New York basketball pro now coach of Tauranga City

When New Yorker Tony Webster came out to play some basketball for North Shore in the 1980s he had no long term plans to stay here.

But stay he did, and over the years he has played a pivotal role in North Harbour basketball becoming a powerhouse of the game at all levels.

He has also coached New Zealand age group teams to Junior Tall Blacks level and his two sons, Tai and Corey, have played for the Tall Blacks.

Now in what Tauranga City Basketball general manager Mark Rogers calls "a real coup" Webster has shifted to Tauranga to take charge of the development of players here.

Rogers and Webster have known each other since the 1980s with Rogers his assistant coach in national age group teams.

It is hard to wipe the smile off Rogers' face as he talks about finally getting his man to join him at Tauranga City Basketball.

"Someone of his calibre is going to be great for our association and the kids he is going to be coaching," Rogers said.

"We are on the cusp of taking the next jump with our rep and development programmes and getting results with teams. Tony is going to be critical to that in terms of taking some of our better rep teams and pushing on to winning national titles."

Webster said it was time for a change and he wanted to get back into basketball full-time so when the opportunity came, he jumped at the chance to reunite with his old mate Rogers.

"My goal is to make Tauranga Basketball competitive with the likes of North Harbour, Waitakere and Wellington with the main focus on development," Webster said.

"The reason they are strong is they have got a lot of numbers playing the game. They have more kids to choose from, but Tauranga is more concentrated, so you can really put some quality time into the players they do have, and that is going to be my focus."

Webster will have a wide-ranging role at Tauranga City Basketball with emphasis on the under-23, under-19, under-17 and the under-13 B-rep teams.

"I've got my hands in the development of the younger ones as well so I will be going through all age ranges," he said.

A huge area of growth in basketball is 3x3, with Tauranga to host the National Secondary School 3x3 Championships at the end of March.

Webster sees the half court version as a positive addition to the basketball landscape.

"It is helpful because it gives the kids another opportunity to play basketball. Any time they can get out there and play is good; 3x3 is a good platform because there are lesser players, so every player gets a chance to touch the ball, so it helps me in the long run."

Basketball is booming nationally but particularly in the Bay of Plenty where the influence of Rotorua's Steven Adams playing in the US National Basketball Association cannot be underestimated.

"It is good that the sport is growing. I think one day we will outgrow rugby. With all these concussions that kids are getting at a young age, I think the parents will wise up," Webster said.