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Rob Loe - Source: Photosport -
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At just 17 years of age, Rob Loe is the youngest Tall Blacks player ever on record.
It's all come as a bit of a surprise to the Westlake Boys High School student, but this time next week he'll be embarking on a 12-day tour of Europe with the Tall Blacks.
Loe is part of a very youthful squad with Kirk Penney, Lindsay Tait and Mika Vukona the most experienced.
"I'm really happy, really excited," a beaming Loe told TVNZ on Thursday.
"I was expecting just to take part in the camp and get some experience but I guess the coaches were happy with how I went and now I'm in the team."
Click here for the
full interview with Rob Loe.
Loe was a star at the recent U19 World Championship in Auckland,
averaging a massive 18.8 points per game along with seven rebounds
and 2.5 assists.
Despite the huge numbers his stats could have been even greater with the 2.11m centre playing through an Achilles injury.
But New Zealand coach Nenad Vucinic said while Loe's U19 campaign was impressive, it was the impression he left at camp that won him his spot.
"The fact that Rob Loe had a good Under 19 Championship didn't give him a chance to make the team, he earned that at the trials," Vucinic said.
"He's made big strides in the last 12 months. We think Rob is a good player now and has shown us a great attitude to become a great player."
Loe joins three other players on debut in Tom Abercrombie, Jarrod Kenny and Leon Henry in a side with an average age around 23.
Pero Cameron and Craig Bradshaw were both unavailable for selection.
"It is a very youthful side, especially for New Zealand standards - our players develop a lot later.
"We'll use this year as a development year to get a lot of those young guys a chance to see what the international level is like.
"They will be playing some tough teams, mid to upper European level against quality players. It'll be a great learning curve for them."
Click here for the full interview with Nenad Vucinic.
New Zealand Tall Blacks
Michael Fitchett (Waikato Pistons, 17 Tests), Casey Frank (Auckland Stars, 50), Kirk Penney (NZ Breakers, 94), Alex Pledger (Breakers, 11), Lindsay Tait (Wellington Saints, 54), Jeremiah Trueman (Breakers, 6), Mika Vukona (Gold Coast Blaze, 54), Corey Webster (Breakers, 10)
Debutants: Tom Abercrombie (Breakers), Leon Henry (Wellington Saints), Jarrod Kenny (Bay Hawks), Rob Loe (Westlake Boys High)
