Tall Blacks World Cup roster confirmed

The 12 players who will be carrying the hopes of New Zealand on their shoulders at the upcoming FIBA World Cup have been named, and every player selected for the Tall Blacks boasts past or current experience playing in the NBL.

Returning Breaker Finn Delany and Melbourne’s Shea Ili headline the young squad, which includes seven World Cup debutants.

Delany, Isaac Fotu, Ili and Tohi Smith-Milner are the only players to have represented their nation on this stage before, while Tasmanian development player Walter Brown is the youngest player included.

South East Melbourne wing Reuben Te Rangi will captain the squad, after missing the 2019 tournament due to injury.

“This opportunity coming around now is amazing and I can’t express how excited I am to be here and to play in this World Cup,” Te Rangi said.

“To lead this team is an easy gig. We have lots of leaders in our team and any one of the boys could have been captain.”

The Tall Blacks team has finalised its pre-tournament preparation and has landed in the Philippines, ahead of Sunday’s opening group game against the USA.

Tall Blacks World Cup squad
Finn Delany, Flynn Cameron, Hyrum Harris, Isaac Fotu, Izayah Le’Afa, Jordan Ngatai, Reuben Te Rangi, Shea Ili, Taylor Britt, Tohi Smith-Milner, Walter Brown, Yanni Wetzell.