Junior Tall Blacks fourth in the world, what happens next?

Junior Tall Blacks at Under-19 Basketball World Cup
Photo: Supplied/FIBA

The Junior Tall Blacks walked away from the Under-19 Basketball World Cup as the fourth best team in the world, and having made history, but their best could be yet to come.

New Zealand entered the tournament ranked 22nd before going on a run that saw them beat Argentina, Mali, China and Switzerland. Losses to the USA and Slovenia ultimately saw them finish just outside the medals.

Basketball New Zealand’s general manager of high performance Paul Downes said the organisation “had quiet confidence in this group for a long time”.

Especially after getting a preview of what some of them could achieve at last year’s under-17 world cup where New Zealand also finished fourth.

“They are particularly talented but at the same time we’ve got real strength and depth coming through as well and it was actually such a robust selection process for the coaches to even get to this group of 12 there’s easily another six to eight coming through that would have taken credible spots had they been selected for this group,” Downes said.

Having made the basketball world take notice in Switzerland Downes pointed out “we don’t just want to be a flash in the pan”.

At youth level New Zealand is ranked second in the world for girls and boys 3×3 and Downes said that coupled with the two fourth place finishes in 5×5 would hopefully translate to more success in the future.

“We feel that we’ll fight for senior success but it’s not going to happen by accident. We really feel that Brisbane [Olympics] 2032, we should really be qualifying and competing at a high level at 5×5 basketball.

“Short term LA 2028 it would be fantastic to qualify at least one of our teams but really we’re at the mercy of how we perform at the World Cup in 2027, should we qualify, and also then that possible Olympic qualification tournament.

“So the rates and pace at which these young men are developing will probably just be reliant on how they’re also going in their daily training environments at college, or if they turn professional earlier than 2027.”

Junior Tall Black Hayden Jones
Photo: Supplied/FIBA

Predicting what happens with a player over time is tricky.

“Talent identification is that balance of art and science, and we try and map the trajectories as best we can, but six of the group that were in Switzerland have already been Tall Blacks.

“So it’s really important that with Judd Flavell as our head coach at the Tall Blacks that we’re promoting athletes when it’s responsible as well. So just because they can doesn’t mean that they should but we do have that confidence from the NBL and these young men have been in that environment at least two seasons each, that when they do have that debut, they step in and they feel really comfortable and confident to thrive on and off the court.”

Downes said they were taking a “really patient” approach with this group’s development.

Acknowledging Basketball New Zealand’s limited resources, Downes said the question was: “Where can we responsibly outsource?”

“We don’t have a professional league in this country, so to speak, but where we do accelerate our people is by getting 15, 16-year-olds into the Rapid League, in the Sals NBL, but come post high school, if we’re really honest, and we put the person at the centre of the plan, then US college, for example, is the second highest paid league in the world, behind the NBA and responsibly if that’s the right fit for the person, for the family, for them as an athlete, then if that’s the best place for them to develop, then if we can’t offer it as a nation, then why would we try and stop them.”

Downes said sustainable success was the aim.

“We’re really confident of what’s coming through and who’s coming through on and off the court, but it is a stretch for us as well.

“In terms of as we grow our global reputation, we are getting more invitations for best versus best competition, but that puts a strain on us as well in terms of how much basketball load we’re asking, how much travel we’re asking and how much cost are we asking [from families].

“Just because we’re getting the invitation doesn’t mean that we need to take them, and they’ve got to fit within the strategy.”

NBA scouts are watching

Junior Tall Black Tama Isaac at the Under-19 Basketball World Cup.
Photo: Supplied/FIBA

Former Tall Black Dillion Boucher recently stepped away from the Basketball New Zealand chief executive role to return to the Breakers but he has had a close look at the talent that was on display in Switzerland.

“A lot of those names I’ve been hearing for a long time so they’ve been top of their game for a long time and they take the game seriously. Most of them have had good coaching that has driven them to understand what it takes to be a top player.

“[New Zealand players’] physical makeup is as good as any around the world, we don’t probably have the height that some of the nations do, but our physical stature is very, very good and so that combined with the skill work that they’ve been doing is turning them into really good basketball players.”

Boucher said these players would now be on the radar of some people who could influence their future.

“I know plenty of NBA scouts that were at that tournament and started to write names down on bits of paper and submitting it back to their team saying we need to keep an eye on these players.

“There’s scouts everywhere at these world tournaments and people put themselves on the map. Tama Isaac making the second all star five team, teams will start be looking at him going okay we’re going to follow his journey and when he goes off to college they’ll be following what he does.

“And there’s plenty of players like Hayden Jones and Julius Halaifonua that put their hand up at that tournament. Jackson Ball, these guys have put their hand up and showed their capability.

“Lachlan Crate is another one who had a great tournament. Oscar Goodman, you know, these guys are putting their hand up to say that they’re ready to go to the next level and I think people will notice that and then will keep an eye on them now.

“Now there’s an even a closer eye on their development and seeing do they get better from that tournament, how much do they improve.

“Next time they see these players will probably be on the national team and then they’ll judge them for their development and how much they’ve improved.”

Not every basketballer gets to a world cup at any level during their playing career and Boucher said the players would cherish the memories made.

“These guys that they played against this tournament, a lot of these players will be playing in the NBA one day, and whether they make it or not, they’ll remember those times that they played against those players, and they’ll think back and look at their journey and see where they go from here, but what a cool experience to be playing some of the world’s best players that will be in the NBA and will be top players for their national teams in the years to come.”

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