stuart
08-02-2009, 11:02 PM
Interesting article about NZ-born, Aussie Aron Baynes...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/2676934/Baynes-declares-I-m-Aussie-not-Kiwi
Baynes declares: I'm Aussie, not Kiwi
AUSSIE: New Zealand has lost its tug-of-war with Australia over basketballer Aron Baynes.
New Zealand has lost its tug-of-war with Australia over basketballer Aron Baynes, with the Kiwi-born big man being included as one of five debutants in the Boomers squad to tour South America.
Tall Blacks coach Nenad Vucinic had made his pitch for the dual-qualified former Washington State standout, hoping he would throw his lot in with New Zealand where he would be a guaranteed selection for New Zealand's international programme.
However Baynes has turned his back on his country of birth and decided to go the riskier route of representing Australia where he grew up. The 2.08m centre/power forward has made the Boomers cutoff for this tour, but will struggle to make the squad for major events when their big-name NBA and Europe-based players return.
"It was always going to be a long shot for us," said Vucinic from Trento in Italy today where his Tall Blacks went down 77-80 to the hosts in a four-nation tournament.
"Aron is an Australian -- he was born in New Zealand but Aron regards himself as an Australian because he has grown up there (in Cairns) and played all his life there.
"We went in on the fact they have got a lot of depth in the forward line and we thought he might decide not to commit to Australia just yet. Now he has committed it is a little disappointing.
"I feel it is the wrong decision, and that he would have had much more opportunity to play for us. But in the end he's got to go the way he feels. Good on him, he's made a decision, and we'll just try to keep building around the players we have."
The Tall Blacks seem certain to get a close-up look on what they missed out on with Baynes now a strong likelihood to be part of the Boomers squad to meet New Zealand in the two-game Oceania series on August 23 and 25.
Boomers coach Brett Brown and his NZ-based assistant Andre Lemanis sprung a couple of selection surprises by including two point guard debutants in the form of teenagers Matthew Dellavedova and Jason Cadee, both of whom played for the Emus at the recent Fiba U19 world championships in Auckland.
Breakers forward Oscar Forman has also been rewarded with another chance to cement his place in the national squad after making his debut on the recent trip to China.
The other first-time Boomers are giant 2.16m West Australian Luke Nevill who recently finished a successful career at the University of Utah and 2.10m Adelaide 36er Matt Burston.
"This was always going to be an inexperienced side because we're looking at the big picture for London 2012," Boomers head coach Brett Brown said.
"All the debutants have trained very well, there's no shortage of talent, and we're excited to give them a chance."
Australian squad to play tournaments in Argentina and Brazil July 30-Aug 10: David Barlow, Aron Baynes, Matt Burston, Jason Cadee, Peter Crawford, Matthew Dellavedova, Oscar Forman, Adam Gibson, Joe Ingles, Nathan Jawai, Luke Nevill, Stephen Weigh.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/2676934/Baynes-declares-I-m-Aussie-not-Kiwi
Baynes declares: I'm Aussie, not Kiwi
AUSSIE: New Zealand has lost its tug-of-war with Australia over basketballer Aron Baynes.
New Zealand has lost its tug-of-war with Australia over basketballer Aron Baynes, with the Kiwi-born big man being included as one of five debutants in the Boomers squad to tour South America.
Tall Blacks coach Nenad Vucinic had made his pitch for the dual-qualified former Washington State standout, hoping he would throw his lot in with New Zealand where he would be a guaranteed selection for New Zealand's international programme.
However Baynes has turned his back on his country of birth and decided to go the riskier route of representing Australia where he grew up. The 2.08m centre/power forward has made the Boomers cutoff for this tour, but will struggle to make the squad for major events when their big-name NBA and Europe-based players return.
"It was always going to be a long shot for us," said Vucinic from Trento in Italy today where his Tall Blacks went down 77-80 to the hosts in a four-nation tournament.
"Aron is an Australian -- he was born in New Zealand but Aron regards himself as an Australian because he has grown up there (in Cairns) and played all his life there.
"We went in on the fact they have got a lot of depth in the forward line and we thought he might decide not to commit to Australia just yet. Now he has committed it is a little disappointing.
"I feel it is the wrong decision, and that he would have had much more opportunity to play for us. But in the end he's got to go the way he feels. Good on him, he's made a decision, and we'll just try to keep building around the players we have."
The Tall Blacks seem certain to get a close-up look on what they missed out on with Baynes now a strong likelihood to be part of the Boomers squad to meet New Zealand in the two-game Oceania series on August 23 and 25.
Boomers coach Brett Brown and his NZ-based assistant Andre Lemanis sprung a couple of selection surprises by including two point guard debutants in the form of teenagers Matthew Dellavedova and Jason Cadee, both of whom played for the Emus at the recent Fiba U19 world championships in Auckland.
Breakers forward Oscar Forman has also been rewarded with another chance to cement his place in the national squad after making his debut on the recent trip to China.
The other first-time Boomers are giant 2.16m West Australian Luke Nevill who recently finished a successful career at the University of Utah and 2.10m Adelaide 36er Matt Burston.
"This was always going to be an inexperienced side because we're looking at the big picture for London 2012," Boomers head coach Brett Brown said.
"All the debutants have trained very well, there's no shortage of talent, and we're excited to give them a chance."
Australian squad to play tournaments in Argentina and Brazil July 30-Aug 10: David Barlow, Aron Baynes, Matt Burston, Jason Cadee, Peter Crawford, Matthew Dellavedova, Oscar Forman, Adam Gibson, Joe Ingles, Nathan Jawai, Luke Nevill, Stephen Weigh.