AUCKLAND (FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2017) - Jillian Harmon, Micaela Cocks and Toni Farnworth look set to spearhead New Zealand's bid for glory in their first-ever FIBA Women's Asia Cup in Bangalore, India, with all three veterans named in this summer's Tall Ferns squad.

The likely presence of all three, as well as that of another experienced player in Natalie Taylor, will be crucial for Kennedy Kereama's side as it goes into battle against China, Chinese Taipei and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Group A.

The tournament will be staged from 23-29 July. Australia, like New Zealand, will also take part in the event for the first time. 

The four sides that reach the Semi-Finals will clinch a spot in next year's FIBA Women's World Cup.

There will also be some new faces at the New Zealand selection camp, which takes place 6-12 June in Auckland.

"There are some exciting new names on the list such as Kayla Manuirirangi, Georgia Agnew and Charlisse Leger-Walker to name a few," Kereama said. "All have had very good college experiences and will be coming into camp for their first opportunity."

Manuirirangi played as a freshman at Tulane University this season and featured in 27 of the Green Wave's 33 games, averaging 6.3mpg.

Agnew was a guard at Utah Valley University and is now playing for Harbour Breeze in New Zealand.

Leger-Walker, a Year 11 student at St Peter's School, Cambridge, is just 15.

"This is a very exciting time for them and I know that our experienced players and leaders such as Antonia Farnworth (nee Edmondson), Jillian Harmon, Micaela Cocks and Natalie Taylor will do a great job of bringing them into the Tall Ferns way of life at camp," Kereama said.

 Cocks is New Zealand's tough-as-nails point guard

The presence of Harmon should give the Tall Ferns a huge lift because it wasn't known if the 30-year-old would continue her national team career after last year's WOQT disappointment.

Harmon, who with Taylor and Cocks were members of the Tall Ferns team that played at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, rebounded from a tough opening game against France at the WOQT by pouring in 25 points against Cuba and nearly leading the Kiwis to a famous come-from-behind victory.

Cuba scraped a 64-62 win, however, to prevent New Zealand from progressing from the Group Phase.

Harmon rebounded from that disappointment, however, and led Le Mura Lucca to the Italian title this season. Lucca beat Italian powerhouse Schio in the Finals, 3-1. She had 19 points in the championship-clinching 65-50 Game 4 triumph. Her success in Italy should be inspirational for the Tall Ferns.

"We beat a team in a five game series that everybody said couldn't be beaten," she said. "Hard work, heart and belief can take you a long way and this team proved that. We were absolutely the underdogs, as we often are in New Zealand basketball as well."

The Tall Ferns will not have Stella Beck or Penina Davidson. Both featured in last year's team at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT) in France but commitments at Saint Mary’s College and the University of California at Berkley, respectively, will prevent both from taking part.

"There are a select few players who unfortunately due to collegiate commitments or injury will be unavailable this year," Kereama said.

Kalani Purcell, a Tall Fern since 2013, finished her American collegiate career at Brigham Young University this season averaging 12.0ppg, 10.4rpg and 4.9apg and has been included again in the New Zealand squad. 

Kalani Purcell played at the WOQT 

The coach is looking forward to the selection camp.

"The staff and I are very excited about the list of players that will be available," he said. "We are very confident that the group of players that we have selected is the best to choose from.

"We have managed to bring in most of our more experienced line-up with a mix of potential players who will no doubt play a part in the future of the Tall Ferns program. I think it is important to have a good balance of experience and emerging youth."

New Zealand have a significant change on Kereama's staff with associate coach Guy Molloy replacing outgoing assistant Chris Lucas.

Malloy, an Australian, is currently head coach of the Deakin Melbourne Boomers in the Australian Women's National Basketball League.

"With four teams able to qualify for the 2018 FIBA World Cup from the Asian Zone, I am convinced the Tall Ferns can be one of these teams," Malloy said.

New Zealand have waved goodbye, meanwhile, to 2008 Olympian Lisa Wallbutton.

The 1.83m forward, now 31, has been a Tall Fern since the 2007 FIBA Women's Oceania Championship but has retired from international basketball.

"It's been an honor to represent the Tall Blacks for 10 years," Wallbutton said.

"My fondest memory of my time with the Tall Ferns will always be competing at the Beijing Olympics. For me, that was a childhood dream come true and an opportunity to compete at the highest level against the very best players in the world at the time."

FIBA