Basketball On The Internet.

LAUREN Jackson has pulled up well from Opals camp and is set to lead the national team against New Zealand in next month's Oceania Series.

Opals coach Brendan Joyce said last week's "mini camp" gave him a look at a few new players and some from the previous camp.

"We will have another main camp on the 22nd to 27th of July, with at least 16 players to gain a spot for the Oceania qualifier," Joyce said.

Jackson, who has done some individuals with Joyce, completed all of the Opals' on-court sessions, including five-on-five work.

Australia's flag-bearer at the 2012 London Olympics Games, Jackson remains rightly revered as our most successful woman basketball player, her resume a lengthy list of success at every conceivable level.

Injured London Olympians Laura Hodges and Abby Bishop also were back for the mini-camp.

SHANE Heal has his work cut out to draw the best from enigmatic NBL under-achiever Ben Allen.

The 211cm big man had three disappointing seasons at Townsville Crocodiles after a fairly impressive run at California's St Mary's College and its 2010 NCAA Sweet 16 finish.

He put a few bums-on-seats - and there weren't too many - at the High Stakes Hoops tournament in Adelaide later that year, most keen to see this verstaile big guy in action.

But "in action" quickly became "inaction" as Allen settled for life outside the three-point line, his adjustment from playing against men of his own age and younger to adult pros a little on the rocky side.

Townsville took him on but he did little as Luke Schenscher's understudy and even less when given the keys to the keyway last season.

Backed by an impressive preseason tournament, Allen looked ready to bury his "Rip Van Allen" persona but it didn't happen, lingering old bad habits dying hard.

But he remains 211cm and, at 26, young enough to be worth the gamble considering many big men do not truly blossom until their late 20s.

He will be "under the hammer" both literally and figuratively as Heal looks to find the way to unlock his potential.

Considering how Ben Madgen has flourished and Tom Garlepp has become an NBL player under Heal's watch - not to mention losing Ian Crosswhite to premature retirement - it is easy to see how the Kings might choose to travel this path.

Fingers crossed Allen recognises this chance he has been given in Australia's biggest city and genuinely works to become Big Ben instead of watching the clock tick out on his elite career.

(Here's how it was reported today: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/ben-allen-is-hoping-for-an-nbl-rebirth-with-the-sydney-kings/story-fnii0att-1226676062075  )

CHRIS Goulding's chance to train under reappointed Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown is clearly going to be a big highlight of the Melbourne Tigers off-guard's burgeoning career.

Maybe in his wildest dreams before last Wednesday's on-court individuals session with the Cavs' 2011 NBA No.1 draft choice Kyrie Irving, Goulding entertained what it might be like to run around with an NBA group.

Now he gets that chance. (If you missed it, go to http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/chris-goulding-will-try-out-for-the-nba8217s-cleveland-cavaliers-in-las-vegas-this-week/story-fnii0am9-1226675983029 )

While this is massive for "Bubbles", taking these sessions will be big for Brown, too.

His star is back on the ascent after Dan Gilbert admitted firing him as Cavs coach was a mistake.

Brown landed on his feet regardless in LA with a little old franchise called the Lakers and even they, in hindsight, can now look back and wonder whether firing him this season past - for Mike D'Antoni - was really that smart.

But the Cavs had no shortage of options so to go back to Brown was huge.

He will personally supervise this week's sessions in Las Vegas for the potential players in Cleveland's summer league team and Goulding will join that mix.

"I expect Delly will be there," Goulding said, referring to Matthew Dellavedova, Australia's basketball stocks continuing to be on the rise.

POTENTIAL future NBL club, New Zealand's Wellington Saints will play against the Philippines national team tomorrow-week at Porirua.

The Saints will suit an "Invitation team" which will include the man of a zillion LLLs, Philll Jones and other popular clubmen such as Dillon Boucher and Bryant Markson.

This is the first time the Philippines national team - Smart Gilas - has played in New Zealand and they will be bringing a full strength side as part of their preparations for the Asian World Championship Qualifiers.

The Smart Gilas lineup includes Marcus Douthit, a 210cm centre drafted at #56 by the LA Lakers in 2004 after a four-year college career at Providence.

Tickets are just $12 and you can get them at www.ticketdirect.co.nz or by ringing Te Rauparaha Arena.

OK, KYRIE has gone back to the US but it would be remiss not to mention again how big a night the SEABL enjoyed on July 4 with its "US Independence Day" blockbuster at Frankston.

The Blues, who had tried to recruit Irving's father Drederick back in the day, hosted Knox Raiders, the match sold out in record time.

{My (e)mail too is there were about 300 people beyond capacity jammed in, but we won't go there in case someone from the Fire Department reads this. So if you are from the FFD, consider this is just me using journalistic license. Though I'm not. Perhaps.}

Kyrie and Drederick attended as guests of Frankston Blues Basketball Club, captain Grant Dennis presenting the older Irving with a current day Blues' uniform.

Taking some liberties along the lines of the AFL's father-son rule, Frankston also presented Kyrie with a uniform, just in case he tires of the Cleveland Cavs.

VIP guests in attendance included Frankston City North West Ward Councillors Glenn Aitken and James Dooley, Basketball Australia CEO Kristina Keneally, Melbourne Tigers NBL head coach Chris Anstey, Collingwood AFL star and brief AIS basketball scholarship-holder Scott Pendlebury, along with representatives of the SEABL, Basketball Victoria and the St Kilda Football Club.

The presence of BACEOKK must be why Basketball Australia finally acknowledged Irving's presence on its website, six days after he hit our shores and just a little while before he flew out.