Basketball New Zealand

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Murray Hills, Taranaki Daily News
Taranaki basketball has taken a hit ahead of the 2011 season.

Former Tall Blacks forward Jeremiah Trueman has been lured to the Manawatu Jets for next year’s National Basketball League.

It’s a major blow for the Mountain Airs only weeks after coach Angelo Hill pulled the pin on a second season in charge.

“I just had it confirmed today,” Taranaki Basketball chairman John Kensington said.

“It’s disappointing. We don’t have too many home-grown talents and you don’t want to lose them.

“But at the end of the day, money talks.”

Kensington said Trueman had enjoyed his time with the Mountain Airs this year.

“I talked with him and he wanted to come back.

“We put an offer to him, but it solely comes down to dollars. We can’t compete. People with the bigger cheque books get the better teams, but that’s professional sport.”

Kensington said Taranaki had been trying to recruit players for the past month.

“We’ve sent out emails and talked to a few players, but they’re all holding off looking at other offers.

“Jack Leasure [one of last year's imports] has a contract in front of him and he’s looking for a big man for us.’

Kensington said a decision on a new coach would be made this week.

“We’ve had a bit of interest including a few from overseas. A coach from Italy wanted to come but he was asking for between $40,000 and $45,000. We can’t pay that.”

Manawatu announced the one-year deal with Trueman this week, with Jets general manager Dave Craig saying Trueman had jumped at the chance to work under coach Ryan Weisenberg.

Trueman, who is in Perth preparing for the Australian National Basketball League with the defending champion Perth Wildcats, could not be contacted yesterday.

The 23-year-old played for the Tall Blacks in 2006 as a 19-year-old. He was a trialist this year, but missed the cut for the world championships.