Basketball New Zealand

Kenny McFadden will take charge of the Junior Tall Blacks huddle again in 2009

NBL legend Kenny McFadden has been re-appointed Junior Tall Black head coach for next year’s FIBA Under-19 World Championship For Men in Auckland.

McFadden has coached the national age group team for the past two years, guiding them through the prestigious 2008 Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany and the FIBA Oceania Championships against Australia.

His 1-8 record this year – the lone victory came against Israel 68-54 on March 26 at the Schweitzer event – is indicative of the task ahead as he prepares the JTBs for the biggest basketball tournament ever held in New Zealand.

“We’re excited about hosting these world championships,” says Basketball New Zealand chief executive Dale Stephens.

“With the next wave of international superstars on show, it should be a tremendous spectacle, and will provide Kiwis with an insight to how popular and competitive basketball is on the world stage.

“We think the tournament will be a huge success, but that expectation puts considerable pressure on the local team to perfom on the court. Depending on the draw, the Junior Tall Blacks probably need to progress past pool play and into the quarterfinals … not an easy task in this company.”

McFadden’s juniors went into the Oceania series without several leading players, including US-based forward Justin Edwards, and point guards Josh Bloxham and Poutu Edwards, yet gave their trans Tasman rivals plenty to think about despite the sweep.

They lost game two 71-84 – closer than the senior Tall Blacks got to the Boomers in 2008 – and were still in the hunt (44-44) midway through the third quarter.

“We were able to get our feet wet at the Albert Schweitzer and saw what the best teams in the world play like,” reflects McFadden from Wellington. “It was a good indication of what standard we need to achieve.

“We have a good chance of making the quarters if we come with our best team and the players are well prepared. Once we’re there, anything can happen.”

McFadden will have help from NZ Breakers assistant coach Judd Flavell, Nelson Giants assistant coach Jozsef Molnar and manager Debbie Webb, of Wellington.

The JTB campaign will be directed by Deslea Wrathall, who has a high performance role with the NZ Academy of Sport-North Island and is a former double world champion in touch and softball.

Basketball New Zealand has opted away from a residential programme to prepare the Junior Tall Blacks after trialing an Auckland-based model at the Breakers facility this year. Instead, players will be based in Auckland, Wellington or Nelson from February to May, then switch to a residential format for the final stages of their preparation.

An extended squad will get together for their first camp next month in Porirua, from December 13-16, with a second camp, likely in the Capital region, confirmed for January 26-31.

The official draw for the FIBA U19 World Championship For Men will take place on Saturday, February 28, at Auckland’s Sky City as part of Basketball New Zealand’s AGM.

Management has also named an extended Junior Tall Blacks squad of 31 athletes in contention for the U19 World Champs team:

Matt Aird (Porirua), Jake Ashby (Porirua), Duane Bailey (Waitakere), David Beck (Wellington), Josh Bloxham (Nelson), Riki Buckrell (Hutt Valley), Sam Butler (North Harbour), Tom du Chatenier (Wellington), Adam Dunstan (Western Bay of Plenty), Justin Edwards (USA), Poutu Edwards (Waikato), Tipene Friday (Porirua), Logan Funnell (Palmerston North), Matt Graham (North Harbour), Daniel Green (Porirua), Dylan Harrison (Counties Manukau), James Holland (USA), Sam King (Otago), Micah Lepaio (Wellington), Winston Li (Wellington), Rob Loe (North Harbour), Morgan Nathan (Otago), Hemi Pairama (Wellington), Dion Prewster (USA), Adam Rainbird (Nelson), Tom Rowe (Otago), Ethan Rusbatch (Canterbury), Brook Ruscoe (Porirua), Te Puao Silver (Australia), Logan van Beek (Canterbury), Thomas Webb (Wellington)