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 swingman
Reuben Te Rangi (198-1994, currently plays in Australia). He led
Knox Raiders to a victory over the 12th-ranked NW Tasmania Thunder (8-9)
69-50 in the Australian State League (second division) in Friday night's game.
Te Rangi was MVP of the game. He scored 16 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 25 minutes on the court.
Knox Raiders (10-7) are placed ninth in NBL1 South group.
Te Rangi has relatively good stats this year: 11.3ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.8apg, 2FGP: 49.3%, 3FGP: 32.3% in 13 games he played so far.
He played for the New Zealand senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international swingman
Mitchell Dance (192-2001, currently plays in Australia). Dance could not help
Eltham Wildcats (6-10) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his very good performance the 15th-placed Eltham Wildcats (6-10) were edged
72-69 on the road by the lower-ranked Thunder (#15) in the NBL1 South group.
Dance was the top scorer with 16 points. He also added 6 rebounds.
Dance has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 18.6ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 46.0%, 3FGP: 29.2% and FT: 60.8%.
Dance played for the New Zealand national team in 21.
#3. The New Zealand player who performed third best last week abroad was former international swingman
Dion Prewster (195-1990, agency:
BIG, college:
SF Austin, currently plays in Australia). He was not able to help
Sabres (10-6) in their last game. Despite Prewster's very good performance Sabres (#6) lost
67-81 in Bendigo to the higher-ranked (#5) Braves in the NBL1 South group.
He was the top scorer with 21 points. Prewster also added 6 rebounds and 4 assists in 35 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball.They ended the series of four consecutive victories.
Prewster has very impressive stats this year: 15.4ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.1apg, 1.1spg, 3FGP: 33.3% and FT: 81.5% in 11 games.
He is a naturalized American.
Prewster played for the New Zealand national team year ago.
He used to play for Wellington Exodus Saints in New Zealand league.
#4. Center
James Hunter (208-1991, college:
S.Dakota, currently plays in Australia) was the main contributor in
Mustangs' victory against the fifth-ranked Norths Soul Sports Bears (9-7) crushing them
98-66 in the Australian State League (second division) in Sunday night's game.
Hunter was the best player in that game. He scored 20 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and made 4 blocks; not bad, considering it's only Hunter's first season in pro basketball. Maitland Mustangs (10-6) are placed third in NBL1 East group.
It was his team's fifth consecutive victory in a row.
There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
This season Hunter has very high stats. He averages: 16.8ppg, 7.9rpg and 1.4bpg.
Hunter used to play for the New Zealand national team
back in 17.
#5. Former international guard
Shea Ili (184-1992, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Dion Prewster and both played together in the last Australian State League game.
Ili was not able to secure a victory for
Sabres (10-6) in their last game. Despite his very good performance Sabres (#6) lost
67-81 in Bendigo to the higher-ranked (#5) Braves in the NBL1 South group.
Ili was the second best scorer with 19 points. He also added 4 rebounds in 30 minutes.
Ili has very impressive stats this year: 23.5ppg, 5.6rpg, 5.2apg and 1.5spg in 10 games.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
years ago.
#6. Forward
Sioeli Vaiangina (202-1998, college:
Panola JC, currently plays in Australia) contributed to a 3-point
Wanneroo's victory against the ninth-ranked Redbacks (8-9)
87-84 in the Australian State League (second division) on Friday night.
Vaiangina scored 9 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
Joondalup City Wanneroo Wolves (16-0) are placed first in NBL1 West group.
So far his team won all sixteen games in the Regular Season.
Vaiangina's overall stats this season are: 8.6ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.3apg and 1.3bpg.
He is a former U18 international player as he played for the New Zealand team year ago.
#7. An experienced former international swingman
Zac Carter (203-1989, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
South West Metro Pirates (4-10) in their game against Brisbane Capitals (8-7) in the Australian State League (second division).
Carter recorded 5 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in 30 minutes.
South West Metro Pirates (#13) were crushed
107-83 in Brisbane by the higher-ranked (#7) Capitals in the NBL1 North group.
It was South West Metro Pirates' fifth consecutive loss in a row.
