POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
We bring you last week's top performances from New Zealanders who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.
#1. This week's number one is former international power forward
Steven Adams (213-93, college:
Pittsburgh, currently plays in NBA). He led
Memphis Grizzlies to a 3-point victory against the Golden State Warriors (6-1)
104-101 in the NBA in Thursday night's game.
Adams recorded 12 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 21 minutes on the court.
The Memphis Grizzlies have a solid 5-3 record this season.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
It's Adams' first year with the team.
He has relatively good stats this season: 9.4ppg, 9.1rpg, 2.9apg, 2FGP: 54.5% in eight games he played so far.
Adams played for the New Zealand senior national team two years ago.
#2. Second place goes to an experienced former international forward
Maxwell Darling (196-0, agency:
Octagon Europe, currently plays in Romania). He could not help
Constanta (4-2) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Darling's good performance Constanta was defeated
78-69 at home by the much lower-ranked Focsani (#13).
He scored 11 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
It's Darling's first season with the team.
This year Darling has relatively solid stats: 13.4ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.4bpg, 2FGP: 52.8%, 3FGP: 46.2%(6-13) and FT: 47.8%.
He played for the New Zealand national team in 2019.
#3. The New Zealand player who performed third best last week abroad was former U19 international forward
James Moors (208-0, currently plays in NCAA2). Moors led
Colorado State University to an easy victory against the Adams State University crushing them
92-55 in the MW on Sunday night.
He recorded 17 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in a mere 15 minutes.
The Colorado State University has a very solid - record this season.
Moors has reliable stats this year: 13.4ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.4bpg, 2FGP: 52.8%, 3FGP: 46.2%(6-13) and FT: 47.8% in five games.
He played for the New Zealand U19 national team two years ago.
#4. Center
Callum McRae (216-99, currently plays in NCAA2) led
University of California Riverside to an easy victory against the California State University Los Angeles crushing them
90-56 in the BWC in Saturday night's game.
McRae scored 11 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
The University of California Riverside has quite an impressive - record this season.
McRae is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his fourth year in University of California's roster.
His stats this season are: 13.4ppg, 7.8rpg and 1.4bpg.
McRae used to play for the New Zealand U19 national team
back in 2017.
#5. Former U19 international forward
Matt Freeman (207-97, college:
UCSB, currently plays in Germany) was not able to help
Lions (3-4) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Freeman's good performance Lions was defeated
85-75 on the road by the second-ranked Walter Tigers.
He recorded 11 points.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Freeman averaged so far 10.7ppg, 3.0rpg and 1.3apg.
He used to play for the New Zealand U19 national team
six years ago.
One more player who has never been selected to any of national teams, but has New Zealand passport: #1. Takiula Fahrensohn (201-G-99, agency:
Haylett Sports, college:
Portland, currently plays in Germany) could not help the league outsider
Ehingen/Urspringschule (0-7) in their last game. Despite his good performance the bottom-ranked Ehingen/Urspringschule was crushed
99-73 on the road by the higher-ranked (#11) SparkassenStars.
Fahrensohn recorded 10 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 18 minutes.
So far Ehingen/Urspringschule lost all seven games in the Regular Season.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
This year Fahrensohn's overall stats are: 9.3ppg, 3.1rpg and 1.1apg in seven games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and German.
Other top New Zealand players, who play abroad:Tai Webster (193-G-95) plays for
Zalgiris in Lithuanian LKL
Isaac Fotu (203-PF-93) plays for
Tochigi Brex in Japanese B1 League
Mojave King (196-G-2) plays for
Adelaide 36ers in Australian NBL
Brayden Inger (203-F-99) plays for
Cairns Taipans in Australian NBL
Yannick Wetzell (208-F) plays for
New Zealand Breakers in Australian NBL
Shane Temara (205-F/C-95) plays for
Baerum Basket in Norwegian BLNO
Isaac Miller-Jose (203-F-98) plays for
Manitoba University in U Sports
Hayden Collier (208-F) plays for
Regina University in U Sports
Marcel Jones (203-F-85) plays for
Sitra in Bahrain Premier League
Shou Nisbet (196-G-97) plays for
Chiba in Japanese B3 League
Tohi Smith-Milner (206-F-95) plays for
Melbourne Phoenix in Australian NBL
Notice:
The list above includes only some of the New Zealand playing currently abroad. Go to New Zealand Abroad Page to see completed list.
