Basketball New Zealand

JTB trialist Jordan Ngatai (FIBA)

The Junior Tall Blacks will take on Italy in the opening game of the prestigious Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Mannheim, Germany, next April.

In their second appearance at the international U18 event, the young Kiwis have drawn Group A and will also face Canada and the German U17 team in the preliminary rounds.

The draw was possibly the kindest available for the JTBs. Canada were fifth at the 2008 tournament and Italy 12th, while the younger German roster finished 11th at this year’s European U16 Championship and are preparing for the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship for Men as host team.

The toughest of the four groups would appear to be Group D, which consists of defending champions Greece, third-placed Australia and seventh-placed Spain, along with the only team New Zealand defeated last year, Israel.

“This is a good draw and will provide a great learning curve for the JTBs,” says NZ coach Deslea Wrathall. “Every day, we will need to adjust to different game plans and styles of play.

“It will be a good opportunity for athletes to see and understand the level of international competition they will need to play at in order to compete against Australia at next year’s FIBA Oceania Championship in September.”

The Junior Tall Blacks face a three-game series against the Emus in Palmerston North to qualify for the next FIBA U19 World Championships in 2011.

Wrathall and assistant coach Kevin Smith are assessing the talent available to them this weekend at a selection camp in Hamilton.

Many of their players got a taste of international basketball at this year’s Australian Youth Olympic Festival and the Villagarcia Basket event in Spain, while others were members of the Emerging Junior Tall Blacks that came within a game of qualifying for the world U17 event.

The groups and draw for the Schweitzer tournament are …

Group A

Canada, Italy, New Zealand, Germany U17

Group B

Brazil, Japan, Turkey, Germany U18

Group C

Argentina, Croatia, France, USA

Group D

Spain, Israel, Greece, Australia

Saturday, April 3

Noon Italy v NZ, Spain v Israel
2.15pm Brazil v Turkey, Argentina v France
4.30pm Germany U17 v Canada, Australia v Greece
7.15pm Opening Ceremony
8.45pm Germany U18 v Japan, USA v Croatia

Sunday, April 4

1.30pm Canada v Italy, Israel v Australia
3.45pm Turkey v Japan, Croatia v Argentina
6pm NZ v Germany U17, Greece v Spain
8.15pm Brazil v Germany U18, France v USA

Monday, April 5

1.30pm Canada v NZ, Israel v Greece
3.45pm Japan v Brazil, Croatia v France
6pm Germany U17 v Italy, Spain v Australia
8.15pm Germany U18 v Turkey, USA v Argentina