WELLINGTON (FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017) - New Zealand's hopes of surprising teams at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017 were boosted as the country's main big man Tai Wynyard was declared as "available" to the Junior Tall Blacks for this summer.

"We are pleased Tai is available for selection for the Junior Tall Blacks for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup," New Zealand coach Daryl Cartwright said. "Tai is always very proud to represent New Zealand, be it for the junior national sides or the Tall Blacks."

The 19-year-old Wynyard is considered one of New Zealand's biggest hopes for the future and has spent the last two seasons with the storied US collegiate program University of Kentucky.

New Zealand won their first FIBA U18 Oceania Championship crown last December, beating Australia in the final and qualifying for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup for the first time - after having hosted the continental tournament in 2009. But Wynyard did not play in Fiji at the Oceania event because he was in the United States with Kentucky.

"We are pleased Tai is available for selection for the Junior Tall Blacks for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup. Tai is always very proud to represent New Zealand, be it for the junior national sides or the Tall Blacks."Daryl CartwrightDaryl Cartwright

Wynyard did not play at all his first season in 2015-16 with Kentucky and ended up getting red-shirted meaning he had a full four years of eligibility left. This past season, the Henderson native appeared in 15 games for Kentucky, averaging 0.7 points and 0.9 rebounds in 3.6 minutes. His top game came against Cleveland State as he had 4 points and 3 rebounds in 4 minutes.

Even though Wynyard did not play much, the 6ft 10in (2.08m) big man did gain the invaluable experience of going against the likes of Bam Adebayo, Derek Willis and Isaac Humphries and watching future NBA players like De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk.

Kentucky coach John Calipari, who will be coaching the United States at the U19 spectacle in Cairo, said he likes how the New Zealand big man has developed.

About his exit meeting with Wynyard, Calipari said on his podcast: "We went through things on the court. We went through things off the court. We went through things that he now knows to be successful he's going to have to do. I left that meeting feeling so good because Tai Wynyard's gotten better. He didn't have a lot of opportunities … but, man, has he gotten better."

Cartwright knows that experience will be hugely beneficial to the Junior Tall Blacks in Cairo.

"He's in an environment with top level coaches and guys who are basically on the one-and-done track to the NBA. His experience from that part will be valuable to us," Cartwright said.

And the New Zealand coach knows he will need Wynyard in excellent form to have chances of springing some surprises in Cairo, where the Junior Tall Blacks have been drawn into Group A with France, Korea and a team from FIBA Americas.

Wynyard would be making his fourth appearance in the New Zealand kit after playing at the FIBA U16 Oceania Championship 2013, FIBA U18 Oceania Championship 2014 and FIBA Oceania Championship 2015. Wynyard also was named the MVP as he led New Zealand to the title at the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup 2015. And he made the Team of the Tournament at the v FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup 2016 where New Zealand finished fourth.

"Tai is very proud to represent New Zealand. That’s something that he's really big on," Cartwright said.

"The wider squad all value the opportunity to represent their country at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup and our final selection camp will be a very competitive environment as players look to push their cause," Cartwright added.

FIBA