Hill unavailable

Press, 9 March 1982, Page 36

Hill unavailable

By

MIKE JOHANSSON

Stan Hill, the New Zealand senior men’s basketball captain for the last three years, has officially announced that he is unavailable for the national side this year. Hill, this country’s best known and biggest player (6ft 9in), made his decision last’ week, before the Auckland regional trial for the national side. He said from Auckland yesterday that he was taking a year off from national commitments in an effort to save money for a house. Hill has a young family. Hill’s ’ announcement came amid a flurry of rumours that he had been offered a considerable amount of money to play in the Countrywide Basketball League this season. The rumours centred on speculation that several of this country’s top players would have to make a choice between ' playing for New Zealand on its Asian tour or playing in the league. The

National side's month-long tour falls in the middle of the Countrywide league’s May to August schedule. Hill denied that he had been offered money to play in the league, but said the financial loss each time he went away with the New Zealand team (about $1700) had been a disincentive. The one year lay-off may become a permanent retirement . from representative basketball according to Hill. “I might enjoy having the time off.” “Hopefully though I will get back into it next year,” Hill said. Hill’s “rest period” has come at a critical time for New. Zealand basketball. The national side will this year be building up for the Commonwealth Basketball Championships in Christchurch next year and the Olympic qualifying series against Australia, also next year. The New Zealand men’s assistant coach, Mr Bob Bishop, of Christchurch, said

yesterday that he and the national coach (Mr Peter Schmidt, of Auckland) were disappointed that Hill was not available. “Stan has been the best player in New Zealand in the last five years and has the potential to be the best for the next five years,” Mr Bishop said. It would have been an advantage to have Hill as part of the national squad during its build-up, “but on the other hand if he was not prepared to make a commitment, we would rather have other players first.” Hill’s bulky frame has dominated New Zealand basketball for the last eight years and this year he still intends to play in New Zealand. His Y.M.C.A.-Pepsi Cola side will be one of seven sides trying to break into the Countrywide league at a qualifying tournament in Napier over Easter weekend. '