Hoops

Time for a Tai Webster thread

http://kahnapedia.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/kiwis-in-college-tai-webster-exclusive.html#!/2013/01/kiwis-in-college-tai-webster-exclusive.html

Recent interview with Tai Webster.

Alonzo Burton is another NZ Breakers Academy player and like Cory and Tai Webster and BJ Anthony, Alonzo's Dad was a NZBL legend, Willie Burton who was drafted by the Denver Nuggets but never made the cut but managed 21years in the NZBL.
Alonzo is a 6 4" SG born in New Plymouth and plays in the NZBL with the Bay Hawks under Paul Henare. He averaged 37.8% from behind the arc and 47.8% from the floor and 5 points 1.2 rpg. At 19 he has already represented NZ in the Under 15, Under 16 and Under 17. Has handles and athleticism and can shoot the 3.

Brook Ruscoe is a Junior Tallblack who played alongside Rob Loe, Dion Prewster etc at the Junior U19 World Champs in NZ (he had 22 vs Argentina with highlights of that game on youtube). 6 3" 22yo Guard from Porrirua was a National Secondary School Champion and MVP twice. He now plays for the Auckland Pirates where debuted in 2011.He had a brief stint in the States when he secured a scholarship with Moberly Area Community College (MACC).

Tohiraukura Milner-Smith, is from Rosmini College and debuted for the Auckland Pirates this year in the NZNBL as a DP and is also a member of the NZ Under 18 squad. He's only 16yo and is 6 9". He lead his school team to a NZ National Secondary School Title. He has handles and range from outside which he is obviously still developing.

At 17 Rueben Te Rangi is considered one of the next big things in NZ Basketball and has been touted as a possible "Hoops Summit type player".
A team mate of Tai Webster and Isaac Fotu at the 3x3 World Champs and from Manurewa in Auckland. Rueben is an Athletic 6 7" Forward. Playing for the Harbour Heat he was named 2012 NBL Rookie of the Year, an award that went to Steven Adams last season. He has an outside shot (went 6/6 from outside against Southland which is Braswells team and 44% over the season) and an ability to get to the rim in traffic. Defensively he isn't bad either. He attended the Nike All Asia Summit and was MVP and has attended the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Mannheim Germany twice. He is looking to attend a low key school in America where he can play some minutes, contribute and not have to ride the pine while he gets an education.

Tom Vodanovich is an 18yo 6 8" Forward who debuted for the Wellington Saints DP (30sec appearance) but is a young player with a big upside. He has also attended the Albert Schweitzer tournament representing NZ and averaged 10.5 points and 5.3 rebounds. Hard working blue collar type player who hustles his butt off and Kenney McFaddon (Steven Adams mentor) has credited him as being a good versatile young player. Tom has also played with Isaac Fotu, Brook Ruscoe, Tai Webster and Rueben Te Rangi at the Breakers Academy.

He's trained at their facility almost every morning before school and everyday during his school holidays for some time under Judd Flavell so it is pretty safe to say the Breakers know who he is and what he is up to.

Re: Corey. He is suspended until 15th of September. So he can't be signed until the 16th of September. I know of at least 2 teams that are/have considered him. His history off the court is the only thing stopping a few teams from jumping on him.

But if there is an early season injury you may see a team take a risk on him because he does have some great up side.

As far as Tai Webster goes, he is currently fielding NCAA D1 offers. So don't expect him (if at all) in the NBL any time soon.

*33=3x3

Isaac Fotu, a Breakers DP last season and one of Tai's team mates from the 33 comp and and a former academy player has already left for the University of Hawaii so if an offer was made I would expect Tai to take it

Breakers have made their facility open to Corey to use throughout his suspension and from what I heard he took advantage of the opportunity.
Would be good to see him back in a Breakers uniform in the near future especially playing next to his brother but no doubt we'll see that with the Tall Blacks

Ahhh thanks for that MACDUB!

I wonder what the chances of him returning to the NBL for a team that isn't the Breakers...

clarky, Corey is over in China now with a team for 2-3 months.

The Breakers don't know whether they can fit him in under the points cap.

This was from May this year:

"The complicating factor is the points situation. Henry carries a four rating, and if he was re-signed the Breakers would only have three points to play with for their last spot. Webster (4), Bartlett (5) and Tait (5) all exceed that, though players are able to appeal their ratings."

Leon was re-signed so he doesn't fit in under the cap.

They might have to look at someone like Brook Ruscoe, Brad Anderson instead.

On a bit of a side topic here, but does anyone know what is happening with Corey Webster?

As far as I can recall he got suspended late last year (I think) from all basketball (NBL, NZNBL, Tall Blacks etc.) by the Australian Sports Commission after failing drug tests, and I was mainly wondering if anyone could tell me if he would be eligible for this NBL season, or if he has more of his suspension to complete?

there can be nothing bad about turning up to work each day and having CJ Bruton keep you on your toes and teach you everything he knows. He has already acknowledged Bruton in an interview on Fiba.com

Realistically, he is an NBA prospect. He is 6"3 at the moment, but will end up at 6"5 i reckon. Think of a more wirey, taller, more athletic version of Corey. He will be better than Corey..the world is his oyster

He needs to develop his game by either going to College or doing what Abercrombie did and go through the Breakers Development program which being as he is already a Breakers Academy player, is prob already going to happen. Isaac Fotu played together with him in the World 3x3 Champs and in the Academy and played as a Development Player with the Breakers until he got a gig to the University of Hawaii so no reason not to think Tai will follow a similar path through the Breakers.

He goes to West Lake Boys High (brother Corey also attended as did Rob Loe, Tom Abercrombie, Kirk Penney) on Aucklands North shore and is a Breakers academy player. He played for West Lake Boys High School Team, North Harbour Under 19 and the New Zealand under 21 before making his NZBL debut and then Tall Blacks debut. Plays SG like his brother but has recently been playing PG. He was released from Tall Blacks camp to attend his school ball.

I like this thread very much.