Basketball: Cameron to help prepare Tall Blacks

Pero Cameron. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Former skipper Pero Cameron will help coach the national basketball team.

Cameron, who played for the Tall Blacks from 1992 to 2010 is currently coaching National Basketball League team, Wellington Saints.

Cameron, 37, who recently became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to basketball, will assist Tall Blacks head coach, Nenad Vucinic alongside the other assistants Chris Tupu and Dillon Boucher.

"I'm really excited with the role. It will be nice to be part of the planning and hopefully add something of value to the team," Cameron said.

"It's a big year for the team. There's a small window for games, but with the group of players we have now in the greater squad we can do well.

"Nenad as a player and as a coach is very astute. He's been part of the Tall Blacks team for the last 20 years.

"Toops (Chris Tupu) has been around for a while too. Hopefully I can learn off them. It's also another positive to have Dillon (Boucher) on board too. He brings a lot to the table."

The Tall Blacks will play against Angola, China and Russia for the Stankovic Cup in China at the end of July and early August.

They next travel to Europe for a tournament in Macedonia against the home nation, Bulgaria and Montenegro with other matches to follow in Europe.

Boucher is not available for the Stankovic Cup or the European tour as a result of family commitments, but will be with the team in an assistant coach role for the Oceania championship in September.

- NZPA