Basketball: Junior Tall Blacks ready for world

Junior Tall Blacks coach Kenny McFadden said 'As long as we sneak into the next round then we have got a chance.' Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

The Junior Tall Blacks won't have to wait long to discover where they sit in the pecking order at the World Under-19 Championships.

First up for the hosts when the tournament tips off in Auckland on Thursday are Argentina, the world's top-ranked basketball nation.

Given the presence of players such as 2.11m giant Rob Loe in the Kiwi side, David v Goliath isn't perhaps the correct analogy. Men v boys doesn't quite work either, given the age restrictions and all. The Kiwis, then, will have to make do with the good old-fashioned underdogs tag. Huge underdogs at that.

While the Argentines - and other pre-tournament favourites such as Spain, Greece and the United States - will field teams stacked with seasoned pros or upper level US-based college players, many of the JTBs have been plugging away in domestic high-school leagues.

But that apparent disparity in class won't stop them dreaming of pulling off something spectacular. They don't, of course, have to look any further than the senior New Zealand team's stirring run to fourth in the 2002 world championships for evidence that it can be done.

The first hurdle they must clear is qualifying from the group stage. To do that they must finish in the top three of a group that also includes European heavyweights Croatia and relative unknowns Kazakhstan. One win should do it. It doesn't take a genius to pick the match they will target.

"I don't care how we get there, if we've got to go through the back door or the side window, as long as we sneak into the next round then we have got a chance," said coach Kenny McFadden.

McFadden, though, knows his side will be battling the odds.

"Some of these [opposition] guys have been playing for four or five years at the highest level and unfortunately some of our guys have only been playing locally at high-school level. There is no comparison."

Maybe not, but the Kiwis do have a couple of trump cards.

American-born Wellington-raised captain Dion Prewster has just completed his first year of college ball, while 2.00m small forward Richie Edwards has just graduated from his US high school.

Those two will likely do the bulk of the Kiwis' scoring in a starting five that will include Loe, Canterbury point guard Logan van Beek and Porirua guard Brook Ruscoe.

The early signs have been positive, with the Kiwis beating Egypt twice in warm-up games. Their build-up includes further games against Lithuania tonight and tomorrow night, followed by Puerto Rico on Monday and Syria on Tuesday.

It's a torrid schedule but one McFadden says is necessary as the team tries to play catch-up with opponents who have had much more extensive build-ups.

"The only way we can test ourselves is by actually playing games. We didn't want to go into that first game against Argentina without at least six games under our belts.

"We've still got a lot of work to do and I'm still trying to work out my rotation."

National pride may be at stake but the young Kiwis also have plenty to play for as individuals. The tournament is expected to attract up to 100 scouts from the NBA, European leagues and American schools.

"We are focused on our goals as a team but subconsciously I think a lot of our guys realise what is at stake for them," Prewster said.

"This tournament can really help with getting major looks from big-time schools. For one, you are going against the top players in the world. This is the world champs and there are players who already play professionally. If you can hold your own against them, colleges will definitely [notice].

"And being in New Zealand you don't have the big-time colleges or pro teams coming out here to look at players. So to have all of these people at one event to see you go against the best, in our own back yard, the opportunity could not be any better."

They may start underdogs against the Argentines and Croatians, but the Kiwis certainly won't be overwhelmed. The JTBs played both countries last year at a tournament in Germany. Prewster recalls being in touch until the final quarter in both matches before fading to lose by 12 to 15 points.

"We have made big improvements since then. We didn't have much of a build-up leading into that tournament and we had a few players missing."

The biggest superstar eligible to play in the tournament, Spanish phenom Ricky Rubio, is an unlikely starter. The 18-year-old, who has been playing professionally since 14, was claimed by Minnesota as the fifth overall pick in yesterday's NBA draft.

Point guard Nicolas Laprovittola, a professional with Lanus Buenos Aires in Argentina's top division, is another to watch - something the JTBs insist they will be doing on Thursday night.