Tall Blacks coach Judd Flavell has named a strong squad to meet Australia later this month.
They will play the Boomers in a home-and-away series as part of the first 2027 Fiba World Cup qualifying window.
‘‘There’s a long list of names there, and a mix of talent. It’s going to be fun assembling them in this short amount of time.
‘‘We have such a great roster and depth, you know we’re going to ask people to not let a possession go wasted while they’re out there on the floor."
Taylor Britt, Flynn Cameron, Max Darling, Carlin Davison, Mojave King and Tohi Smith-Milner have been retained from the Fiba Asia Cup team that finished fourth in Jeddah in August.
Yanni Wetzell, Tyrell Harrison and Sam Mennenga will pull on the black singlet for the first time this season.
Wetzell is currently plying his trade in the Japanese B-League for the Akita Northern Happinets, where he averages a tick over 14 points and 7.8 rebounds per contest.
"Yanni is one of the most mobile centres you’re going to see worldwide. His ability to run the floor, that’s certainly the way the Tall Blacks have played for a while now. He’s just an unselfish guy, who leaves it all out there."
Brisbane big man Harrison, who has been routinely tallying doubles in the NBL, will add plenty.
Melbourne United forward Delany will captain the side.
"It’s certainly going to be a fun squad to throw at the Aussies," Flavell said.
The Tall Blacks will meet the Boomers in Hobart on November 28 and in Wellington on December 1.
Tall Blacks
The squad
Taylor Britt (Canterbury Rams/New Zealand Breakers), Flynn Cameron (Franklin Bulls/Adelaide 36ers), Max Darling (Canterbury Rams/New Zealand Breakers), Carlin Davison (New Zealand Breakers), Finn Delany (Melbourne United), Tyrell Harrison (Brisbane Bullets), Shea Ili (Wellington Saints/Melbourne United), Mojave King (Tauranga Whai/Cairns Taipans), Izayah Le’afa (Wellington Saints/New Zealand
Breakers), Sam Mennenga (New Zealand Breakers), Tohi Smith-Milner (Canterbury Rams/Brisbane Bullets), Yanni Wetzell (Akita Northern Happinets)
— Allied Media
