Basketball: Talent to test Tall Blacks

NELSON - The prospect of Phill Jones duelling with Yorick Williams has American basketballer James Hamilton salivating.

The Nelson Giants forward is picking the match-up between the two explosive guards to be one of the highlights of the first test between England and New Zealand in Nelson tomorrow.

Hamilton knows most of the touring team from his time playing in the English league, and he rates Williams as one to watch.

"He's a two guard, but he's like Dennis Rodman in his behaviour," Hamilton said. "You can almost guarantee he will do something crazy ... but if he gets his head straight, man, he can go.

"I'm looking forward to seeing Yorick and Phill on court together, there is some scoring talent there."

Hamilton rates Williams - a "scrawny-looking, but super-athletic, if you let him go, he'll get you for 40" - as the second-best player on the English team, behind captain Steve Bucknall.

Bucknall, a 1.98m forward, has flirted with the NBA and the Los Angeles Lakers in the past and has been the heart and head of the English team for a decade.

"He's not a great jumpshooter, but he is really strong going to the basket and he can shoot a little hook shot with either hand," Hamilton said.

While England are unable to field their strongest squad for the three-match test series, Hamilton said there was enough talent to test the Olympic Games-bound Tall Blacks.

Ray Carter is an undersized, but ultra-confident shooting guard with a quick first step. He played with the champion Manchester Giants, but was cut mid-season.

Big man Ian Whyte is a left-hander in the mould of New Zealand's Rob Hickey.

He's not a traditional back-to-the-basket seven footer, but has a soft shooting touch, while Roger Huggins and Stephen Barnes are the grunters under the backboards.

Although listed as an assistant coach Peter Scantlebury is a veteran small forward who may play on tour. England are a second-tier European side but Hamilton thinks they have the talent to take a game off the New Zealanders.

- NZPA