, Lawson has had time to reflect on the first half of the season and spoke to "Obviously, the start of the year, [we had] the big shake-up with the team switch, and then not really having the time to get to grips with things, racing every weekend, and trying to be at the level that I need to be at. It's been a lot," Lawson said. He admits he hasn't really had a chance to process what has gone on so far, but hopes to do that when the calendar takes a four week break in August. "We all know we have a couple more races coming up before then. You're still in that mindset, you're still thinking about what just happened, how we're going to improve in the next couple of races, and how I'm going to improve myself. You're just in it." New Zealand F1 driver Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls, Austria 2025. Photo: ALBERTO VIMERCATI / PHOTOSPORT It has been a tough year for the young Kiwi with the difficulties of performing in the Red Bull car (which Yuki Tsunoda has struggled with also), adjusting to the new team and taking on new tracks. "It's been very heavily speculated that my confidence took a hit and stuff like this, which is completely false. From the start of the year, I felt the same as I always have." In his first two races for Racing Bulls, Lawson finished 17th in Japan and 16th in Bahrain, he also had DNF's (Did Not Finish) in Miami, Canada and Great Britain. Limited testing time has also been an issue for Lawson for has had to familiarise himself with the car in race mode each week. "I've just ignored everything that happened, and I've just focused on trying to drive the car - but I know there was a lot of stuff that went out that was speculation about how I was feeling. "My confidence hasn't changed since the start of the year to now," Lawson told Remaining F1 Grands Prix: July 27, Belgium August 3, Hungary August 31, Dutch September 7, Italy (Monza) September 21, Azerbaijan October 5, Singapore October 19, US (Texas) October 26, Mexico November 9, Brazil November 22, Las Vegas November 30, Qatar December 7, Abu Dhabi Racing Bulls F1 lineup (L to R) Iasck Hadjar, Liam Lawson and Laurent Mekies. Photo: ANTONIN VINCENT / AFP
RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
How did Leka Halasima snatch NRL victory for Warriors over Newcastle?
Warriors celebrate Leka Halasima's gamewinning try against Newcastle Knights. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport In 2025, NZ Warriors have made a habit of pulling victory out of the jaws of defeat. Their comfortable position in the playoff race is based on a handful of early-season performances, where they either made key offensive plays near the end or defensively repelled torrid comebacks over the final stages. Their 20-15 win over Newcastle Knights was something else again, as they leaked three first-half tries and had to claw their way back into the contest after the break. In the end, the result came down to an incredible play from a young star that has made a habit of stamping his presence on games in his breakout season. Hard to go past the final seconds, when Boyd's desperate field-goal attempt was charged down, but the ball fell to second-rower Leka Halasima, who rumbled 40 metres to the tryline to save his team's blushes. "I'll take it," Warriors coach Andrew Webster said. "I've been on the end of a few of those - I think every team has at some stage. "I liked the way we kept fighting, we kept going after the moment. It wasn't happening for us. "We just came up with a freakish play from a young guy that's got heaps of talent - that's what he's got in his toolkit." Boyd had a solid enough second outing for the Warriors, replacing Luke Metcalf in the No.7 jersey , after his predecessor suffered a season-ending knee injury last month. He was on target off the tee to convert all three tries and added a penalty, but he'd love to have those last hectic minutes back. His first field goal attempt was the closest, but sliced right. Two others never really had a chance, while his 35-metre penalty attempt - the result of an offside defender rushing at him - was also pushed wide. "Lots of halves will have those big moments at the end," Webster said. "He just wanted to keep having a crack at it - he didn't hide. "He's just going to improve every week and the team will get better as they get used to him." At that moment, victory seemed to have slipped through the Warriors' fingers, but the rugby league gods had one last opportunity in store for them. Last week, against Wests Tigers, Halasima produced two moments of brilliance for two late tries, chasing a high kick to the goal area, where five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita swooped on a loose ball to score, before outmuscling his markers to score himself. Still a teenager, his teammates have been in awe of Halasima this season, with co-captain Mitch Barnett describing him as a "freak". He has now scored eight tries, equalling Metcalf for the club lead, and the move to extend his current contract through 2029 looks a very smart piece of business by the Warriors. Halasima also made a crucial trysaving tackle on Knights centre Fletcher Hunt in the first half, after fullback Taine Tuaupiki ran down Bradman Best over the length of the field. "He's his toughest critic around his defence and he works really hard at it," Webster said. "He's still got a long way to go, but I thought that was an inspirational passage of play. "We all celebrate the one at the end, but he's got some other brilliant stuff in him." In a week when rumours of his departure swirled , veteran winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was again sharp, running for a game-high 265 metres, while hooker Wayde Egan led his team with 37 tackles. The Warriors were first to score and seemed to have another try soon after, when Egan reached out and planted the ball over the line in a tackle. The try was ruled out for a double movement, with Egan's elbow touching the ground before he stretched the extra few centimetres. Webster wasn't happy about that call or the later one that allowed tackled Knights winger Greg Marzhew to offload from the ground to fullback Dane Gagai for a try. Webster insisted Egan's movement was a continuation, rather than another action, arguing the elbow never lifted off the ground, while Marzhew's pass "looked like rugby union, not rugby league". "At the same time, I thought the Knights were very good," he said. "I don't want to take anything away from their effort tonight, but I thought those two calls were very tough." Returning from Origin duty and a week off to recover, Kurt Capewell lined up at centre , but failed to go the distance with what seemed like a knee injury, suffered just before halftime. He went another 25 minutes after the break, but finished the contest on the bench, so his status for next week must be in doubt. Next option would be Ali Leiataua, who actually played fullback, as the reserves extended their winning streak to 13 games in NSW Cup. Tuaupiki had to leave for a head check, but returned to the game. He's taken a beating in recent weeks, concussed in cup play last month, missing a week, then taking another big hit against Wests last week. He was more subdued than usual this week on attack, but incumbent Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will likely return from his knee injury next week. Traditionally, at this time of the season, Warriors fans are left hanging by their fingernails, clinging to 'mathematical chances' of reaching the playoffs. This season, they get to enjoy the opposite countdown, with a post-season spot looming large. This result gives them 12 wins from 17 games for fourth on the NRL table. They're four points behind leaders Canberra Raiders, who still have a bye to come, and four points clear of their nearest pursuers, Brisbane Broncos. Four-time defending champions Penrith Panthers are another point behind, after their terrible start. Most importantly, the Warriors are eight points ahead of the ninth-placed Dolphins, who have their last bye next week, with seven games remaining. They face each other at Mt Smart the following week. A disastrous run of losses could still hijack their campaign, but five of the Warriors' last seven games are against teams currently outside the top eight. Next Saturday, the Warriors return home on a short turnaround to face bottom-of-the-table Gold Coast Titans, who lost a heartbreak to Wests Tigers this week. This could be a banana-skin game for the home side, who lost twice to their rivals last season - an Anzac Day game at home and a 66-6 horror show across the ditch. On both occasions, the Titans were bottom of the pile, but managed to avoid the wooden spoon, thanks largely to these two valuable and somewhat unexpected victories. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
