Basketball: NZ men's Olympic team announced

1.00pm

Seven players from the 2000 Sydney Olympics have been included in the New Zealand men's basketball team for next month's Athens games.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) in conjunction with Basketball New Zealand announced the squad of 12 today.

The side include seven members of the Sydney games and nine from the 2002 world championship team that reached the semifinals.

Injured centre Tony Rampton has also been included.

Rampton broke his left thumb during last weekend's three-test series against Australia, but was named with an expectation his condition would improve before the games matches begin on August 15.

At 2.13m, Rampton is the tallest member of the squad and if his thumb does not heal in time, he can be replaced before the games begin.

Rampton is also one of seven players returning from the 2000 Sydney Games, the other being captain Pero Cameron, Mark Dickel, Paul Henare, Phill Jones, Kirk Penney and Sean Marks.

Cameron now joins his sister Jodi Tini in the Olympic team. Tini was named in the women's basketball team last month.

Only three players were not part of the Tall Black team that made the 2002 world championship semifinals. Rampton missed that event through injury along with guard Aaron Olson, who joined the Tall Blacks last year, and forward Craig Bradshaw, 20, who debuted during the Australian series.

NZ: Pero Cameron (captain), Ed Book, Dillon Boucher, Craig Bradshaw, Mark Dickel, Paul Henare, Phill Jones, Sean Marks, Aaron Olson, Kirk Penney, Tony Rampton and Paora Winitana.

- NZPA