Here is the weekly review of the top performing New Zealand players, who play currently abroad.
#1. This week's number one is an international guard
Tai Webster (193-95, college:
Nebraska, currently plays in Turkey). He was the major contributor in
Galatasaray's victory against the closely-ranked Fenerbahce (4-1)
83-64 in a derby game in the Turkish BSL in Sunday night's game.
Webster scored 17 points and added 4 assists in 28 minutes on the court; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his third season in pro basketball. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul (4-1) is placed second in the BSL.
It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
Webster has relatively good stats this year: 14.0ppg, 2.5apg, 2FGP: 31.3% and FT: 75.0% in two games he played so far.
Ex-Advice First Waikato Pistons player is currently a member of the New Zealand senior national team.
#2. Second place goes to an international forward
Isaac Fotu (203-93, college:
Hawaii, currently plays in Italy). He could not help
Treviso in their last game. Despite Fotu's very good performance Treviso lost
71-76 on the road to the lower-ranked (#11) Trento.
He was the top scorer with 22 points. Fotu also added 4 rebounds in 32 minutes.
It's Fotu's first season with the team.
He has individually a very good year with high stats. Fotu averages: 15.2ppg, 5.0rpg, 2FGP: 58.5%(31-53) and FT: 77.3% in six games.
He has a dual citizenship: Tongan and New Zealand.
Fotu is in the roster of the New Zealand senior national team.
#3. The New Zealand player who performed third best last week abroad was an international guard
Corey Webster (188-88, agency:
Alti Sport, college:
Lambuth, currently plays in Australia). He led
New Zealand Breakers to a victory over the closely-ranked Cairns Taipans (2-5)
93-85 in the Australian NBL in Thursday night's game.
Webster was MVP of the game. He scored 23 points and added 8 assists.
New Zealand Breakers (2-3) are placed fifth in the NBL.
But the season is still in it's first stage and everything can happen.
This season Webster has very high stats. He averages: 18.4ppg, 2.6rpg, 5.2apg, 2FGP: 42.6%, 3FGP: 38.7% and FT: 83.3%.
Webster is also a member of the New Zealand senior national team.
#4. Power forward
Steven Adams (213-93, college:
Pittsburgh, currently plays in NBA) was not able to help the
Oklahoma City Thunder in their game against the Washington Wizards (1-3) in the NBA.
He recorded 7 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in 29 minutes.
The Oklahoma City Thunder (1-4) lost
85-97 in Washington to the Wizards.
But there are still lots of games to play and it's a long way to go.
Adams has been at the team for seven years.
This season Adams' overall stats are: 6.0ppg, 11.5rpg and 1.5apg in four games.
He is also New Zealand national team player.
#5. International forward
Thomas Abercrombie (198-87, college:
WSU, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Corey Webster. But that was another game of his team in Australian NBL which we would like to mention.
Abercrombie contributed to an easy victory against the league outsider Illawarra Hawks (1-6) crushing them
103-72.
He recorded 16 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
New Zealand Breakers (2-3) are placed fifth in the NBL.
Abercrombie's total stats this season are: 8.4ppg and 6.6rpg.
He plays currently for the New Zealand national team.
#6. An experienced forward
Maxwell Darling (196-0, currently plays in Croatia) managed to help KK Vrijednosnice Osijek in a victory against the ninth-ranked Dubrava (1-4)
96-87 in the Croatian Premijer Liga in Saturday night's game.
Darling scored 5 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and made 3 blocks in 27 minutes.
KK Vrijednosnice Osijek (3-2) is placed fifth in the Premijer Liga.
This year Darling's total stats are: 7.8ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.2apg, 1.2bpg and 1.6spg in five games.
He is an international player who is currently on the senior New Zealand National Team roster.
#7. International forward
Thomas Vodanovich (201-94, college:
JMU, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Corey Webster and both played together in the last Australian NBL game.
Vodanovich contributed to a
New Zealand Breakers' victory against the closely-ranked Cairns Taipans (2-5)
93-85.
He scored 6 points and blocked 2 blocks in 17 minutes.
Vodanovich has averaged so far 2.0ppg and 2.0rpg in three games.
He is also New Zealand national team player.
#8. Swingman
Ethan Rusbatch (196-92, college:
Lincoln Trail CC, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Corey Webster. He played also in the last Australian NBL game facing Thomas Abercrombie (above) in the other team.
Rusbatch helped
New Zealand Breakers win their game against the league outsider Illawarra Hawks (1-6) crushing them
103-72.
He recorded 6 points.
This season Rusbatch averages only 2.0ppg.
He plays currently for the New Zealand national team.
#9. International guard
Jarrod Kenny (188-85, currently plays in Australia) helped
Cairns Taipans win their game against one of league's weakest teams United (1-4)
90-85 in the Australian NBL on Monday night.
He scored 5 points.
