The Auckland-based players on the inaugural Auckland Tuatara are roster are really ramping up their training with the club’s debut in the Sal’s NBL under two weeks away.
Coach Aaron Young has been working out the Auckland-based players for some months now but slowly by surely more rostered players are joining the group.
Breakers star Rob Loe, who excelled in a start against the Tasmania Jack Jumpers over the weekend, and fellow Tall Blacks representative Taki Fahrensohn are due to arrive in the coming days while a number of as yet unannounced stars are also expected over the next week.
Young said there has been a noticeable lift at training.
“Probably a lot more intense and shorter and things are coming together nicely,” the ex-Auckland Huskies coach said.
“Our group that we have is definitely fine-tuning the finer details and it is that kind of part of the season where we really try to lock in what we are trying to build as a team so that when guys come in from overseas and different teams it is simple as possible for them with the teachings of what we are trying to do,” Young explained.
Rostered players Nick Barrow, Chris McIntosh, Dontae Russo-Nance, Reuben Fitzgerald and Braydon Iuli have been regulars over the past few months while a number of other talented Auckland-based youngsters have working out with the side as they prepare for their inaugural campaign.
The club announced the signature of the extremely talented Dan Fotu late last week and the first-time pro will join the side a few weeks into the season fresh off graduating from the US.
More signings are expected to be made public this week.
The Auckland Tuatara begin their season with a home game at Eventfinda Stadium on April 30 against the Taranaki Mountainairs.
Memberships are available at www.tuatarabasketball.com with single game tickets set to go on sale this week.