Here is the weekly review of the top performing New Zealand players, who play currently abroad.
#1. This week's number one is former international forward
Yannick Wetzell (208-96, college:
SDSU, currently plays in Australia). He led
New Zealand Breakers to a victory over the closely-ranked Bullets (2-3)
88-83 in the Australian NBL in Sunday night's game.
Wetzell was MVP of the game. He scored 27 points (!!!), had 8 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 30 minutes on the court; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Wetzell's second season in pro basketball. New Zealand Breakers (1-7) are located at the very bottom in the NBL.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
It's Wetzell's first year with the team.
He has individually a very good season with high stats. Wetzell averages: 20.3ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 65.8%(50-76) and FT: 78.6% in six games he played so far.
He played for the New Zealand senior national team three years ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international guard
Tai Webster (193-95, agency:
Network Sports International, college:
Nebraska, currently plays in Euroleague). Webster could not help
Zalgiris (3-14) in their last game on Tuesday. Despite his good performance the bottom-ranked Zalgiris was defeated
74-65 on the road by the higher-ranked Bayern Muenchen (#12).
Webster scored 10 points.
It's Webster's first season with the team.
His overall stats this year are: 6.0ppg, 1.2rpg, 1.8apg, 2FGP: 46.7%, 3FGP: 23.8% and FT: 78.6%.
Former Advice First Waikato Pistons starter played for the New Zealand national team in 2019.
#3. The New Zealand player who performed third best last week abroad was former international power forward
Steven Adams (213-93, college:
Pittsburgh, currently plays in NBA). Adams managed to help Memphis Grizzlies in a victory against the Detroit Pistons (9-31) crushing them
118-88 in the NBA on Thursday night.
He scored only 2 points, had 14 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 22 minutes.
The Memphis Grizzlies have a solid 30-14 record this season.
It was his team's 11th consecutive victory in a row.
This year Adams' overall stats are: 7.0ppg, 9.4rpg, 3.0apg, 2FGP: 53.3% in 40 games.
He played for the New Zealand national team three years ago.
#4. An experienced guard
Kruz Perrott-Hunt (190-0, college:
S.Dakota, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to
S.Dakota's victory against the Denver University (2-4)
80-71 in the NCAA in Thursday night's game.
Perrott-Hunt scored 25 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished 3 assists (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line).
The University of South Dakota has 2-3 conference record this season.
Perrott-Hunt has relatively good stats this year: 14.5ppg, 3.9rpg and 2.2apg.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
back in 2019.
#5. Former international center
Jack Salt (208-96, college:
Virginia, currently plays in Australia) faced previously mentioned Yannick Wetzell in the Australian NBL last game.
Salt was not able to help
Bullets in their game against New Zealand Breakers (1-7), despite his good performance last Sunday.
He scored 10 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in only 12 minutes.
But Bullets lost
83-88 in Auckland to the league outsider (#10) New Zealand Breakers.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
This year Salt's total stats are: 5.0ppg and 2.5rpg in two games.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
four years ago.
#6. Forward
Finn Delany (198-95, college:
SW Baptist, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Yannick Wetzell and both played together in the last Australian NBL game.
Delany contributed to a
New Zealand Breakers' victory against the closely-ranked Bullets (2-3)
88-83.
He scored 9 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
This season Delany has relatively solid stats: 12.6ppg, 5.9rpg and 1.7apg.
He is a former international player as he played for the New Zealand senior team three years ago.
#7. Former international forward
Thomas Vodanovich (201-94, college:
JMU, currently plays in Australia) was not able to secure a victory for
Kings (3-4) in their game against Illawarra Hawks (4-1) in the Australian NBL.
Vodanovich recorded only 4 points in 11 minutes.
Kings lost
89-97 in Gwynneville to the higher-ranked (#3) Illawarra Hawks.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Vodanovich has averaged so far 3.7ppg and 2.9rpg in seven games.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
two years ago.
#8. Center
Callum McRae (216-99, currently studies in the States) helped
UC Riverside win their game against the University of California at San Diego (2-2)
59-51 in the NCAA last Thursday.
McRae had a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting the same number of rebounds in 33 minutes.
The University of California Riverside has 2-1 conference record this season.
His team will play only one more game in the NCAA Regular Season. And that game will be critical.
McRae is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his fourth year in UC Riverside's roster.
McRae has averaged so far 8.8ppg, 8.4rpg and 2.2apg in 13 games.
He used to play for the New Zealand U19 national team
back in 2017.
#9. Former U19 international point guard
Flynn Cameron (196-0, is currently at the American university) is a teammate of previously mentioned Callum McRae. But that was another game of his team in NCAA which we would like to mention.
Cameron helped
UC Riverside win their game against the Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo University (0-2)
57-46.
He scored 12 points and grabbed 8 rebounds (was perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line).
The University of California Riverside has 2-1 conference record this season.
Cameron has reliable stats this year: 10.8ppg, 4.5rpg and 1.4apg.
He used to play for the New Zealand U19 national team
three years ago.
#10. Center
Tyrell Harrison (213-99, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Jack Salt and both played together in the last Australian NBL game.
