��һ�ǿ�����

Hawke’s Bay secondary school student Jackson Ball is set to become the third youngest to play for national men’s basketball side the Tall Blacks after being named in a squad for two Asia Cup qualifiers next week.

The round-two games are an away match against Hong Kong on February 20 and a return to Auckland to play the Philippines on February 23.

Ball, , is 16, and doesn’t turn 17 until March 10.

Tall Blacks coach Judd Flavell has taken the opportunity to test one of New Zealand’s brightest prospects in the game, New Zealand having secured a place in the Fiba Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia in August with two games to play.

The three wins and a loss in four games last year include an 88-49 win over Hong Kong in Auckland and an 89-93 loss to the Philippines in Manila.

Ball made an at which the Hawks team were seventh in late 2023, was a part of the New Zealand U17s fairytale run at the 2024 Fiba U17 World Cup in Turkey where the team placed fourth, and was named in the New Zealand Secondary Schools All-Star five in 2024 after Napier BHS finished runners-up.

Given a similar opportunity in the 12-strong squad is 18-year-old Canterbury Rams player Tama Isaac.

“Both these guys have been dominant players in their junior environments and both have been unfazed by the step-up of the Sal’s NBL,” Flavell said. “Seeing these guys perform at this level has given me great confidence that they are ready for this challenge.”

Also in the squad is Tai Wynyard, who in 2014 became the youngest Tall Black at 16 years and 160 days.

Hawks general manager Jarrod Kenny, who played in 70 matches for New Zealand, said the selection was a big step, but Ball had put in the hard work to develop the skills, fitness and commitment to make him “one of the sharpest” young players he had seen.

It comes only a year after , from Bridge Pā playing for Tauranga women’s national league side, was drafted into the national women’s side the Tall Ferns in a tournament in China, also at the age of 16.

Kenny said there was a lot of young basketball talent in Hawke’s Bay, a “difficulty” being to get them into the commitment needed to get them to the top.