Hill’s future in doubt

Press, 27 April 1989, Page 38

Hill’s future in doubt

PA New Plymouth American basketballer Angelo Hill headed for Auckland yesterday uncertain about his future in the game. But he will not be playing national league basketbail for New Plymouth again this season. Hill has withdrawn from his playing contract and will undergo surgery on a knee injury in Auckland tomorrow.

The decision, announced at a meeting with New Plymouth Basketball Association officials, means the team may face Auckland this week-end with just one American, Pat Ryan. The association president, lan Mischefski, said yesterday that efforts were being made to secure a new American. It is hoped New Plymouth will have two Americans for the Auckland game, and two past players are long-shot options. One is Regan Truesdale, sacked from the side 2i/ 2 weeks ago to make way for Ryan and who is still in the city. The other is Jacques Tuz, now living in Auckland and playing for Auckland B in the northern second division.

“Under the rules of the league we are able to use people like Tuz,” Mr Mischefski said.

The decision on who plays will be made by the selection committee of the coach, Frank Russell, the assistant manager and association vice-president, Mary Clark and the former captain, John Macdonald. But Hill did not rule out a comeback.

He said yesterday, just before driving to Auckland, that he decided to flag it away for this season because he did not know how long the injury would take to heal. It could have been between two and six weeks.

The injury, a suspected torn cartilege, has been bothering him since the Canterbury clash on April 15. “I’m not going to try and come back for the rest of this season at all,” Hill said. But he will still be seen on courts around New Zealand this year — as coach of the New Plymouth women’s national league team. “I will give the women’s team 100 per cent, continue working at New Plymouth Boys’ High School (as a physical education teacher) and help out with the men’s national league team if they need me. “In terms of playing in the future I don’t know... maybe nobody will want me.”