Teen offered US basketball `ride'
Waikato Times; Hamilton, NZ

Apr 13, 1999

ANDERSON, Ian

Brilliant young New Zealand basketballer Kirk Penney is expected to accept a "too tempting" US scholarship offer with the University of Wisconsin.

The North Harbour teenager, who was one of the stars of the Adidas classic tournament in Hamilton at the weekend, has been offered a full scholarship with the Big Ten conference side, which is coached by Dick Bennett, father of Penney's mentor at the North Harbour Kings national basketball league side, Tony Bennett.

Wisconsin assistant Brad Soderberg watched the 18 year old star in three matches at the tournament and after consulting Dick Bennett in the US, offered Penney a four-year "full ride -- something kids in the US dream about," Tony Bennett said.

The Waikato Times was unable to contact Penney, but his Kings coach said it was likely the guard would take up the scholarship.

"Kirk has said he always wanted to play US college basketball."

"He has to think about a lot of things like his schooling and what he wants to do in New Zealand, but this is an unbelievable opportunity for him," Tony Bennett said.

Tony Bennett said it was too early to say Penney would be New Zealand's next NBA player after Sean Marks, but the teenager had the goods to make the grade as a college player in the US.

Bennett said he was likely to decide within the next two to three weeks whether he will also accept an offer to join his father on the coaching staff at the University of Wisconsin or continue in charge of the Kings.

University of Wisconsin finished third in the Big Ten conference in the just-completed US college basketball season. The two sides that finished ahead of them, Michigan State and Ohio State, reached the Final Four of the national championships.