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2012 Junior Tall Blacks
The Junior Tall Black philosophy for 2011-2012 is looking to develop young and gifted athletes to the next level (Tall Blacks, USA scholarships, NBL and ANBL development player opportunities) as well as challenging for a 2013 World Championship berth. To achieve this athletes and management in the JTB squad are working in three distinct areas, namely sporting development (team cohesion, competitive spirit, competency) personal development(schooling, university, life, commitment, communication) and character development (caring, courage, integrity, commitment) .
Junior Tall Blacks (NZ U19) Squad
| First Name | Last Name | Association |
| Anamata | Haku | Hibiscus Coast Basketball Association |
| Geoff | Heather | Basketball Hawkes Bay |
| Delroi | Heu | Waikato Basketball Council |
| Mark | Kelly | Waitakere West Auckland Basketball Inc. |
| Mathew | Lacey | Hibiscus Coast Basketball Association |
| Jordan | Letoa | Porirua Basketball Association |
| Derone | Raukawa | Tauranga City Basketball Association |
| Will | Soonalole | Australia |
| Jarrod | Sorenson | Australia |
| Alexander | Talma | Hibiscus Coast Basketball Association |
| Reuben | Te Rangi | North Harbour Basketball |
| Thomas | Vodanovich | Wellington Basketball Association |
| Tai | Webster | North Harbour Basketball |
| Joshua | Young | Counties-Manukau Basketball Association |
| Zachary | Young | Wellington Basketball Association |
Head Coach: Deslea Wrathall
Assistant Coach: Lawrence Lianda
Apprentice Coach: Blake Moore
Manager: Willie Taurima
2012 FIBA U19 Oceania Championship (20-22 September)
The JTB program started in October 2011, where a squad of 16 athletes have been selected to be part of this program throughout 2012 with a final team being named in July 2012 to challenge for a FIBA Under 19 World Championship berth in September at Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua.
2012 Albert Schweitzer Tournament (3-14 April)
The first international competition for the JTB’s is to attend the prestigious 26th Albert Schweitzer Tournament (AST) in Germany. The AST has developed into one of the biggest and best basketball tournament for juniors (U18) worldwide. For years there has been a waiting list for nations who hope to receive an invitation and NZ has been invited to attend in 2008, 2010 and now 2012. The tournament is organized by the German Basketball Federation (Deutscher Basketball Bund), and the US-Army together with the city of Mannheim. This is the 26th AST and with each tournament the games are getting bigger, and, performances more exceptional. It is seen as having the best talent in Under 18 age group from around the world and as a precursor to the FIBA Oceania Under 19 World Championships.
Twelve athletes from the squad of sixteen will be named for the AST tour. The squad will continue to train throughout 2012 with weekly coaching sessions being held in Waikato, Wellington and Auckland for members of the squad as well as team training camps (incorporating the expertise from above) and ongoing tours and games.
