The Under 23 Nationals begin in Tauranga on Wednesday. It is hard to get a handle on who will be appearing and for which Assosciation as players move more freely and readily at this age group. The Men’s competition has just one South Island entry but the Canterbury team has been dealt a severe blow on the eve of the tournament Continue reading
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Monthly Archives: August 2013
Tall Blacks Depth Chart
The Sky City Breakers use a depth chart to help them track potential players and make decisions when recruiting. With the NBL season wrapping up last month, having observed the recent trials for the Breakers Development spots and the Tall blacks last night, I decided to create a Tall Blacks depth chart – what do you think of my choices? Continue reading
Tall Fern Biographies
Kalani Purcell follows in her older sister’s footsteps as she becomes the newest Tall Fern in the Purcell family
The squad boasts four players who played in the 2012/13 WNBL in Australia. Lisa Wallbutton , Toni Edmondson and debutant Kate Fielding played under Tall Ferns coach Kennedy Hamilton-Kereama at Perth for West Coast Waves, and Micaela Cocks played for beaten finalists Townsville Fire. Wallbutton, Cocks and Edmondson are current internationals and will provide the back bone of the team along with Jordan Hunter and Casey Lockwood – the seven other players are all debutants.
Micaela Cocks – North Harbour Micaela was a stand out player at Oregan University (MVP in her senior year) before embarking on a professional career that took her briefly to Poland and France. She has played for the Townsville Fire for the past two seasons. Continue reading
Undermanned Academy lose to Athletes In Action
The Breakers Academy and Athletes in Action squared off for the second time in three days at Atlas Place on Saturday night. Due to injuries and the unavailability of some team members the Breakers once again called on the services of Nick Barrow and Saman Mohammadi. Continue reading
Athletes in Action outlast Breakers Academy
The Sky City Breakers Academy team took on the touring Athletes in Action team at Atlas Place on Wednesday night. Young Hawkes Bay NBL player Alonzo Burton made a guest appearance for the team and the 19 year old showed why he is one of the players in contention for a Development Player spot this year by scoring the team’s first 10 points. Continue reading
Likely Tall Ferns Selections
Lisa Wallbutton will lead an inexperienced Tall Ferns squad against the Australian Opals next week
If you thought the Tall Blacks team that recently toured China was young and inexperienced, wait until you see the Tall Ferns squad.
The core of the team will feature regular internationals Lisa Wallbutton and Toni Edmondson ( West Coast Waves), Micaela Cocks and Casey Lockwood (Townsville Fire) and Jordan Hunter (Southeast Missouri University).
The experienced Natalie Taylor (Logan Thunder) will almost certainly be unavailable due to injury. Therefore it would appear there will be seven rookies named later this week to take on the Australian Opals at North Shore Events Centre next Wednesday evening – a daunting prospect against the world’s number two ranked nation.
Like the Tall Blacks, two athletes still at school are likely to be named. Continue reading
Breakers Development Player Trials Complete
30 young players, 15-22 years, many with New Zealand NBL experience, along with players transitioning from age group representative basketball attended trials for2013/14 developmentplayer contracts at Sky City Breakers headquarters this weekend. Continue reading
Breakers lose to Indiana Wesleyan University again
Breakers Academy head coach Judd Flavell was forced to bring in reinforcements for the second game against Indiana Wesleyan University. Tohi Smith-Milner (strained back) and Luuk Witteveen (fractured wrist) both sustained injuries in the game the previous night and were replaced by former Academy members Nick Barrow (Waikato Pistons) and Brad Anderson (Taranaki Mountain Airs). Continue reading
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