Auckland Tuatara coach Aaron Young has today been confirmed as one of three assistant coaches for the Tall Blacks in their World Cup Campaign.
The appointment comes hot on the heels of leading the Tuatara to the playoffs for the second consecutive season (along with taking the Huskies there in 2021) and signing a contract to be assistant coach at the Perth Wildcats Australian NBL side.
Young joins Nelson Giants mentor Mike Fitchett and former Wellington Saints coach Zico Coronel as assistants to head coach Pero Cameron.
“The FIBA World Cup is a massive stage for basketball, one I’ve experienced as a player several times and as an assistant coach back in 2019,” said Cameron. “I’m looking forward to leading our squad against some of the top teams in the world next month, and I’m thrilled to have Fitch, Zico and Aaron alongside me.
For Young, being on the Tall Blacks coaching staff is something he has long aspired to.
“The Tall Blacks carry such a strong place in basketball, and I respect the culture and everything this team represents; so this opportunity is something that I’m ready for and I couldn’t be more excited about,” Young said.
“I’ve put a lot of work in to get to this position and I’m ready to help the team any way I can. For me it wasn’t a matter or ‘if’ it would happen but more ‘when’ it would happen, that’s the mindset I’ve had – that when the time is right, I needed to be ready. The success I’ve had within different teams and programmes over the years has put me in a position to step into this role with confidence.”
Young says no other environment comes close to comparing to what the Tall Blacks culture provides.
“I’ve been around the Tall Blacks for the past few years, so I’ve seen the culture in terms of Tu Kaha, the mana and the uniqueness of what it means to represents Aotearoa on the world stage. PC does a great job of leading that and he’s lived it as a player and coach, and I’m blessed to have seen it over the years as a fly on the wall at Tall Blacks camps – I see how proud our players are to represent their country and it shows in the way they play on the court.”
The FIBA World Cup is held in the Philippines from 25 August to 10 September.