Basketball: Marks fronts for Tall Blacks after landing NBA contract

6.00pm

Sean Marks will finally step onto the basketball court for the Tall Blacks in their scrimmage session against the United States in Jacksonville, Florida tomorrow morning (NZ time).

The power-forward has been sidelined for New Zealand's first three matches during their Olympic build-up series in the US due to contract negotiations with National Basketball Association club the San Antonio Spurs.

Marks was expected to sign a one-year $US750,000 ($NZ1.19 million) deal tomorrow evening which has allowed Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin to name New Zealand's only NBA player in his starting squad.

The news was welcomed by Baldwin who faces a mounting injury toll with their first Olympic match looming on August 15.

Marks' availability will mean 13 of the 14 members of the team are expected to be involved in the two-hour scrimmage at the University of North Florida.

Captain Pero Cameron has the biggest question mark hanging over him with his right calf, which has dogged him for the past two months, forcing him out of his third consecutive training yesterday morning.

Small forward Dillon Boucher is carrying two injuries after banging his knee during the second training. His wrist however is more of a concern, with tendon damage to his shooting hand.

Ed Book's knee injury is not expected to keep him out of the hit-out, though his mobility is still not 100 percent.

Tony Rampton continues to train with the team despite his fractured thumb, though will not take part against Team USA.

Aaron Olson, whose x-ray on his right thumb showed that there was no breakage yesterday, trained at both sessions.

Meanwhile the US team the Tall Blacks will face include a host of NBA stars including skipper Tim Duncan, Amare Stoudemire, LeBron James and guards Stephon Marbury and Allen Iverson.

The two sides most recent encounter came at the 2002 world championships.

On that occasion, New Zealand went from leading 25-22 after the first quarter and down by six points at halftime, to lose 62-110 in game two of the second round in Indianapolis.

The Tall Blacks eventually finished fourth while the hosts slipped to sixth.

New Zealand: Ed Book (Nelson), Dillon Boucher (Auckland), Craig Bradshaw (Winthrop University, US), Pero Cameron (captain, Waikato), Mark Dickel (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Paul Henare (Hawke's Bay), Phill Jones (Nelson), Sean Marks (San Antonio Spurs), Aaron Olson (Auckland), Kirk Penney (Auna Gran Canaria, Spain), Brendon Polyblank (Wellington), Tony Rampton (Cairns), Chris Reay (Southern Methodist University), Paora Winitana (Hawke's Bay).

US: Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets), Carlos Boozer (Cleveland Cavaliers), Tim Duncan (San Antonio), Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers), LeBron James (Clebeland Cavaliers), Richard Jefferson (New Jersey Nets), Stephon Marbury (New York Knicks), Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns), Lamar Odom (Miami Heat), Emeka Okafor (Charlotte Bobcats) Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns), Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat).

- NZPA