Basketball New Zealand

Pero Cameron (Photosport)

Marc Hinton, Stuff
The Tall Blacks have not given up hope that legendary big man Pero Cameron can make one last hurrah on the international stage in Turkey next month.

Cameron hasn’t played for the best part of a year as he battles a major foot injury, but Tall Blacks coach Nenad Vucinic has vowed to give the Kiwi hoops icon every chance to make his squad for the world championships in Turkey (August 28-Sept 2).

Vucinic has included Cameron in his list of 21 players who will take part in an official Tall Blacks trial in Auckland from July 23-25, with the sweet-shooting veteran being given until the last moment to shake off his foot problems.

Vucinic doesn’t know if Cameron will be fit enough to take part in the campaign, but he figures Cameron has earned the right to be given the chance to do so.

“Pero hasn’t played for a while, and he’s working really hard now to sort his injury out and be in some sort of shape to be at the trial,” Vucinic said from his base in Europe.

“He’s incredibly keen to go to Turkey, and has been doing everything he can to sort his foot out. We’re hoping he’ll succeed in that.”

Cameron hasn’t played since the early rounds of the Australian NBL season last year and made a successful debut as a coach for the Wellington Saints in the recently completed New Zealand NBL.

But Vucinic says the 36-year-old is such an important part of the Tall Blacks setup that he has to be included if fit. And with a six-week buildup programme they are confident they can get the centre/power forward up to speed providing his foot is OK.

“We’re hoping Pero will be ready to lead this team again,” added Vucinic. “With his absence last year Kirk [Penney] has stepped in and performed the captain’s role really well.

“We’ve got enough players to take on the leadership, but Pero is a special player and a special part our team. It will be great to have him but we’ll have to make that decision in a couple of weeks.”

Cameron has been an ever-present fixture in the Tall Blacks since making his debut back in 1994, and in 2002 was selected in the All Star Five as he led the New Zealanders to an incredible fourth-place finish at the world championships in Indianapolis.

The other features of the 21 trialists named by Vucinic are the inclusion of former Breakers import Rick Rickert subject to the completion of his New Zealand citizenship in time, confirmation of an international return for veteran shooting guard Phill Jones and the availability of US college-bound youngster Rob Loe.

Vucinic said it was touch and go whether Rickert’s citizenship application would be completed in time for him to make the cutoff. He and Saints forward Casey Frank are the only restricted (non NZ-born) players chosen, with only one able to be included for the championships.

Rickert, who is currently trying out for the Minnesoita Timberwolves in the NBA’s summer league, will return for the trials providing his eligibility comes through in time.

Jones is back after a shortly lived international retirement and is a certainty to make the squad for Turkey, while Loe, who heads soon to St Louis University, has confirmed his availability for the campaign.

Vucinic continues to lobby Kiwi NBA pioneer Sean Marks but has had no indication yet the former North Harbour standout is keen to end his self-imposed international exile.

Breakers and North Harbour guard Corey Webster has also been included subject to any suspension that may be imposed after he recently tested positive for cannabis use during the NBL season.

Among Vucinic’s 21 trialists, probably only Penney, Jones, Mika Vukona, Tom Abercrombie, Alex Pledger and Lindsay Tait could be considered certainties. Cameron could be added to that list if fit, while Craig Bradshaw and Rickert (if available) are strong likelihoods to get the nod given the need for size.

But that still leaves three, maybe four spots on the line for Turkey. “This is a real trial,” said Vucinic. “There are spots there up for grabs.

“I think we can be a decent team, and maybe a very good team, depending on how well we play. I know these guys will give everything they’ve got and we’ll see where that will take us.”

Tall Blacks trialists, Auckland July 23-25: Thomas Abercrombie, Hayden Allen, Benny Anthony, Craig Bradshaw, Pero Cameron, Chris Daniel, Casey Frank, Leon Henry, Darryl Jones, Phill Jones, Jeremy Kench, Jarrod Kenny, Robert Loe, Mike Fitchett, Kirk Penney, Alex Pledger, Rick Rickert, Lindsay Tait, Jeremiah Trueman, Mika Vukona, Corey Webster.