Wellington, April 17 NZPA - Junior Tall Blacks coach Kenny McFadden is nearing the business end of trials for his team to the under-19 world basketball championships in July.

From a pre-Christmas extended squad of 30, McFadden has trimmed back his final selections for the championships in Auckland to 15 after the team's third camp in Porirua over Easter.

Porirua's Matt Aird and Tipene Friday, Nelson's Josh Bloxham and Hutt Valley's Riki Buckrell remain, along with Otago's Tom Rowe.

Also included in the squad were Richie Edwards, Dion Prewster and James Holland, who have high school and junior college commitments in the United States.

Holland will return to New Zealand in mid-May, Prewster later that month and Edwards in early June.

Returning players include Canterbury point guard Logan van Beek, Porirua shooting guard Brook Ruscoe, Harbour centre Rob Loe, Wellington's David Beck and Hemi Pairama-Lewington, and Otago's Sam King and Morgan Nathan.

"It's starting to get really serious," McFadden said. "It's time to start fine-tuning. The last cut we had and now this cut, it's very close. There's not much difference talent-wise between the players.

"It's just who do we think we can do our best with in those first round games against Argentina, Croatia and Kazakhstan. That's what it's all about. We need players who are versatile and can cover different positions."

The last cut will be made at the end of May, McFadden said.

The squad is: Matt Aird (Porirua), James Holland (USA), David Beck (Wellington), Josh Bloxham (Nelson), Riki Buckrell (Hutt Valley), Richie Edwards (USA), Tipene Friday (Porirua), Sam King (Otago), Rob Loe (Harbour), Morgan Nathan (Otago), Hemi Pairama-Lewington (Wellington), Dion Prewster (USA), Tom Rowe (Otago), Brook Ruscoe (Porirua), Logan van Beek (Canterbury).

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