Penney more popular in US
The Press; Christchurch, New Zealand; Jul 12, 2002; LONGLEY, Geoff;

Tall Black basketballer Kirk Penney is better known in the United States than in his native New Zealand.

Because of the sporting perspectives of the respective countries Penney, 21, is well known in America for his on-court exploits at the University of Wisconsin.

In the last season he achieved what no other New Zealand basketballer, including the likes of Stan Hill and NBA pioneer Sean Marks have done before, making the all-star five of his Big Ten conference -- one of the strongest in the United States.

Another good season in his final year starting in September and Penney will be pressing for inclusion in the professional ranks.

"I'm not sure what will happen after my senior year, but I'd love to keep playing if the opportunity arose. It's the next step along the way, like setting a new goal."

Being relatively unknown in New Zealand does not worry Penney for he is well aware of the country's passion for rugby -- older brother Rod is in the North Harbour NPC squad -- and Kirk is eagerly looking forward to attending tomorrow night's All Blacks- Wallabies Bledisloe Cup test at Jade Stadium.

Before that match he and the Tall Blacks have their final outing in New Zealand tonight against Hungary before heading overseas en route to the world championships.

New Zealand already has an unassailable 3-1 series lead after winning the fourth match at Nelson on Wednesday.

Penney was instrumental in the Tall Blacks' third test win in New Plymouth leading the scoring with 31 points while he has also contributed significantly with double-figure tallies in the successful outings in Auckland and Nelson.

Although a shooting guard, Penney at 1.95m has spent time in the forward role for the Tall Blacks and at college and shown his game has matured further taking the ball to the hoop impressively when required and making a valuable contribution around the boards.

Penney averaged 15 points and five rebounds at Wisconsin last season when his team progressed to the top 32 colleges in the States before being beaten by Maryland which went on to win the prestigious title. "It's not so bad if you get knocked out by the champions I suppose. We did well for a young team."

Penney's team had performed even better making the NCAA top four play-offs, known as the Big Dance, in his first year as a freshman back in 1999.

"It was all pretty amazing then because it's just a such big thing over there."

Penney said the standard of international basketball was similar to college level except that there were some slightly older players going full tilt at each other.

The Tall Blacks will enter the match at WestpacTrust Centre, their first in six years in Christchurch, as favourites with Hungary wilting and down to eight players after the week-long series. However, Tall Black coach Tab Baldwin cautioned against complacency.

"We have only to remember how we felt leaving China with a win in the last game, feeling pretty good even though we lost the series."

Canterbury Ram Terrence Lewis will play for the Tall Blacks in his just his second match of the series after sitting out the last three matches.

The match is poised to break basketball attendance records at an international in New Zealand with more than 4000 expected.

* Tall Blacks competition winners: Ian Crafts of Tai Tapu, Julie Paul of Middleton, Bede Cavanagh of Halswell, Meg Jones of Rotherham, and Gilbert Dallow of Avondale.