Tall Blacks guard Corey Webster is set to reach a major milestone in the next FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers window.
Barring injury, the next time the veteran guard steps on the court - either on February 20 in Hong Kong or February 23 at Auckland's Spark Arena against the Philippines - will be his 100th appearance in the black singlet.
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Webster. 36, will become the 12th Tall Blacks centurion and the first since Tom Abercrombie reach triple-digits at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
“The impact that Corey has had on the game of basketball in this country is phenomenal," said Tall Blacks head coach Judd Flavell.
"He’s represented the Tall Blacks on an international stage and been a world-class player. The way he’s carried on the legacy of the Tall Blacks, the way he’s carried our team and himself has just been with immense pride.”
Webster made his debut as a teen against Australia in 2008 and has led the Tall Blacks at a number of pinnacle events over his time with the national team, including leading the team in scoring at both the 2014 and 2019 FIBA World Cups.
“What I’ve really enjoyed most about Corey is his journey. He’s someone that was a Tall Black very young, and has continued to put his hand up when asked upon.
"When you listen to him talk about the Tall Blacks and what it means to him, you can sense his pride and passion for the black singlet. Him reaching this milestone is a testament to all of that.”
Webster the second highest point scorer in Tall Black history, behind FIBA Hall of Famer and legend Kirk Penney. Webster also sits behind Penney in all-time three pointers.
Six players, including Webster, return from November’s qualifying window in Flavell's 12-man squad. The others are Canterbury Rams quartet Taylor Britt, Walter Brown, Max Darling and Kaia Isaac, along with Cairns Taipans starting centre Sam Waardenburg.
Flavell was also delighted to welcome back the experienced trio of Jordan Ngatai (Kapfenberg Bulls, Austria), Tohi Smith-Milner (Brisbane Bullets) and Reuben Te Rangi (Tasmania JackJumpers).
Also making a return to the coveted black singlet is NZ Breakers injury replacement and 3x3 Tall Blacks stalwart Tai Wynyard.
Flavell also named a pair of potential debutants in Hawke’s Bay Hawks youngster Jackson Ball and Canterbury Rams rising star Tama Isaac.
“We have put together a great mix of experience. Some guys that are well established Tall Blacks and have played a lot of games for the black singlet.
"We’re mixing that in with a lot of youth, and continuing on the theme of growing and fast-tracking our younger stars we have two new players to add to that mix in Tama Isaac and Jackson Ball.”
Both Ball and Tama Isaac made big progress in the National Basketball League (NBL) last year and were key cogs in their respective teams' Rapid League squads.
Flavell was continuing to set the programme up for years to come, by bringing in these two talented young stars.
“What we’re finding with these windows are giving opportunities to these young and exciting guys to make their debuts.
"We’re future proofing ourselves by going into the depth-charts and looking at players who we believe are going to be Tall Blacks in the future and for a very long time, and both Tama and Jackson fit that mold.”
Ball was a part of the New Zealand’s fairytale run at the 2024 FIBA Under-17 World Cup in Turkey, where the team finished fourth. He was a member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools All-Star Five in 2024 after his Napier Boys’ High squad finished runners-up.
Should Ball take the court, he would become the third-youngest Tall Blacks player to behind Wynyard and Izayah Le’afa, who like Ball were both 16 when they debuted.
Tama Isaac was a member of the FIBA Under-18 Asia Cup All-Star Five last year, averaging 17.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and a tournament-leading 5.7 assists across six games in Jordan.
Isaac was also named MVP at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Nationals and Under-20 Nationals in 2024 after leading his Christ’s College and Canterbury squads to national titles.
He follows in brother Kaia’s footsteps, who made his Tall Black debut during the last FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers window in November.
“Both these guys have been dominant players in their junior environments and both have been unphased by the step up of the NBL. Seeing these guys perform at this level has given me great confidence that they are ready for this challenge.”
At 16 years, 160 days of age, Wynyard made his Tall Black debut. To this day, he remains the youngest Tall Black to ever take the hardwood floor.
After two years since his last appearance, he will potentially play in his 19th and 20th games for the Tall Blacks. Flavell’s long standing relationship with Wynyard was a key factor into the big-man’s return to the national side.
“I had a lot to do with him when he was coming through the Breakers academy and making his debut. We’ve built a good relationship over that time.”
“It’s not been smooth sailing and it has not been a straight journey for him, he’s had his challenges. Seeing him back on the basketball court, and looking at where he is at with his family, he is someone we’re really interested in seeing what he can contribute to our environment.”
Having already qualified for August's FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the goal for Flavell’s men is to qualify as the top seed from their pool.
Should they do so, it would mean an easier path to becoming champions of Asia, which would be New Zealand’s first title since joining the competition in 2017.
“The ultimate goal is to get top seed out of our pool so that we position ourselves in the best pool when it comes to the Asia Cup in August. So we need to win both games. That’s the job we have in front of us," Flavell said.
“This window is to position ourselves for that pinnacle event later on in the year, but also spending that time together to build cohesion.”
TALL BLACKS ROSTER
Jackson Ball, guard, Hawke’s Bay Hawks*
Taylor Britt, guard, Canterbury Rams, 29 caps
Walter Brown, guard/forward, Tasmania JackJumpers/Canterbury Rams, 16 caps
Max Darling, forward, NZ Breakers/Canterbury Rams, 2 caps
Kaia Isaac, guard, NZ Breakers/Canterbury Rams, 1 cap
Tama Isaac, guard, Canterbury Rams*
Jordan Ngatai, guard/forward, Kapfenberg Bulls, 82 caps
Tohi Smith-Milner, forward, Brisbane Bullets, 64 caps
Reuben Te Rangi, guard/forward, Tasmania JackJumpers, 69 caps
Sam Waardenburg, centre/forward, Cairns Taipans, 3 caps
Corey Webster, guard, 99 caps
Tai Wynyard, centre, NZ Breakers, 18 caps
* potential debutant
TALL BLACKS ASIA CUP QUALIFIERS SCHEDULE
February 22, 2024: NZL vs Chinese Taipei (away): WON 89-69
February 25, 2024: NZL vs Hong Kong (Auckland): WON 88-49
November 21, 2024: NZL vs Philippines (away): LOST 93-89
November 25, 2024: NZL vs Chinese Taipei (Christchurch): WON 81-64
February 20, 2025: NZL vs Hong Kong (away)
February 23, 2025: NZL vs Philippines (Spark Arena, Auckland)
August 5-17, 2025: FIBA Asia Cup (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)