A variety of circumstances have made this week’s Tall Blacks trials far more interesting than one would have imagined a few weeks ago.
Early in the recently completed NBL season it wouldn’t have taken a basketball genius to select a probable line-up for the upcoming World Champs of:
Point Guards – Tait, Kenny, and Webster T or Kench.
Shooting Guards – Penney and Webster C
Three Man – Abercrombie and Henry or Te Rangi
Forwards – Vukona, Loe, Fotu or Frank or Anthony
Centres – Pledger and Adams.
Due to a combination of personal indiscretions, injury and withdrawals the quartet of Kench, Henry, Te Rangi, and Adams will not be attending the World Cup in Spain. In addition Loe is unavailable for the trials and home series against South Korea next week.
No disrespect to Canterbury Rams point guard Jeremy Kench but his absence due to injury is probably the easiest to cover. In fact he would have only been a borderline selection as Tai Webster may already have enough runs on the board to be selected to back up Tait and Kenny. The University of Nebraska guard was a stand out when he debuted at the 2012 Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Webster, like his brother Corey, has the added advantage of being able to cover both the one and two positions.
Prior to their reckless behavior on May 25th in New Plymouth it appeared the Southland Sharks duo of Reuben Te Rangi and Leon Henry were destined for a straight shoot-out to decide which of them would provide cover for Tom Abercrombie in Spain.
That has all changed now. Speaking to a couple of former Tall Blacks they are of the opinion that cover for the three spot will now be provided by a combination of Kirk Penney, Mika Vukona and even Isaac Fotu. With Abercrombie likely to play big minutes (barring injury or foul trouble) this appears to be a likely scenario.
That could be good news for someone like Everard Bartlett who’s perimeter shooting at the NBL Finals weekend would have impressed the Tall Blacks coaching triumvirate.
Mika Vukona will start every game at power forward and Alex Pledger will be the starting centre.
The naturalized pair of Casey Frank and Nick Horvath will contest one spot – expect coach Vucinic to stick with the trusted Frank who adds leadership and experience to a young group.
This leaves forwards Jack Salt, Rob Loe, BJ Anthony, Isaac Fotu and the in form Duane Bailey probably fighting over just two places. Loe’s decision to remain in the USA to play for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Summer League is understandable but he will be hoping other contenders don’t play their way into the team in his absence.
I will throw a dark horse into the mix, he may only be 16 years old but Tai Wynyard has made every post a winner in recent months. He looks certain to make the 16 man squad to face South Korea next week, could he be required to take a month’s leave from term three at Rangitoto College?
Below is the likely 16 to be selected for the three game home series against South Korea beginning in Wellington on Tuesday July 15th:
Point guards: Lindsay Tait, Tai Webster, Jarrod Kenny, Josh Bloxham.
Shooting guards: Everard Bartlett, Kirk Penney, Corey Webster
Forwards: Tom Abercrombie, BJ Anthony, Duane Bailey, Isaac Fotu, Tai Wynyard
Centres: Casey Frank, Nick Horvath, Alex Pledger, Jack Salt.
LACEY LOWDOWN 