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Find your Sport Nation frequency'Compete and win': Tall Blacks name 12-strong FIBA Asia Cup squad
Sport Nation • July 16th, 2025 4:59 pm
Tall Blacks Head Coach Judd Flavell | Photo: Photosport
Basketball New Zealand has confirmed the 11-man squad set to represent the Tall Blacks at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, which will be held in Jeddah from August 5 to 17.
Head coach Judd Flavell has selected a group that combines experience with emerging talent. Three players will make their international debuts for the Tall Blacks, with Jack Andrew, Mojave King and Dontae Russo-Nance earning their first call-ups following impressive seasons in the Sal’s NBL.
Flavell highlighted their strong domestic form as a key factor in their selection.
“The way they played in the Sal’s NBL and the roles they held within their teams were big reasons for including them. Each of their teams had successful seasons and these players played a major part in that. I am really excited for all three of them. This is a great opportunity.”
Dontae Russo-Nance, the youngest of the three debutants, has been on the coaching staff’s radar for some time.
From 2022-2023, Dontae Russo-Nance attended the prestigious Oak Hill Academy in the USA | Photo: Photosport
“He has been close in previous windows. We just needed to see him get significant time on the floor with responsibility as a leader and decision-maker. The Jets exceeded expectations this season and Dontae was a major reason why.”
Mojave King also brings strong basketball lineage, with his father Leonard a former Nuggets player and coach, and his mother Tracey a standout at the collegiate level.
“We have always known Mojave has the talent. He is the type of scorer the Tall Blacks have relied on in the past. He can put up points quickly and has the ability to change a game in a short span.”
King averaged 8.5 points during his last Australian NBL season with the New Zealand Breakers. He followed that with 22.2 points per game for the Tauranga Whai in the Sal’s NBL, shooting 38 percent from three-point range.
Jack Andrew joins the squad following a breakout campaign with the Taranaki Airs. He averaged 13.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.
“Jack made huge strides this year,” said Flavell. “He played with confidence, was active on the boards, and ran the floor hard. His connection with Carlin off the pick and roll was one of the most effective combinations in the league.”
New Zealand qualified for the FIBA Asia Cup by finishing first in Group B with a five wins and one loss record. Key moments included a strong home victory over the Philippines and consistent performances against Chinese Taipei.
At the tournament, the Tall Blacks will compete in Group D alongside Chinese Taipei, the Philippines and Iraq. Having already faced two of these teams in the qualifiers, the squad enters the group with valuable experience.
Before the Asia Cup tips off, the Tall Blacks will travel to China for a warm-up tour. The team will face Brazil, Guangdong and Montenegro in the FIBA Solidarity Cup. They will also compete in the Four Nations Tournament with games against Brazil and another opponent yet to be confirmed.
Ben Gold is expected to join the squad during the China leg. He will be joined by Hayden Jones and Jordan Hunt, both of whom impressed in the Sal’s NBL and will offer valuable energy and depth.
Hayden Jones was named 2025 Rapid League MVP | Photo: Photosport
Also joining the group for the China games is Hawke’s Bay Hawks big man Luca Yates. Like Andrew, King and Russo-Nance, Yates will make his debut in the black singlet.
“I first saw him with the Illawarra Hawks and then watched him closely during the Sal’s NBL season,” said Flavell. “He consistently impressed against high-level competition. He has size, a strong skill set, and can shoot from the outside, which is a real asset in the international game.”
One of the three additional players will be selected as the twelfth and final squad member for the Asia Cup in Jeddah. Flavell says the warm-up games will provide a critical opportunity to finalise that decision.
“We will have thirteen players to rotate through in China. The goal is to evaluate what we need most and where we need cover, whether that is on the wings or in the backcourt. These games allow us to give guys meaningful minutes in the black singlet before we make a final call.”
“Our main focus will be preparation. Of course we want to compete and win, but we are looking at the bigger picture. We only have two or three training sessions before we start playing games in China. That means these games will be key for building connection and chemistry.”
“The group is quite new, with a lot of first-time players. So we want to keep things simple and make sure we are executing well as we head into the Asia Cup.”
NZ Tall Blacks Squad for the FIBA Asia Cup
Centre - Jack Andrew* (Taranaki Airs), debutant
Guard - Taylor Britt (Canterbury Rams & New Zealand Breakers), 34 games
Guard - Flynn Cameron (Franklin Bulls & Adelaide 36ers), 28 games
Forward - Max Darling (Canterbury Rams & New Zealand Breakers), 9 games
Forward – Carlin Davison (Taranaki Airs & New Zealand Breakers), 4 games
Forward – Ben Gold (Marquette University), 7 games (ONLY FOR FIBA ASIA CUP)
Guard – Mojave King* (Tauranga Whai), debutant
Guard/Forward – Taine Murray (Brisbane Bullets), 10 games
Guard/Forward – Jordan Ngatai (Wellington Saints), 84 games
Guard – Dontae Russo-Nance* (Manawatū Jets), debutant
Forward/Centre – Tohi Smith-Milner (Canterbury Rams & Brisbane Bullets), 69 games
NZ Tall Blacks Squad Additions (FIBA Solidarity Cup & Four Nations)
Forward – Jordan Hunt (Franklin Bulls & Surrey 89ers), 12 games
Guard – Hayden Jones (Nelson Giants & University of Wisconsin), 1 game
Centre – Luca Yates* (Hawke’s Bay Hawks & Illawarra Hawks), debutant
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