Basketball: Rampton is top man for Tall Blacks

It won't be long before athletic forward Tony Rampton captures the interest of American National Basketball Association teams, says New Zealand coach Tab Baldwin.

Rampton has fought a valiant battle at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane this week, effectively combating taller, more experienced opponents under the basket.

With Sean Marks in the United States trying to resume his NBA career, Rampton is the only Tall Black who stands taller than 2.04m (6ft 8in).

Pool opposition Canada, Brazil and Australia - like most international teams - could call on at least three such giants.

Rampton had shouldered the workload brilliantly, Baldwin said, and the 25-year-old was developing the game needed to make it in the NBA.

"I think Tony should be turning a lot of heads, he's a tower of strength for us.

"He's turning into a good post defender and has a good mid-range jump shot which is what the NBA likes to see in its big men. He can run the floor and he's learning a lot about defending big men."

Evidence of this came in the Games warm-up match against the United States, where Rampton held his own against 2.11m (7ft) star centre Jermaine O'Neal, one of the NBA's premier talents.

Rampton, who shortly begins his second season as an import with the Cairns Taipans in the Australian national league, said playing other international teams had brought out the best in him and his team-mates.

"We're hoping we can keep working and be a bit more consistent with our results."

He was enjoying playing in the same team as younger, shorter brother Damon, who impressed in his limited court time on debut this week, when New Zealand beat Canada and Brazil, and lost to Australia.

- NZPA