Harrison couldn't help
Bullets (2-3) in their game against New Zealand Breakers (1-7).
He scored only 4 points, had 4 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 14 minutes.
Bullets lost
83-88 in Auckland to the league outsider (#10) New Zealand Breakers.
Harrison has averaged so far 7.2ppg, 8.2rpg and 1.4bpg in five games.
He is a former international player as two years ago he still played for the New Zealand senior national team.
#11. Former U19 international forward
Samuel Mennenga (206-1, currently plays college basketball in the States) helped
Davidson win their game against the University of Massachusetts
77-67 in the NCAA last Tuesday.
Mennenga scored 10 points, had 4 rebounds and dished 3 assists.
Mennenga has averaged so far 7.5ppg, 4.9rpg and 1.7apg.
He used to play for the New Zealand U19 national team
three years ago.
#12. Former U19 international forward
Samuel Waardenburg (208-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the
Miami, FL in their game against the Florida State University in the NCAA.
Waardenburg scored 8 points and blocked 3 shots in 34 minutes.
His team was edged
65-64.
Waardenburg has averaged so far 7.1ppg, 3.8rpg, 2.1apg and 1.1bpg in 15 games.
He used to play for the New Zealand U19 national team
back in 2017.
#13. Former international power forward
Samuel Timmins (211-97, college:
Washington, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Yannick Wetzell. He played also in the last Australian NBL game facing Finn Delany (above) in the other team.
Timmins helped
New Zealand Breakers win their game against the closely-ranked Bullets
88-83.
He scored only 4 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
Timmins has averaged so far 3.7ppg and 3.0rpg.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
three years ago.
#14. Former U19 international swingman
Sean Murphy (197-2, currently plays in NCAA2) couldn't help the
University of Nebraska-Kearney in their game against the University of Central Missouri in the NCAA2.
Murphy scored 8 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 34 minutes.
His team lost
66-77 in the NCAA2.
Murphy has averaged so far 5.0ppg, 6.3rpg and 1.2apg in 11 games.
He used to play for the New Zealand U19 national team
back in 2020.
#15. Former U19 international guard
Tobias Cameron (196-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the
ACU in their game against the Grand Canyon State University in the NCAA.
Cameron scored 8 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
His team was crushed by 27 points
95-68.
Cameron has averaged so far 4.9ppg, 3.0rpg and 1.5apg.
He used to play for the New Zealand U19 national team
five 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. Experienced
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones (198-F-1, currently plays in NCAA2) led
University of Hawaii at Hilo to a victory against the Holy Names University (1-4)
85-78 in the NCAA2 on Friday night.
Tait-Jones recorded a double-double by scoring 22 points and getting 13 rebounds.
The University of Hawaii at Hilo has 3-1 record this season.
Tait-Jones has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 17.5ppg, 8.4rpg, 2.4apg and 1.2spg.
#2. Shane Temara (205-F/C-95, college:
N.Texas, currently plays in Norway) was the major contributor in a
Baerum Basket's victory against the closely-ranked Asker Aliens (9-7)
93-82 in the Norwegian BLNO in Tuesday night's game.
Temara scored 24 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 30 minutes.
Baerum Basket Bekkestua (10-7) is placed fourth in the BLNO.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
Temara has very impressive stats this year: 18.5ppg, 7.8rpg and 1.5apg in eight games he played so far.
He is a naturalized American.
Temara used to play for Wellington Saints in New Zealand league.
#3. Takiula Fahrensohn (201-G-99, agency:
Haylett Sports, college:
Portland, currently plays in Germany) could not help the league outsider
Ehingen/Urspringschule (0-18) in their last game on Friday. Despite Fahrensohn's good performance the bottom-ranked Ehingen/Urspringschule was defeated
82-75 on the road by the much higher-ranked Leverkusen (#5).
He recorded 13 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.
Fahrensohn has reliable stats this season: 12.6ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.2apg and 1.2spg.
He has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and German.
#4. Hayden Collier (208-F, college:
Laramie CC, currently plays in Canada) contributed to an easy victory against the Bobcats (2-7) crushing them
86-55 in the U Sports in Friday night's game.
Collier recorded 8 points in only 11 minutes. It was his first game for Regina University this season.
His team has a solid 6-3 record this season.
#5. Matt Brien (193-G, currently plays in NCAA2) contributed to a 2-point
University of Nebraska-Kearney's victory against the Missouri Western State University (4-3)
81-79 in the NCAA2 on Thursday night.
Brien recorded 7 points in 17 minutes.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. The University of Nebraska-Kearney has not so impressive 1-5 record this season.
Brien has averaged so far 2.2ppg and 1.3rpg in nine games.
#6. Corey Le'Aupepe (198-F, currently plays in NAIA) contributed to a 1-point
Menlo College's victory against the Arizona Christian University
67-66 in the NAIA in Thursday night's game.
He scored 12 points, had 5 rebounds and dished 7 assists in 32 minutes.
Le'Aupepe averaged so far 13.7ppg, 5.9rpg and 1.3apg in 15 games.
