Brock Motum selected the top Australian playing abroad in last week's games

- October 26, 2020

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

Traditionally, every week we bring you a list of the top performances of Australians who are currently playing abroad.

Brock Motum

#1. This week's number one is former international power forward Brock Motum (208-90, college: WSU, currently plays in Basketball Champions League). He could not help Galatasaray (0-1) in their last game. Despite Motum's very good performance Galatasaray lost 84-93 on the road to the leading Sassari. He was the top scorer with 24 points. Motum also added 7 rebounds in 34 minutes on the court. It was his first game for Galatasaray this season. Motum played for the Australian senior national team four years ago.

Angus Brandt

#2. Second place goes to former international center Angus Brandt (208-89, college: Oregon St., currently plays in Japan). Brandt led Shiga L-Stars to a victory over the ninth-ranked Levanga Hokkaido Sapporo (3-6) 98-87 in the Japanese B1 League in Sunday night's game. He was MVP of the game. Brandt scored 24 points, had 6 rebounds and dished 4 assists. Shiga Lakestars (4-5) are placed fifth in West group. But the season just started, so everything may happen. Brandt has relatively good stats this year: 13.6ppg, 8.7rpg, 3.7apg, 2FGP: 49.4% and FT: 67.9%. Former Perth Wildcats starter played for the Australian national team in 2018.

Nick Kay

#3. The Australian player who performed third best last week abroad was an international power forward Nick Kay (206-92, college: MSU Denver, currently plays in Spain). He was not able to help Real Betis in their last game. Despite Kay's good performance his team was edged 81-80 at home by the lower-ranked (#4) Movil Estudiantes. He scored 11 points, had 5 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 23 minutes. It's Kay's first season with the team. This year Kay averages: 8.8ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 45.9%, 3FGP: 16.7% and FT: 92.9% in six games he played so far. Former Illawarra Hawks starter played for the Australian national team one years ago.

Duop Reath

#4. Center Duop Reath (210-96, college: LSU, currently plays in Euroleague) contributed to a 2-point Crvena Zvezda's victory against the closely-ranked CSKA (2-3) 86-84 in the Euroleague in Thursday night's game. He scored 7 points in only 10 minutes. KK Crvena Zvezda MTS Beograd (2-2) is placed tenth in the Euroleague. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. This year Reath's overall stats are: 4.0ppg and 2.5rpg in four games. He has a dual citizenship: Australian and South Sudanese. Reath used to play for the Australian university national team back in 2017.

Rhys Vague

   #5. Former international forward Rhys Vague (206-96, currently plays in Japan) was not able to secure a victory for Kagawa FA (1-7) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his very good performance the seventh-placed Kagawa FA (1-7) were defeated 78-73 on their home court in Takamatsu by the higher-ranked Cyberdyne Ibaraki Robots (#5) in the West group. Vague recorded a double-double by scoring 15 points and getting 17 rebounds. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. This season Vague has relatively solid stats: 14.0ppg and 15.0rpg. He used to play for the Australian national team seven years ago.

The list of other players, who all have Australian passport but never been selected to any of Australian national teams:

   #1. Dominic Gilbert (198-G/F-96, agency: Slash Sports, college: UBC, currently plays in ABA League) could not help Zadar in their last game on Monday. Despite his good performance Zadar was edged 73-70 at home by the higher-ranked Krka (#7). Gilbert recorded a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting 13 rebounds. This season Gilbert averages: 8.3ppg and 6.3rpg. He has a dual citizenship: Australian and Croatian.

   #2. Rasmus Bach (193-G-95, college: Fort Lewis, currently plays in Denmark) led Randers to a victory against the second-ranked Amager (1-0) 106-98 in the Danish BasketLigaen on Saturday night. Bach scored 13 points, grabbed 6 boards, passed 5 assists and added 4 steals in 27 minutes. It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group Pro A. Randers Cimbria Basketball (4-0) is placed first. So far his team won all four games in the Regular Season. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. This year Bach averages: 9.5ppg, 3.5rpg, 3.0apg and 1.5spg in four games he played so far. He is another player who holds two passports: Australian and Danish.

   #3. Ben Ayre (188-G-95, college: Newman, currently plays in Lithuania) was not able to help Mazeikiai in their game against Delikatesas (1-3) in the Lithuanian NKL (second division). Despite his very good performance on Saturday night He was the second best scorer with 15 points. Ayre also added 4 rebounds and 3 assists. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. This season Ayre has relatively solid stats: 10.3ppg, 3.0rpg and 3.0apg.

   #4. Experienced Timothy Kearney (202-SG-86, currently plays in Sweden) led BC Lulea to a victory over one of league's weakest teams KFUM Jamtland (0-1) 80-68 in the Swedish Basketligan on Saturday night. Kearney was the best player in that game. He recorded 16 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 27 minutes. BC Lulea (1-1) is placed third in the Basketligan. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Kearney is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his 11th year in BC Lulea's roster. This season Kearney's total stats are: 9.5ppg and 2.0rpg in two games. He has both Australian and Swedish nationalities.

   #5. Jesse Hunt (203-F-97, college: EWU, currently plays in Basketball Champions League) was not able to secure a victory for Keravnos (0-1) in their game against JDA Dijon (1-0) in the Basketball Champions League. Hunt recorded 6 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Keravnos was defeated 91-79 on the road by the leading JDA Dijon. Hunt's total stats this season are: 8.0ppg and 10.7rpg.

   #6. Adam Thoseby (198-F-91, college: GSW, currently plays in Austria) couldn't help Arkadia Lions in their game against BC Vienna in the Austrian BSL, despite his very good performance last Saturday. Thoseby recorded 14 points and added 7 passes in 35 minutes. But his team lost 77-89. Thoseby has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 15.8ppg, 1.8rpg, 4.0apg and 1.3spg in four games. Thoseby also holds two passports: Australian and British. Worth to mention he played also at Eurobasket Summer League, which helped him get the job in pro basketball.

   #7. James Bosnakis (197-F-99, college: Cent.Maine CC, currently plays in Croatia) couldn't help KK Skrljevo in their game against Zadar in the Croatian Premijer Liga. He cannot count Tuesday's game as one of the best ones. Bosnakis scored only 2 points. It was his first game for KK Skrljevo this season. His team was crushed by 31 points 99-68.

   #8. Deng Riak (208-C-95, college: Akron, currently plays in Lithuania) couldn't help Delikatesas in their game against Telsiai in the Lithuanian NKL (second division). Riak scored 6 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 34 minutes. His team lost 57-68. This year Riak's total stats are: 3.3ppg and 4.0rpg in four games.