Basketball: Heat goes on Tall Blacks squad

By PETER JESSUP

The Tall Blacks start the long haul to the world championship this week with their first training camp, the first cull from the training squad and naming of the team to tour China.

Auckland forward Daryl Cartwright was called into the camp in Hamilton at the last minute to cover for the injured Willie Burton and the employment-related unavailability of Auckland's national league captain Kenny Stone.

American-born Stone, 36, is a naturalised New Zealander and resurrected his career in the hope of making the Indianapolis world championship in August. Averaging 17 points and six rebounds in the league as Stars player/coach, Stone was named in the Tall Blacks squad but his employers, National Bank, refused to allow him time off.

The only other intended starter not available is Tony Rampton, who had foot surgery after his season with the Cairns Taipans ended.

Burton has a calf injury that requires nursing and may not be able to push hard in training for fear of aggravating it.

Coach Tab Baldwin said he expected injuries to affect the balance of the squad between now and August.

The training camp is to prepare for the China tour and to also prepare players as back-up.

"There may be some outside this squad who come into contention later because someone else goes out," Baldwin said.

Apart from Rampton, Kirk Penney who is playing in the United States, and Sean Marks who is recovering from surgery to repair a bone spur in his wrist, there should not be many changes.

Marks is renegotiating with the Miami Heat to extend his one-year contract which ends in June. The fact they paid for his operation is a positive sign.

Baldwin does not know a lot about the Chinese team they will face in a three-test series, for which they depart on May 29.

"I do expect they'll have their 'Great Wall' up," he said, describing their front trio of NBA players Wang Zhei Zhei (Dallas), Mengke Bateer (Denver) and the 2.23m Yao Ming, who is expected to be the No 1 target in the NBA draft next month.

Baldwin is pleased with the standard of the national league this season.

There is a more balanced look to the team lists and some late import changes have made all sides competitive.

Tall Black squad members stood out in the weekend's games. Among the top scorers were Paul Henare at Hawkes Bay, Miles Pearce for the Jets, Paora Winitana for the Kings, Troy McLean at Wellington, Ed Book and Phill Jones for Nelson and Canterbury's Terrence Lewis.

The Nelson Giants lead the league after beating Canterbury 100-82. Book got 33 points and Jones 23 for the home team, Lewis 28 for the Rams.

The Jets beat Otago 92-88, Pearce grabbing 22.

The Harbour Kings bounced back from a hiding by Waikato to account for the Hawks 112-88, Winitana scoring 14 for the Kings and Henare 24 for the visitors.

Would-be Tall Black Stone top-scored with 22 for the Auckland Stars but it was in vain as the Wellington Saints won 88-73.

The Kings and Hawks have new imports. The Kings signed Shawn Myers to replace John Smith, who has played his last game for them. Myers, from Trinidad, played for the Newcastle Eagles in England and was recommended by New Zealand captain Pero Cameron.

The Hawks signed Australian Geordie Cullen, who spent two seasons at the Canberra Cannons, to replace Maurice Lietzke, who has returned to the US.

Tall Blacks train-on squad: Paora Winitana (North Harbour), Daryl Cartwright (Auckland), Pero Cameron (capt), Dillon Boucher, David Hopoi (Waikato), Willie Burton, Rob Hickey, Paul Henare (Hawkes Bay), Miles Pearce (Palmerston North), Mark Dickel, Troy McLean (Wellington), Phill Jones, Judd Flavell, Ed Book, Damon Rampton (Nelson), Terrence Lewis (Canterbury).