New Zealand's No1 basketball nursery is grooming another crop of future stars.

From the team that brought you Phill Jones, Mika Vukona and Mike Fitchett, along with putting the polish on the likes of Tony and Damon Rampton, Brad Riley and Judd Flavell, comes the new wave of players to wear the black of New Zealand alongside the blue of the Fico Finance Nelson Giants.

Josh Bloxham's already on his way, but Sam Dempster and Tom Ingham showed enough in Nelson's 92-60 spanking of Otago in the Trafalgar Centre last night to suggest that the next batch of basketball brilliance is being nurtured in the top of the south.

Dempster, who had played three minutes across two seasons in his Bartercard national basketball league career before this year, was trying to soak up the significance of having the likes of Vukona and American forward Mike Harrison congratulate him after a 13-point, five rebound performance.

"That was amazing," the 19-year-old forward said. "To be out there and get the opportunity to do something positive for the team is unreal for me."

Dempster's got his chance this season with injuries for Darryl Jones and Bronson Beri and he's determined to make the most of the minutes that come his way. He got 19 of them last night and showed good basketball instincts, attacking at both ends of the court and trying to give the Giants' frontcourt a lift with his whole-hearted effort.

"I just try to play big, even though I'm not as big (1.94m) as a couple of the other guys," Dempster said. "You can make up for that if you are ready to show that you won't back down and that you can be physical."

Not surprisingly, Dempster has modelled his game on that of team-mate Vukona. Another undersized power player, Vukona has built an international career on being the last man standing, never quitting on a play and refusing to be intimidated by bigger opponents.

"Growing up in Nelson, I watched Mika and wanted to play with the intensity he brings. He's the standard, though, and every practice I realise that there's no one around who can compare. It certainly toughens you up a lot, battling him and Ramps [Tony Rampton]."

The Giants didn't need to deliver their best effort to see off an Otago squad based on two talented Americans and a bunch of Kiwi youngsters who more closely resembled a Year 10 social studies field trip than a national league squad.

Nelson's vastly superior talent pool meant they could play in fits and starts last night and still win each quarter, by 8, 5, 5 and 14 points respectively. It also meant the likes of Fitchett, Vukona and Rampton could get plenty of rest for the tougher teams to come.

In fact, Giants coach Chris Tupu could easily have gone to his bench earlier.

Nelson finished the game with Bloxham, Dempster, debutant Ingham, Nico Ritschny and Ben Wright – the grandpappy at 22 – on the court.

Far from looking like they were just getting garbage time, the group were aggressive and enthusiastic and beat up their Otago opposites with all but Ingham, a Waimea College Year 12 student, putting points on the board.

Dempster summed up the attitude.

"When you get a chance, you have to grab it and try to show that you can be trusted and that you won't let anyone down," he said. "If there's a rebound, we are going to go for it; if you're open, we are all trained to shoot those shots; if you are playing defence on someone, you have to try to make them work hard and respect you."

Otago's Antoine Tisby certainly demanded respect from the Giants, waging a lonely war under the boards for 28 points and 10 rebounds, while he had some late assistance from fellow American Tyler Amaya (16 and 6) but the Nuggets don't have the depth for a competitive starting five, let alone matching the likes of Bloxham (12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) and Dempster off the bench.

Instead, the game dragged for long periods as Nelson toyed with the visitors, Harrison and Jones creating ample scoring opportunities off the drive when the whim took them. But the Giants were also guilty of some average boxing-out while rebounding, rushing the odd offence and settling for a circus shot or an ill-timed three-pointer when more structured play would have seen Otago dead and dispatched before halftime.

Last night's opposition was never going to present the challenge Nelson had faced in the home opener against Wellington. But the Giants managed to keep their guard up for most of the match, got the easy win and rewarded their reserves with as many minutes as coach Tupu felt safe to distribute.

Dempster earned the last word.

"When you are a young guy and you come in to a team with veteran guys and some of the best players in the game, you know your chances will be limited. That's why it means a lot to actually feel like you've made a contribution. I'm pretty amped up."

FICO FINANCE NELSON GIANTS 92: MFg-aFt-aRAPtsM Harrison359-145-82-10423P Jones338-131-10-5418S Dempster193-86-61-5113J Bloxham265-80-11-5512M Vukona245-71-11-4111T Rampton273-81-43-718M Fitchett242-60-00-444N Ritschny20-02-20-002B Wright40-01-20-101T Ingham20-10-00-100

OCEANAGOLD OTAGO NUGGETS 60:MFg-aFt-aRAPtsA Tisby3610-228-135-10128T Amaya366-193-42-6216S To'omata261-81-40-114J Ross231-51-21-223M Gillan181-60-00-503T Rowe201-20-01-402L Aston150-12-21-202M Trueman30-00-00-010S Robinson20-00-00-000

Key: M = minutes played, Fg-a = field goals made and attempted, Ft-a = free throws made and attempted, R = offensive rebounds and total rebounds, A = assists, Pts = points.