Ignte Cup champion to captain Tall Blacks

Fresh off helping the New Zealand Breakers create history on Sunday, Reuben Te Rangi has been named to captain the Tall Blacks for the upcoming 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

Te Rangi headlines a 12-person squad, featuring 10 current NBL players, including Breakers Sam Mennenga, Carlin Davison, Taylor Britt, Alex McNaught and Max Darling, Brisbane’s Tyrell Harrison, Tohi Smith-Milner and Taine Murray and Keanu Rasmussen, who will be making his national senior debut.

Rounding out the squad, who will be coached by Judd Flavell, are Yanni Wetzell (Akita Northern Happinets - Japan) and Jordan Ngatai (Kagawa Five Arrows - Japan).

During this FIBA Window, the Tall Blacks, who lost to the Australian Boomers twice during the first round of matches, will play the Philippines in Manila on February 27 and Guam in Mangilao Village on March 1.

New Zealand Tall Blacks squad

Taylor Britt
Max Darling
Carlin Davison
Tyrell Harrison
Alex McNaught
Sam Mennenga
Taine Murray
Jordan Ngatai
Keanu Rasmussen
Tohi Smith-Milner
Reuben Te Rangi
Yanni Wetzell

Phillippines v New Zealand
Friday, February 27 - 10.30pm AEDT
Mall of Asia Arena

Guam v New Zealand
Sunday, March 1 - 6pm AEDT
University of Guam Fieldhouse