Big names in Tall Blacks for World Cup qualies
- Dave Worsley
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
A strong New Zealand Tall Blacks side has been named for the first 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifying window.
The Tall Blacks will resume their rivalry with, the Australian Boomers, in a home-away series in Hobart and Wellington.
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New Zealand Head Coach Judd Flavell relishing the opportunity to work with another talented squad.
“Really excited! 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 their out there on the floor.”
The squad sees six players (Britt, Cameron, Darling, Davison, King & Smith-Milner) retained from the FIBA Asia Cup squad that finished fourth in Jeddah in August.
It also sees a welcome return to national team action for bigs Yanni Wetzell, Tyrell Harrison and Sam Mennenga – who will all pull on the black singlet for the first time in 2025.
“Two world-class centres at the top of their game, and both big pieces overall. Not just in want we do on the court, but I also like those two (Harrison and Wetzell) and the characteristics they have as people as well, they’re going to add a lot to the culture of the Tall Blacks as well.”
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, Tyrell Harrison, who’s routinely been tallying double-doubles for the Bullets en route to averaging a whopping 16.6 points and 9.7 rebounds per game at an efficient 67% from the field.
“Tyrell has quickly become, certainly a guy in the NBL, who has become one of the best big men in the league. What he gives us, obviously, true size and length. He’s a presence around the basket and also someone who runs the floor as well. It’s going to be fun to have him join us again.”
“We’ve got Sam Mennenga playing great basketball right now too. It’s going to be his first camp in a while, certainly his first with me.”
Mennenga will suit up in the national team black for the first time since the Tall Blacks final 2024 Olympic Qualifying game against Slovenia.
Mennenga spent the American summer in Los Angeles with the Lakers NBA Summer League team – before re-joining his Breakers teammates on the North Shore of Auckland.
Harrison is 2.14-metres tall, while Wetzell stands at 2.08m with Sam Meenega 2.05m and Tohi Smith Milner also 2.05m to give the Tall Blacks a little bit of six to choose from.
The core guard rotation from August’s Asia Cup squad remains in tact, with Taylor Britt, Flynn Cameron and Mojave King leading the way scoring wise during the team’s fourth place finish in Jeddah.
“Asia Cup was such an important piece for us. Not only about the tournament itself, but laying down the foundation of what this Tall Black team looks like in the next few years, and those three, great performances. Carried a lot of the weight of the team in different areas, they’re going to be big pieces for us.”
Not only will the Tall Blacks have the services of those three, but they also welcome back the Wellington Saints backcourt duo of Shea Ili and Izayah Le’afa, who between them combine for over 100 Tall Black appearances.
“Having Shea’s presence is going to help boost everybody. We have a genuine world-class defender, and somebody that plays the Tall Blacks way, which is just all out – every single possession.”
“We welcome Izayah Le’afa back with open arms. A combo guard, somebody who can slide to the point guard. Ball-handling, also gives us defence.”
With five genuine starting level guards, minutes in the rotation will be hard to divy out.
The squad also sees the return of Melbourne United forward, Finn Delany, who has the honour of being captain during this opening FIBA World Cup Qualifying window.
“It’s certainly going to be a fun squad to throw at the Aussies!”
These two games will mark the fourth and fifth times the Tall Blacks and Boomers have done battle this year. An incredibly rare occasion in today’s hoops landscape, playing the same opponent five times in one calendar year.
Game one will be an away game in Hobart on November 28th at MyState Bank Arena – home of the NBL’s Tasmania JackJumpers, before the return leg of the window sees the Tall Blacks return to the home of the Sal’s NBL champion Wellington Saints – as the Boomers visit TSB Arena for the first time in 10 years.
This game will mark the team’s first game in the capital since their 109-91 defeat of Lebanon on February 27 during the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
Tall Blacks squad for the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers – Window 1 :
Taylor Britt (44 games), Canterbury Rams & New Zealand Breakers
Flynn Cameron (39 games), Franklin Bulls & Adelaide 36ers
Max Darling (18 games), Canterbury Rams & New Zealand Breakers
Carlin Davison (15 games), New Zealand Breakers
Finn Delany (55 games), Melbourne United, captain
Tyrell Harrison (11 games), Brisbane Bullets
Shea Ili (73 games), Wellington Saints & Melbourne United
Mojave King (9 games), Tauranga Whai & Cairns Taipans
Izayah Le’afa (28 games), Wellington Saints & New Zealand Breakers
Sam Mennenga (7 Games), New Zealand Breakers
Tohi Smith-Milner (78 games), Canterbury Rams & Brisbane Bullets
Yanni Wetzell (13 games), Akita Northern Happinets
Staff
Head Coach – Judd Flavell
Assistant Coaches – Michael Fitchett, Quinn clinton
Physiotherapist – Rob Knight
Doctor – Jamie Jolly
Logistics/Massage Therapist – Paul Minehan
Campaign Manager – Jordan Mills
Head of Delegation – Nino De Gregorio
Videographer – Nicolas Durkin
2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifying
November 28 v Australia, MyState Bank Arena, Hobart
December 1 v Australia, TSB Arena, Wellington
February 26 v Philippines, TBC
March 1 v Guam, TBC
July 3 v Philippines, Auckland (Venue TBC)
July 6 v Guam, Auckland (Venue TBC)
