The Tall Blacks squad for their World Cup warm-up tour to Japan and Australia includes one stand-out schoolboy bolter.
Rosmini College guard Taine Murray is part of the 14-strong group that will travel to Japan for a nine-day camp, where they'll play two games against their hosts, before heading to Sydney to take on Canada.
Murray - an athletic shooting guard - is still just Year 12 at the North Shore basketball powerhouse and has already made quite an impression on coach Paul Henare.
"Taine has impressed us all these past few days and quite simply played his way into the 14," said Henare. "He has a composure beyond his years and is going to develop into a very good player, but already at 17, he has shown that he feels at home at this level."
Murray, who's a member of the Breakers development academy, said he was lost for words when he heard his name read out by Henare in the team meeting on Sunday morning.
"Hearing my name called was extremely humbling and I am so grateful for the opportunity that lies before me," said Murray.
"It has been amazing learning from some of the finest players and coaches that New Zealand has to offer during the course of the camp, and I am just so excited for the next few weeks."
Fellow rookie Tom Vodanovich has also made the cut after his stellar NBL campaign with the Southland Sharks.
Veteran Tom Abercrombie will lead the team, while Jarrod Kenny, Corey Webster, Tai Webster, Alex Pledger, Rob Loe and Isaac Fotu bring a wealth of international experience.
Finn Delany, Shea Ili, Jordan Ngatai, Tohi Smith-Milner and Ethan Rusbatch have featured heavily for the Tall Blacks and New Zealand Select over the past four years, as the programme under Henare went about building depth across all positions.
"We have chosen a combination of players that complement each other on and off the floor," he added. "They understand what we stand for and what we are looking to achieve in China, and will do anything for each other."
The travelling squad for the World Cup will be reduced to 12.
Newshub.
