Tall timber

29/5/2009

Morgan Nathan

Three of Otago's (and Otago Boys’) most talented basketball prospects in recent years will form the heart of the Junior Tall Blacks at the world under-19 championships to be played in New Zealand in July.

Morgan Nathan (2004-2008), Tom Rowe (2004-2008) and Sam King (2006-2008) have been confirmed in the 12-player squad.

A fourth player with local links, Riki Buckrell, an ex-pupil of Waitaki Boys High School who now lives in the Hutt Valley, also made the cut.

While Morgan and Sam have been with the squad

Sam King

previously, Tom is a newcomer and earned his place after solid work at a three-day camp at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua earlier this week.

The Otago trio are all 18 and all play on the forward line, with Tom standing two metres tall, Sam 1.99 metres and Morgan 1.97 metres.

Dion Prewster will captain a team that includes fellow United States-based forward Richie Edwards, back-to-back New Zealand secondary schools most valuable player Brook Ruscoe and Tall Blacks triallist Rob Loe, the tallest player at 2.11m.

Tom Rowe

Prewster, a Junior Tall Black since 2005 and captain the past two years, returned from his freshman season at San Jacinto (Junior) College in Texas earlier this week, while Edwards, after a successful senior season at Lakeland High School in Florida, will join the group in a fortnight.

The Junior Tall Blacks will be coached by Kenny McFadden and will gather in Wellington next week for an intensive four-week residential programme, leading up to their departure for Auckland and their opening game of the tournament, against Argentina, on July 2.