New Zealand NT

[Black Urum]

From http://www.fiba.com

NZL - Vucinic turns to experienced pair

WELLINGTON (National Team) - New Zealand coach Nenad Vucinic has selected Europe-based veterans Phill Jones and Kirk Penney in his first squad since succeeding Tab Baldwin.

Former Tall Black point guard Vucinic has included Jones and Penney, who are both transfer targets for the Auckland-based NZ Breakers Australian NBL franchise, in a 19-man squad.

The Serbia-born coach has included the entire FIBA World Championship squad, except retired guard Aaron Olson.

Uncapped Hayden Allen and Daryl Cartwright, last selected four years ago, have also been included after leading North Harbour Heat to the national championship.

Vucinic said: "To be honest, I was not considering guys like Hayden and Daryl in March.

"But because of their form and especially how well they have made their team perform through the NBL, I have taken that into account.

"The league is an ideal environment to judge players trying to break into this level and it's fair to say some players didn't make these trials because they haven't performed well in the NBL."

Other debutants include Everard Bartlett and naturalised American Nick Horvath, who will contest a berth with Casey Frank, should his application for citizenship be fast-tracked.

The team meet in July 1 at Napier ahead of three-match series against Venezuela starting on July 20, which acts as preparation for the Olympic qualifiers against Australia in August.

New Zealand squad: Hayden Allen (Harbour Heat), Everard Bartlett (Bay Hawks), Dillon Boucher (Auckland Stars), Craig Bradshaw (Winthrop University), Pero Cameron (Waikato Pistons), Daryl Cartwright (Harbour Heat), Mark Dickel (unattached), Mike Fitchett (Nelson Giants), Paul Henare (Bay Hawks), Ben Hill (Waikato Pistons), Nick Horvath (Wellington Saints), Phill Jones (Cantu, Italy), Jeremy Kench (Canterbury Rams), Kirk Penney (Alba Berlin, Germany), Tony Rampton (West Sydney Razorbacks), Lindsay Tait (Auckland Stars), Mika Vukona (Nelson Giants), Paora Winitana (Bay Hawks).

[Black Urum]

From http://www.fiba.com

NZL - Tall Black trialists named

AUCKLAND (FIBA Oceania Championship) - NBL success has thrust Appliance Shed Harbour Heat duo Hayden Allen and Daryl Cartwright back into national team consideration.

New NZ Tall Black coach Nenad Vucinic has selected 19 players for his first selection camp, beginning July 1 in Napier. The group will be trimmed to 16 (July 5), and then to 12 (July 11) for a three-test series against Venezuela, starting June 20 at Napier's Pettigrew Green Arena.

The Tall Blacks main assignment this year is to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and they will face the Australian Boomers in a three-game qualifying series across the ditch in August.

Vucinic's initial squad includes all those who contest last year's FIBA World Championships in Japan, except retired guard Aaron Olson.

Allen has never played for the Tall Blacks and Cartwright last pulled a black singlet against the Czech Republic in 2003, but they have been key contributors in the Heat's winning Dominion Finance NBL regular season campaign.

Allen emerged as Harbour's leading scorer, averaging 17.1 points (48.4% FG, 79.2% FT, 33.3% 3pt) and adding 2.7 steals.

Cartwright came off the bench for 10.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks, shooting a career high 80% FT. With Aussie import Oscar Forman on Boomers duty, he underlined his form with 23 points/16 rebounds in the Heat's final outing against U Park It Waikato Pistons.

"To be honest, I was not considering guys like Hayden and Daryl in March," admits Vucinic. "But because of their form and especially how well they have made their team perform through the NBL, I have taken that into account.

"The league is an ideal environment to judge players trying to break into this level and it's fair to say some players didn't make these trials because they haven't performed well in the NBL."

Newcomer Everard Bartlett also forces his way into contention after a season in which he was promoted into the Easy LPG Bay Hawks starting five. Previously known as a NZ Breakers development player and ANBL slam dunk champion, he added three-point range to his repertoire, averaging 13.9 points a game in his expanded role.

Vucinic has included five point guards ? Mark Dickel, Mike Fitchett, Paul Henare, Jeremy Kench and Lindsay Tait ? in his squad. Last year, the Tall Blacks were caught short and Henare logged up huge minutes as the team's only specialist point after Tait broke his wrist and Dickel was suspended for drug use.

American Nick Horvath, who has played as an import for Century City Wellington Saints over the past two seasons, is in the squad and will contest the team's one naturalised spot with incumbent Casey Frank if his NZ citizenship application is approved in time.

The full squad is ?

Hayden Allen, Harbour Heat, Guard, 10/11/79, 1.91m
Everard Bartlett, Bay Hawks, Guard, 6/2/86, 1.91m
Dillon Boucher, Auckland Stars, Forward, 27/12/75, 1.96m
Craig Bradshaw, Winthrop University, Forward, 28/7/83, 2.05m
Pero Cameron, Waikato Pistons, Forward, 5/6/74, 1.98m
Daryl Cartwright, Harbour Heat, Forward, 22/3/77, 2m
Mark Dickel, Guard, 21/12/76, 1.88m
Mike Fitchett, Nelson Giants, Guard, 20/9/82, 1.83m
Casey Frank, Auckland Stars, Forward, 23/10/77, 2.03m
Paul Henare, Bay Hawks, Guard, 4/3/79, 1.82m
Ben Hill Waikato Pistons, Forward, 18/4/79, 1.96m
Nick Horvath, Wellington Saints, Centre, 18/2/81, 2.08m
Phill Jones, Cantu (Italy), Guard, 25/1/74, 1.96m
Jeremy Kench, Canterbury Rams, Guard, 27/4/84, 1.85m
Kirk Penney, Alba Berlin (Germany), Guard, 23/11/80, 1.95m
Tony Rampton, West Sydney Razorbacks, Centre, 30/5/76, 2.13m
Lindsay Tait, Auckland Stars, Guard, 8/1/82, 1.94m
Mika Vukona, Nelson Giants, Forward, 13/5/82, 1.93m
Paora Winitana, Bay Hawks, Guard, 6/12/76, 1.95m