New Zealand-born Aussie Aron Baynes has been named in a 20-strong Tall Blacks extended squad to prepare for an eight-game tour of Europe later this month.

But the former Washington State University power forward, who represented Australia at the 2006 World University Games, faces a decision that will ultimately determine his international basketball allegiance.

"Although he was born in Gisborne, Aron has spent most of his life in Australia and obviously has strong ties to the green-and-gold," observed
BBNZ national teams general manager Grant Chapman.

"But the Boomers currently have a surplus of quality big men and we believe his international prospects are actually better with the Tall Blacks. We hope to make him feel at home if we get that chance."

Head coach Nenad Vucinic has named three Junior Tall Blacks - captain Dion Prewster, guard Brook Ruscoe and centre Rob Loe - in a squad with an average age of 23, three years younger per player than 2008. Through the retirement or unavailability of many veteran performers, this year's campaign offers an opportunity for the next wave of Kiwi talent to stake a claim on long term positions in the team.

"These players are a mixture of some of our best, as well as some that may become the best we have," says Vucinic. "Choosing young players for the future is one of the hardest jobs as we can never know how determined and prepared they are to achieve their potential.

"The fact we will have very inexperienced players competing against strong international teams cannot be an excuse. We must continue to enter every game with a determination to give our best and beat any opposition.

"It makes things more challenging for us, but the Tall Blacks always look
forward to challenges."

The squad enters camp at the North Shore's Millennium Institute and NZ Breakers facility on July 14 and two days later, 12 players will be named for the European trip that begins in Estonia on July 22.


ew Zealand Tall Blacks Extended Squad

Tom Abercrombie (Waikato Pistons), BJ Anthony (Harbour Heat), Aron Baynes (Washington State University), Craig Bradshaw (Grupo Begar Leon), Pero Cameron (Waikato Pistons), Chris Daniel (Bay Hawks), Mike Fitchett (Waikato Pistons), Casey Frank (Auckland Stars), Leon Henry (Wellington Saints), Darryl Jones (Nelson Giants), Jarrod Kenny (Bay Hawks), Rob Loe (North Harbour), Kirk Penney (NZ Breakers), Alex Pledger (Waikato Pistons), Dion Prewster (San Jacinto College), Brook Ruscoe (Porirua), Lindsay Tait (Wellington Saints), Jeremiah Trueman (NZ Breakers), Mika Vukona (Gold Coast
Blaze), Corey Webster (Harbour Heat)