James Hunter's double-double lands him Player of the Week award among New Zealanders playing currently abroad:

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.

James Hunter

   #1. This week's number one is former international center James Hunter (208-91, college: S.Dakota, currently plays in Australia). He could not help Knox Raiders (11-3) in their last game. Despite Hunter's very good performance the third-placed Knox Raiders (11-3) were edged 89-86 on the road by the much lower-ranked (#13) Huskies in the NBL1 group. He had a double-double by scoring 20 points and getting 12 rebounds in 23 minutes on the court. Hunter has relatively good stats this year: 12.9ppg, 5.9rpg, 2FGP: 57.9%(22-38), 3FGP: 46.2%(12-26) and FT: 90.9% in seven games he played so far. Former Manawatu Jets starter played for the New Zealand senior national team two years ago.

Brayden Inger

   #2. Second place goes to former U19 international forward Brayden Inger (203-99, currently plays in Australia). Inger led Buccaneers to an easy victory against the 11th-ranked Eagles (5-13) crushing them 121-82 in the Australian State League (second division) on Saturday night. He recorded 12 points in 22 minutes. Geraldton Buccaneers (13-4) are placed second in SBL group. It was his team's fifth consecutive victory in a row. This year Inger has relatively solid stats: 10.3ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.7apg, 1.5spg, 2FGP: 56.3%(36-64), 3FGP: 33.3% in 12 games. He played for the New Zealand U19 national team in 2017.

James Paringatai

   #3. The New Zealand player who performed third best last week abroad was an experienced former international forward James Paringatai (201-86, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Brayden Inger and both played together in the last Australian State League game. Paringatai led Buccaneers to an easy victory against the 11th-ranked Eagles (5-13) crushing them 121-82. He recorded 11 points. This season Paringatai averages: 3.5ppg, 1.6rpg, 2FGP: 51.4%, 3FGP: 30.8% and FT: 44.4%. He played for the New Zealand national team six years ago.

Tohi Smith-Milner

   #4. Power forward Tohi Smith-Milner (206-95, college: Polk State CC, currently plays in Australia) led Kilsyth Cobras to a victory against the third-ranked Knox Raiders (11-3) 90-77 in the Australian State League (second division) last Saturday. Smith-Milner recorded 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in 29 minutes. Kilsyth Cobras (8-5) are placed fourth in NBL1 group. Smith-Milner has reliable stats this year: 14.5ppg, 7.7rpg and 2.2apg in 13 games. He is also New Zealand national team player.

Zane Meehl

   #5. Former University international guard Zane Meehl (188-86, college: Mid-Continent, currently plays in Australia) was not able to help Phoenix in their game against Seahawks (6-4) in the Australian State League (second division). He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. Meehl recorded only 2 points in 19 minutes. Phoenix (#4) lost 65-71 in Runaway Bay to the lower-ranked (#5) Seahawks in the QBL group. Meehl's stats this year are: 13.0ppg, 5.0rpg and 3.4apg in five games. He has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and Australian. Meehl used to play for the New Zealand university national team twelve 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. Zac Carter (203-F/G-89, currently plays in Australia) led Brisbane Capitals to an easy victory against the leader Brisbane Spartans (9-0) crushing them 115-83 in a derby game in the Australian State League (second division) last Saturday. He recorded 12 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group QBL. Brisbane Capitals (8-0) are placed second. So far his team won all eight games in the Regular Season. It's Carter's fifth season with the team. This year Carter averages: 7.8ppg, 6.4rpg and 1.8apg. He has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and Australian.

   #2. Judson Seumanu, who plays in the Australian Local Leagues (fifth division) could not help Pacers (3-9) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Seumanu's good performance Pacers (#8) were crushed 72-51 on the road by the leading Jets in the Big V D1 group. He was the second best scorer with 10 points. Seumanu also added 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Seumanu's overall stats this season are: 7.0ppg, 4.5rpg and 3.0apg.

   #3. Emmerson Potts-Broughton (183-G, college: Lee JC, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Judson Seumanu and both played together in the last Australian Local Leagues game. Potts-Broughton was not able to help Pacers in their game against Jets (14-3). He recorded 9 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists in 37 minutes. But Pacers (#8) were crushed 72-51 in Sunbury by the leading Jets in the Big V D1 group. Potts-Broughton's stats this year are: 14.5ppg, 6.7rpg and 2.2apg in six games he played so far.

   #4. Zeke Meehl (181-G-88, currently plays in Australia) was not able to secure a victory for Phoenix (6-2) in their game against Seahawks (6-4) in the Australian State League (second division). He recorded 7 points. Phoenix (#4) was defeated 71-65 in Runaway Bay by the lower-ranked Seahawks (#5) in the QBL group. Meehl has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 16.5ppg, 3.5rpg and 2.3apg. Meehl is another player who holds two passports: New Zealand and Australian.

   #5. Jaxson Macfarlane (196-F-98, currently plays in Australia) contributed to Gators' victory against the sixth-ranked Bulleen Boomers (7-8) 94-82 in the Australian Local Leagues (fifth division) in Sunday night's game. He recorded 9 points. Shepparton Gators (12-3) are placed second in Big V D1 group. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. Macfarlane's overall stats this season are: 7.5ppg and 4.0rpg.

   #6. Javaan Mumtaz (193-G, college: E.New Mexico, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Jaxson Macfarlane and both played together in the last Australian Local Leagues game. Mumtaz led Gators to a victory over the sixth-ranked Bulleen Boomers 94-82. He was MVP of the game. Mumtaz recorded 24 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 39 minutes. Mumtaz has very impressive stats this year: 18.6ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.5apg and 1.4spg in 14 games.