Basketball: NBA hopeful keen to play in Tall Blacks series

Kirk Penney is still chasing his dream of a permanent job in the NBA in the United States.

However, Penney has said he is committed to the Tall Blacks campaign and wants to be available for the Oceania series against Australia.

The games will to be played at Waitakere, Manukau and Dunedin in August and that fits nicely around the NBA summer camps.

The 24-year-old is in his sixth year in the US after starring at the Wisconsin Badgers. He played in North Carolina this year in the NBA development programme but will return to Wisconsin to complete his degree in landscape architecture. He is to trial with the Milwaukee Bucks in their summer camp.

"I'm trying to figure out the best way I can make myself available for the Tall Blacks. I definitely want to be a part of that, there's a big programme coming with the Commonwealth Games and world champs.

"The more time we can be together the better, it's getting that chemistry going. There's been a real culture developing in the Tall Blacks - Tab [coach Baldwin] has been teaching us how to win.

"We've been growing in confidence on the world stage and as a unit we're really coming together. Australia is a good chance for us to find out where we're at," Penney said.

He was back at the North Shore Events Centre this week training with Matt Lottich and Mike King, the American and Canadian imports for his old NBL team North Harbour Heat, for whom he played around seven games in 2000 before going to Wisconsin as a teenager.

"It feels weird but it's good to be back," he said.

Penney decided he needed to lose some weight in order to gain speed around the court. He's dropped 6kg with diet, workouts and game-time all helping.

His game has been improving steadily in the development league in the US, he said. "It's been a wonderful opportunity. You get to really work on your individual moves, find out where you're comfortable."

Penney may look for a team in Europe this season as he seeks to broaden his exposure to basketball styles as well as earn a living. But the ultimate goal is to make it in the world's best competition.

KIRK PENNEY

* Born 23/11/80

* NBL club: North Harbour Heat

* 93kg, 1.96m guard

* 2000-04 Olympics

* 2002 World Championships

* 2004 Minnesota Timberwolves 2 games

* 2005 LA Clippers 4 games.