By PETE McNAE - The Nelson Mail
Nelson Giants coach Chris Tupu had one eye on the present and the other on the future when he named his squad yesterday for the National Basketball League season.
While the "win now" mentality has been addressed with four current or former Tall Blacks, one national junior and a senior team triallist in the 12-man squad, Tupu is also looking ahead by naming Waimea guard Tom Ingham and former Nelson College swingman Brad Mclachlan as development players.
Ingham is a Nelson product who has made national age group selections. He's most comfortable at shooting guard, and still has two years remaining at secondary schools level.
"Tom's very fit, he's still growing and still learning," Tupu said. "I think he will become a very good player down the track, so we want to bring him in and get him working with the likes of Phill [Jones] and Fitch [Michael Fitchett] now."
Mclachlan came to Nelson from Cromwell and Te Anau. He started last year for Nelson College A as a small forward but has a solid perimeter game and could convert to shooting guard.
"Brad's not had a lot of coaching but he's a young guy who is worth the punt."
Last season's promising development player, guard Chris Duthie, has left Nelson to attend university, while 2.04m centre Michael Karena wasn't considered, as he hopes to earn a scholarship to a United States college.
Point guard Ricky Brooks has decided to take up boxing, while US-based forward Christopher Reay will not return to Nelson this season.
That leaves the core of 12 players consisting of Jones, Fitchett, Tony Rampton, Mika Vukona, Darryl Jones, Josh Bloxham, Steve Bill, Ben Wright, Nico Ritschny, Bronson Beri, Sam Dempster and US forward Michael Harrison, who will join the team on Saturday.
"It's a pretty decent-looking squad," Tupu said. "There's continuity with players who have played together, and I'm happy to have the Kiwi contingent on board."
The first assignment for the the Giants will be the Southern Showcase tournament in Christchurch on February 19-20, with the Giants taking on the Christchurch Cougars, Otago Nuggets and Southland Sharks.
With Jones, Rampton and Vukona still on Australian league duty, there will be a chance for Tupu to use his younger players.
"Guys like JB [Bloxham], Sammy and the young ones will definitely get the chance to play big minutes and significant roles.
"They've done the beach fitness work, five days on, one day off, 15 out of the last 18, and they're raring to play.
"I'm sure I'll just have to unleash them, they'll be so ready to go by the time we get to Christchurch."
