Basketball New Zealand

New Tall Black Corey Webster (Photosport)

Teenager Corey Webster looks set to become the youngest Tall Black in almost a decade after his selection for the national men’s squad preparing for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens next month.

The son of NBL legend and current Harbour Heat coach Tony Webster is one of four international newcomers named in a 14-man roster for next week’s Al Ramsay Shield series against the Australian Boomers.

American-born Nick Horvath, giant centre Alex Pledger (2.13m) and point guard Jeremy Kench are the other debutants chosen after four days of trials at the NZ Breakers’ North Shore facility.

But coach Nenad Vucinic must take on the Boomers without ace shooter Kirk Penney, currently in the United States. He will join the Tall Blacks in Canada for their Jack Donoghue Tri-Series against the hosts and Lebanon, July 1-4.

“Kirk’s absence is a loss, but it will provide opportunities for others as we try to bring new players into our programme,” muses Vucinic.

“This team has been selected with the future in mind, while also preserving some experience and remaining competitive.

“I do think this is a good team with a nice balance to it and I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

Webster (19), also a shooting guard, is one who stands to benefit immediately. The former two-time NZ Secondary Schools MVP has yet to appear in the national league, but spent the past year on scholarship at Lambuth University in the United States, where he was named Freshman of the Year in the NAIA TranSouth Conference.

Since returning home, Webster has signed on as a development player with the Harvey Norman NZ Breakers. He stands to become the youngest Tall Black since Penney, another Westlake Boys High School product, joined the line-up in 1999, aged 18.

“Corey has scoring ability and a real nose for the basket,” says Vucinic. “He has a scorer’s mentality and it’s up to him how far that takes him.”

Pledger (21) is another youngster on the rise, graduating from the Junior Tall Blacks via a two-year stint at the University of Missouri Kansas City. He impressed at the defensive end particularly during trials and brings much-needed height to the ranks.

“In a lot of ways, Alex and Corey are a stab in the dark,” admits Vucinic. “We feel they can be international players in the future, but they really have to justify their inclusion and work hard.
“Obviously, in Alex, we see size, good mobility for that size and good outside shooting.”

Kench (24) has been on the fringe of national selection for a couple of years now, having put up impressive NBL numbers for the Canterbury Rams and served on two teams – Singapore Slingers and Wollongong Hawks – in the Australian league.

He gets his chance through the unavailability of veterans Mark Dickel and Paul Henare this year.

“Jeremy is a very versatile player with a lot of potential to develop,” says Vucinic.

Twelve months ago, aged 23, starting centre Craig Bradshaw was the youngest member of the Tall Black roster. With the introduction of Webster, Pledger and Kench, he can now take his rightful place as a four-year veteran of the team.

Horvath, who gained NZ citizenship earlier this year, missed the trials due to his continued involvement in the Dominion Finance NBL playoffs, but will now challenge incumbent Casey Frank for the one naturalized player spot to be filled for the Olympic qualifying tournament. The 2.08m Century City Wellington Saints centre recorded 37 points and 11 rebounds in the Game One of the best-of-three finals series, but Frank beat out his rival for the Kiwi MVP and Outstanding Forward awards for the regular season.

“That is going to be a very, very tough decision because they are both very good players,” says Vucinic. “Nick would provide a bit of size, but Casey has more international experience … it’s going to be very difficult.”

The Tall Blacks will open their 2008 campaign against Australia at the North Shore Events Centre next Thursday and then face the Boomers in Melbourne. Two players will then be culled – either Horvath or Frank will be among them – before the team contests tournaments in Canada and Slovenia en route to Greece for the qualifying event.