Ignite Cup champions headline Tall Blacks squad

Fresh off creating Ignite Cup history on Sunday, six New Zealand Breakers have been named in the Tall Blacks squad for the upcoming 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

The 12-person squad, featuring 10 current NBL players, includes Breakers' Reuben Te Rangi, Sam Mennenga, Carlin Davison, Taylor Britt, Alex McNaught and Max Darling, as well as 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