This year Carter has relatively solid stats: 10.5ppg, 8.0rpg and 1.2apg in 13 games.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
years ago.
#8. Forward
Jonathan Janssen (205-1995, college:
HPU, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
Phoenix (7-8) in their game against Brisbane Spartans (3-12) in the Australian State League (second division).
Janssen recorded 7 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists.
Phoenix (#10) was defeated
96-85 in Brisbane by the lower-ranked Spartans (#16) in the NBL1 North group.
It was Phoenix's fourth consecutive loss in a row.
There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial.
This season Janssen has very high stats. He averages: 15.3ppg, 9.4rpg, 1.9apg and 1.2bpg.
Janssen used to play for the New Zealand national team
back in 21.
#9. Former international guard
Zane Meehl (188-1986, college:
Mid-Continent, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Jonathan Janssen and both played together in the last Australian State League game.
Meehl couldn't help
Phoenix (7-8) in their game against Brisbane Spartans (3-12).
He recorded 7 points in 16 minutes.
Phoenix (#10) lost
85-96 in Brisbane to the lower-ranked (#16) Spartans in the NBL1 North group.
This year Meehl's overall stats are: 3.0ppg and 1.1rpg in 14 games.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
years ago.
The list of other players, who all have New Zealand passport but never been selected to any of New Zealand national teams: #1. Taine Wattie (190-G-1998, currently plays in Australia) contributed to an easy victory against the 14th-ranked Roar (4-11) crushing them
109-76 in the Australian State League (second division) in Saturday night's game.
Wattie recorded 10 points in 27 minutes.
Townsville Heat (6-9) is placed 12th in NBL1 North group.
There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
This year Wattie has relatively solid stats: 14.4ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.5apg and 1.8spg in 14 games he played so far.
#2. Mason Bragg (182-G-1993, currently plays in Australia) could not help
Phoenix (7-8) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance Phoenix (#10) was defeated
96-85 on the road by the lower-ranked Brisbane Spartans (#16) in the NBL1 North group.
Bragg recorded 13 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.
There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial.
Bragg has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 16.7ppg, 4.6rpg, 5.8apg and 2.0spg.
#3. Javaan Mumtaz (193-G, college:
ENMU, currently plays in Australia) was not able to help
Northside Wizards in their game against Mackay Meteors (11-4) in the Australian State League (second division).
He recorded 5 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 32 minutes.
Northside Wizards were crushed
103-70 in Mackay by the leading Meteors in the NBL1 North group.
This year Mumtaz's overall stats are: 8.1ppg, 3.4rpg and 2.7apg in 13 games.
#4. Experienced
Kazlo Evans (187-G-1980, currently plays in Australia) was not able to secure a victory for
South Adelaide Panthers (12-3) in their game against North Adelaide Rockets (10-6) in the Australian State League (second division).
He recorded 9 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
But South Adelaide Panthers were crushed
87-63 in Greenacres by the lower-ranked North Adelaide Rockets (#4) in the NBL1 Central group.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season.
Evans' overall stats this season are: 3.3ppg, 2.5rpg and 2.7apg.
#5. Elijah Puna (201-F-2000, currently plays in Australia) managed to help Logan Thunder to win against the 15th-ranked Seahawks (4-12) crushing them
99-75 in the Australian State League (second division) last Sunday.
Puna scored only 2 points.
Logan Thunder (15-0) is placed first in NBL1 North group.
So far his team won all fifteen games in the Regular Season.
This season Puna averages just 2.3ppg.
He has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and Australian.
#6. Xavier Shaw (203-PF-1992, college:
MSU-Northern, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
Suns in their game against Giants in the Australian State League (second division). Shaw cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones.
He recorded only 2 points in 17 minutes.
His team were crushed by 30 points
92-62.
This year Shaw's total stats are: 7.6ppg and 6.6rpg in 17 games.
#7. Dylan Ryburn (185-G, college:
Southeast CC, currently plays in Australia) contributed to a 3-point
Vikings' victory against the eighth-ranked Gulls
89-86 in a derby game in the Australian State League (second division) in Saturday night's game.
He recorded 5 points.
This season Ryburn averages only 3.2ppg.
