The 31-year-old son of legendary Tall Black Stan Hill Jnr and grandson of former All Black Stanley “Tiny” Hill is in for the long haul in Hawke’s Bay as he recovers from surgery to his right knee to be at his peak when the National Basketball League (NBL) tips off in April next year.

 “It will be my 13th season in the Bartercard NBL next year and I’m really looking forward to playing next year as I’ll have two goodish knees, rather than one like I have had for the last two seasons,” Hill said yesterday, after signing up for his third season with the Hawks franchise under new coach Paul Henare.

“Having a new coach should be exciting for Hawkes Bay as Pauli’s a Hawke’s Bay boy so he’ll bring a hardnosed attitude to training and, hopefully, that will flow into how we play,” he said of coach Henare, who is on his swangsong with the New Zealand Breakers franchise in the Australian National Basketball League competition.

Hill came to the Hawks from the Manawatu Jets. He learned the basics of the game from his mother, Mandy Purnell, a former Tall Fern who became his school-of-hard-knocks coach by default while father Stan was on the road.

Hill, a computer science degree graduate who works as a software developer here, has settled down with girlfriend Toni McGregor in Napier, where the couple have bought a home.

“It makes it a lot easier to pay the mortgage and it supports my lifestyle,” he said.

Asked about Sky TV’s coverage centred around Auckland and Waikato because of costs, Hill understood the monetary concerns but felt Auckland, returning to the NBL after a hiatus, might not be a quality side for the best coverage.

Hawks franchise owner Rod Earnshaw, seeking a sponsor for his side, this week echoed sentiments of other NBL bosses frustrated with Sky.

Of the 13 regular-season matches Auckland-based broadcasters Sky televise, nine will be at Auckland’s ASB Stadium and four at Hamilton Boys’ High School.

Most of the 10 clubs are not in favour of it to continue in following seasons.