Basketball: Tall Blacks face the 'Great Wall'

By PETER JESSUP

Aucklander Daryl Cartwright is the bolter in the Tall Blacks side named yesterday for a three-test visit to China - step one in the world championship campaign.

Cartwright, 25, a forward and Auckland's captain, was called into the national team training camp at the last minute to cover for injury, and did enough this week to force his way into the 12-man selection.

The unavailability of New Zealand's only NBA player, Sean Marks, and Cairns Taipans shooter Tony Rampton - with wrist and foot injuries respectively - means the Tall Blacks are seriously short on size as they face the Chinese "Great Wall" of three players 2.1m and taller.

Coach and sole selector Tab Baldwin said he expected changes in the mix as those two and others, including Kirk Penney, at Wisconsin, became available.

A five-test home series against Hungary will follow and then European competition.

Only captain Pero Cameron is guaranteed his place. He is the stand-out in his position.

Two naturalised Americans are in the squad: Ed Book from Palmerston North and Terrence Lewis from Wellington.

Willie Burton, of Hawkes Bay, had been in the train-on squad, but a calf injury ruled him out and let Lewis in.

Baldwin said he had not given up hope that the National Bank would release employee Kenny Stone to take the "import" spot.

"They are dyed-in-the-wool, tried-and-true New Zealanders," Baldwin said of all his team.

Off-court preparation was crucial to the campaign. The team would have to counter the size and talent of other sides with all means possible and aimed to out-think other teams.

They were going over with the intention to win games in China and at the world champs in August.

Cameron said their appearance at the 2000 Olympics had given the team a bigger belief in their ability.

"We look back at that and think we could have done better."

The plan for China will be to shoot long-range. Lewis and vice-captain Phill Jones are the go-to players.

Cameron's physical size and ability to dominate the centre and inside always intimidate and frustrate opponents.

The squad include five players from Sydney and seven who were part of the qualifying wins over Australia. They leave for China on May 29 and will play in Lushan on May 31, Wenzhou on June 1 and Quinhuangdao on June 3.

Forwards: Pero Cameron (28, capt), Waikato, 1.98m, 120kg; Damon Rampton (23), Nelson, 2.05m, 100kg; Daryl Cartwright (25), Auckland, 2m, 95kg.

Centre: Ed Book (31), Palmerston North, 2.1m, 107kg; Rob Hickey (28), Hawkes Bay, 2.1m, 115kg.

Guard/forward: Phill Jones (28, vice-captain), Nelson, 1.96m, 95kg; Dillon Boucher (26), Waikato, 1.96m, 96kg; Terrence Lewis (32), Wellington, 1.93m, 93kg.

Guard: Mark Dickel (25), Wellington, 1.85m 85kg; Judd Flavell (28), Nelson, 1.86m, 82kg; Paul Henare (23), Hawkes Bay, 1.82m, 81kg; Paora Winitana (25), North Harbour, 1.95m, 98kg.