Cairns Taipans (2-5) are placed seventh in the NBL.
Kenny has averaged so far 1.8ppg, 2.2rpg and 1.8apg.
He is also in the roster of the New Zealand national team.
#10. Guard
Shea Ili (184-92, currently plays in Australia) faced previously mentioned Jarrod Kenny in the Australian NBL last game.
Ili was not able to secure a victory for one of league's weakest teams
United (1-4) in their game against Cairns Taipans (2-5). He cannot count Monday's game as one of the best ones.
Ili scored only 2 points and added 3 assists in 9 minutes on the court.
United lost
85-90 in Cairns to the higher-ranked (#7) Taipans.
Ili has averaged so far 2.0ppg, 2.4rpg and 3.0apg in five games.
He is an international player who is currently on the senior New Zealand National Team roster.
#11. International swingman
Reuben Te Rangi (198-94, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
Bullets in their game against Kings in the Australian NBL. Te Rangi cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones.
He recorded only 3 points.
His team were defeated
94-79.
This season Te Rangi averages just 3.8ppg.
He plays currently for the New Zealand national team.
#12. International center
Alex Pledger (215-87, college:
Belm.Abbey, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Shea Ili and both played together in the last Australian NBL game.
Pledger couldn't help one of league's weakest teams
United in their game against Cairns Taipans. He cannot count Monday's game as one of the best ones.
Pledger scored only 2 points in 10 minutes.
His team lost
85-90.
Pledger has averaged so far 6.0ppg and 4.0rpg in four games.
He is also in the roster of the New Zealand national team.
#13. International guard
Taylor Britt (188-96, college:
Southeast CC, currently plays in Australia) helped
Perth Wildcats win their game against the closely-ranked Melbourne Phoenix crushing them
110-79 in the Australian NBL in Friday night's game.
Britt recorded only 2 points.
This season Britt averages just 1.5ppg.
He is also New Zealand national team player.
#14. International power forward
Tohi Smith-Milner (206-95, college:
Polk State CC, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Shea Ili. However that was another game of his team in Australian NBL which brought him to that list.
Smith-Milner helped
United win their game against the closely-ranked New Zealand Breakers
104-98.
He recorded only 2 points in 11 minutes.
Smith-Milner has averaged so far 2.5ppg and 2.0rpg in four games.
He plays currently for the New Zealand national team.
#15. International forward
Robert Loe (211-91, college:
St.Louis, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Corey Webster. He played also in the last Australian NBL game facing Ethan Rusbatch (above) in the other team.
Loe helped
New Zealand Breakers win their game against the league outsider Illawarra Hawks crushing them
103-72.
He recorded only 2 points.
Loe has averaged so far 8.3ppg and 3.3rpg.
He is also in the roster of the New Zealand national team.
The list of other players, who all have New Zealand passport but never been selected to any of New Zealand national teams: #1. Experienced
Aron Baynes (208-C-86, college:
WSU, currently plays in NBA) was the major contributor in a
Phoenix Suns' victory against the Golden State Warriors (1-4)
121-110 in the NBA last Wednesday.
He recorded a double-double by scoring 24 points and getting 13 rebounds. Baynes also added 7 assists and 3 blocks.
The Phoenix Suns have 3-2 record this season.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
Baynes has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 14.0ppg, 6.6rpg and 3.0apg.
Baynes has a dual citizenship: Australian and New Zealand.
#2. Craig Moller (203-F-94, currently plays in Australia) managed to help Sydney Kings to win against the sixth-ranked Bullets (2-3)
94-79 in the Australian NBL last Saturday.
Moller recorded 5 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
Sydney Kings (5-0) are placed first in the NBL.
So far his team won all five games in the Regular Season.
Moller has averaged so far 7.2ppg, 5.0rpg and 1.2apg.
#3. Shou Nisbet (196-G-97, college:
Southeast CC, currently plays in Japan) contributed to a 2-point
Tokyo Z's victory against the third-ranked Tokyo EX (9-2)
65-63 in a derby game in the Japanese B2 League last Saturday.
Nisbet scored 8 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 16 minutes.
Earthfriends Tokyo Z (4-9) is placed fifth in Central group.
Nisbet has averaged so far 3.1ppg and 2.1rpg in 13 games he played so far.
#4. Carl Isitt (203-F, currently plays in NAIA). Isitt could not help the
Central Methodist University to beat the Park University.
He recorded 7 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. It was his first game for Central Methodist University this season.
The Central Methodist University was defeated
85-76 on the road by the Park University.
#5. Joel Coffey (213-C, currently plays in NAIA) was not able to help the
Webber International University (0-0) in their game against the Tabor College in the TSC.
Coffey scored 8 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in 22 minutes.
his team lost
81-90 in Hillsboro to the Tabor College.
Coffey has averaged so far 9.0ppg and 8.5rpg in two games.
