Been following how hes going as much as I can and he seems to be going solid. Espns got him as the #6 player in the class (even though he in some peoples opinion got the better of Noel and Tarczewski when he matched up with them). Regardless, he is the top player to come out of NZ and has an NBA future.

Not so sure he will be the key to an NZ Olympic bid, but he could certainly be in the squad in my opinion as a back up center. He has the size and athleticism to compete internationally for sure.

2014 World Champs the Kiwis will have a good trio of bigs with Pledger, Adams and Loe, who are all different players.

Agree totally with Paul...but Australia aren;t exactly short of tall options though ourselves for 2014, with the likes of Bogut, Maric, Jawai, Ogilvy and more...

Pledger and Loe aren't exactly impressive IMO.

Why's that Hoopie? Loe can step out and hit the 3 and Pledger has been playing great this season for the Breakers and is improving greatly.
Size has always been an issue for the Tall Blacks and these 3 players give them exactly that.
Seems Adams is living up to the hype @ Notre Dame Prep and someone has made a facebook page which gets updated regularly enough

I believe he was recently named Sports Illustrated High School Player of the Week

and here's that FB page http://www.facebook.com/stephenadamsnz

I'd wait to see how he plays against people in the same weight class before getting too excited. He seems fundamentally solid, but it looks like when I dominate my little brother.

When I saw Pledger and Loe, they came across as big and awkward.

If they've improved then that's good for NZ (and for us as we need good opposition to make us better).

Pledger has been making a big impact in limited minutes and Loe has been impressive in the little I have seen of him.
I won't be surprised if Pledger becomes the dominant big man in the NBL in the next few years if he continues to develop at this rate.

pwned, he already dominated people his own size at the Adidas Nations. Against Tarczewski he had something ridicolous like 37 and 20. and vs. Nerlens Noel he had something like 24 and 12.


top 3 pick in the 2013 NBA draft.

hes way more fundamentally sound and more athletic than Dwight was at his age.

just checked out Draftexpress.com and the have him being drafted at 6 in 2013, but that all depends on his Freshmen year next year.

Sky is the limit for this kid

Agree Mystro...I hope he does well even if he is a Kiwi!

Same way I hope Dellavadova does well in the States LC.

Rob Loes only a sophmore in college and starts for st louis, give him 2 or 3 years and he will live up to some of the hype he got at the 09 u19 world champs.

Dont forget to add in Isaac Fotu as a future tall black big man. 6-8, power foward signed to play with Hawaii next season. In the Vukona, Benny Anthony mold and got some press (at least in NZ) for being the leader on the 3v3 World Champion team.

Isaac Fotu didn't hold a NZ passport early enough so has to play as a naturalized player under FIBA rules

@Mystro, I realise he's not technically a NZ Born player, but we may as well use him when he is ready. He's essentially a kiwi and theres no point relying on natralised americans to win games.

Horvath, Frank, Kevin Smith are the only current contendors for the natralised spot. Braswell has shown interest, not sure on the technicalities but Josh Pace might come close soon too.

No reason not to give the spot to Fotu in 2/3 years when they have retired providing he progresses to the international level. Of course if somebody extremly talanted natralises then im sure my opinion would change...

Yeah none of the current crop are really up to it (naturalized Americans)but if Braswell throws his hat in the ring he will get the spot for sure. Fotu in a fair few years may have a shot but at the moment he is better off concentrating on College