Breakers call up Harbour forward

North Harbour forward BJ Anthony has been named as a late addition to the Breakers roster for this week's pre-season basketball tour of the North Island.

Coach Andrej Lemanis said the tour would be a good chance to evaluate Anthony, who was called up as injury cover.

"We have always seen BJ as a talented player ..., Lemanis said.

Anthony had impressed with his work in training in the last few weeks.

"We have a couple of injury niggles, so this tour is a good chance to bring BJ into the group and get a better feel for him as a player and a part of the team."

The Breakers play the first of the three games against Athletes in Action (AIA), a touring team made up of top players from United States colleges, in Rotorua tomorrow.

The teams will face each other again at Taradale in the Hawke's Bay on Thursday and again in Porirua on Friday.

General manager Richard Clarke said the tour was a chance for the Breakers to go to places where they received plenty of support, but where they hadn't played before.

"The tour presents a great opportunity for the players to work together ahead of our preseason tournament in Darwin and the first game in the NBL on September 24th," he said.

"We hope to attract good crowds to our games with the AIA, but we will also visit many schools and work with hundreds of children in each of Rotorua, Hawkes Bay and Porirua while away."

As well as the games, the players would take part in school-age coaching clinics at each of the venues.

- NZPA