Two Otago players have been named in a New Zealand selection team to play China B in Auckland early next month.
Goldrush guards Soraya Umaga-Jensen and Janet Main have been rewarded for excellent form during the Women's Basketball Championships with a spot in the women's team.
Basketball New Zealand yesterday announced the formation of two New Zealand selection teams. Its aim is to develop a wider pool of elite New Zealand players who will back up the Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns.
Basketball New Zealand chief executive Iain Potter said Fiba's decision to include Oceania in the Asia Zone would result in the number of annual Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns games increasing considerably. To compete, the country would need to establish more depth.
"When we enter the Fiba Asia Zone and the new World Cup qualifying process next year, we will need to bring the Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns into camp regularly,'' Potter said.
"For example, we know the Tall Blacks will be assembled at least nine times over a two-year period from 2017 to 2019, so there will be a need to draw upon a wider group of players than we have historically, particularly with a number of players that will be unavailable at times due to contractual obligations with US colleges or professional clubs.
"There's a need for the wider group of players to experience elite basketball at an international level. It's also important to consider how we bring players into the Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns environments.''
The men's selection team will be named in early July.
NZ women's selection
to play China
Soraya Umaga-Jensen, Fran Edmondson, Mary Goulding, Shea Crotty, Ashley Gayle, Jodi Hikuroa-Jeffrey, Brooke Blair, Katelin Noyer, Janet Main, Shalae Salmon.
