New Zealand announces 14-man roster for FIBA World Cup 2023 / News - Basketnews.com

New Zealand's extended roster includes Dan Fotu, Finn Delany, Flynn Cameron, Hyrum Harris, Isaac Fotu, Izayah Le'Afa, Jordan Ngatai, Reuben Te Rangi, Sam Timmins, Shea Ili, Taylor Britt, Tohi Smith-Milner, Walter Brown, and Yanni Wetzell.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Following an intense four-day training camp in Auckland, Tall Blacks head coach Pero Cameron and his coaching staff have selected a squad of 14 athletes to travel to Japan, Germany, and China in advance of the FIBA World Cup 2023 held in the Philippines from August 25 to September 10.

The 14 athletes for the Tall Black's extended FIBA World Cup squad are:

Dan Fotu, Finn Delany, Flynn Cameron, Hyrum Harris, Isaac Fotu, Izayah Le'Afa, Jordan Ngatai, Reuben Te Rangi, Sam Timmins, Shea Ili, Taylor Britt, Tohi Smith-Milner, Walter Brown and Yanni Wetzell.

The camp saw 18 players put through their paces by the coaching staff from Tuesday through Saturday. With Ethan Rusbatch (injury), Corey Webster (personal reasons), and brother Tai Webster (personal reasons) all late scratches from the camp, a trio of training-only replacements was bought in: Julius Halaifonua (NBA Academy), Charlie Dalton (Auckland Tuatara), and Isaac Davidson (Franklin Bulls).

Coach Cameron says that he is pleased with what he's seen in camp over the past several days.

"It's been a big week. It's been really good energy in camp, especially from some of the newer guys, they've come in and just put themselves out there and given their absolute best – it's been awesome to see," says Cameron.

Cameron also says that while it's never easy for players to miss out on selection, he is extremely happy with the group that he and his staff have assembled for this tour.

"We've chosen our squad of 14 based on a lot of different reasons and merits, and we feel this is the best group going forward. It's been tough for sure, but from the start, we knew a couple [of players] wouldn't make the final cut, it is what it is, and everyone here knows how it works."

All but one of the 14 chosen athletes have appeared for the Tall Blacks across either the World Cup Qualifier games or the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup; Wetzell is the lone exception as he looks to make his senior Tall Blacks debut.

Five of these players on this list – Delany, Isaac Fotu, Ngatai, Ili, Smith-Milner – have played in prior World Cups; all five appeared at the 2019 World Cup in China, where New Zealand led the entire competition with 99.4 PPG (Points Per Game) for the first time ever.

While Isaac Fotu is in line to make his third straight World Cup appearance, by contrast, Te Rangi – a Tall Blacks veteran who has appeared in 52 games in the black singlet but missed out on the 2019 World Cup due to injury – is in line for his maiden World Cup appearance.

The Tall Blacks squad of 14 is now in Japan, where they will take on the Japan national team in a pair of friendly games on 2-4 August. Following this, the squad departs to Istanbul, Turkey, for more training, before heading to the FIBA SuperCup in Germany on 12 August for games against Canada and either China or Germany.

The team then heads to China to take part in the FIBA Solidarity Cup on 18 August, facing China and Italy in this inaugural competition. Once this tournament is finished, a final Tall Blacks squad of 12 will be selected for the FIBA World Cup in the Philippines prior to the team's first game on 27 August.

Tall Blacks Extended Squad of 14 Players

Dan Fotu, Franklin Bulls / NZ Breakers Finn Delany, Telekom Baskets Bonn / NZ Breakers Flynn Cameron, Melbourne United Hyrum Harris, Hawkes Bay Hawks / Perth Wildcats Isaac Fotu, Utsunomiya Brex Izayah Le'Afa, Wellington Saints / NZ Breakers Jordan Ngatai, Hawkes Bay Hawks Reuben Te Rangi, Auckland Tuatara / S.E. Melbourne Phoenix Sam Timmins, Otago Nuggets / Sydney Kings Shea Ili, Melbourne United Taylor Britt, Canterbury Rams Tohi Smith-Milner, Wellington Saints / Adelaide 36ers Walter Brown, Canterbury Rams / Tasmania Jackjumpers Yannick Wetzell, ALBA Berlin

Tall Blacks Schedule/Pre-World Cup 2023 Tour

Friendly Games, Japan – Tall Blacks vs. Japan (Game 1), 2 August 2023 Friendly Games, Japan – Tall Blacks vs. Japan (Game 2), 2 August 2023 FIBA SuperCup, Germany – Tall Blacks vs. Canada, 13 August 2023 FIBA SuperCup, Germany – Tall Blacks vs. [China or Germany], 14 August 2023 FIBA Solidarity Cup – Tall Blacks vs. China, 18 August 2023 FIBA Solidarity Cup – Tall Blacks vs. Italy, 21 August 2023 Thank you for being with us! Subscribe to BN+ and browse ad-free.