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 guard
Shea Ili (184-1992, currently plays in Australia). He led
Sabres to a victory over the fourth-ranked Geelong Supercats (8-4)
93-81 in the Australian State League (second division) last Saturday.
Ili was MVP of the game. He recorded 29 points (!!!) and added 6 assists.
Sandringham Sabres (9-5) are placed third in NBL1 South group.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
Ili has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 23.3ppg, 6.1rpg, 6.0apg, 1.9spg, 2FGP: 54.9%, 3FGP: 35.1%.
Ili played for the New Zealand senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international swingman
Dion Prewster (195-1990, agency:
BIG, college:
SF Austin, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Shea Ili and both played together in the last Australian State League game.
Prewster was the major contributor in
Sabres' victory against the fourth-ranked Geelong Supercats (8-4)
93-81.
He had a double-double by scoring 26 points and getting 12 rebounds in 36 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Prewster's first season in pro basketball. Prewster has relatively good stats this year: 15.0ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.0apg, 2FGP: 61.0%(36-59), 3FGP: 28.8% and FT: 78.3% in nine games he played so far.
He is a naturalized American.
Prewster played for the New Zealand national team in 22.
He used to play for Wellington Exodus Saints in New Zealand league.
#3. The New Zealand player who performed third best last week abroad was former international swingman
Mitchell Dance (192-2001, currently plays in Australia). Dance contributed to a
Eltham Wildcats' surprising victory against the leader Mount Gambier Pioneers (10-3)
100-95 in the Australian State League (second division) in Saturday night's game.
He recorded 18 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.
Eltham Wildcats (5-8) are placed 15th in NBL1 South group.
This season Dance has very high stats. He averages: 19.9ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 48.3%, 3FGP: 32.1% and FT: 59.7%.
Dance played for the New Zealand national team year ago.
#4. Forward
Dyson King-Hawea (200-1992, currently plays in Australia) could not help
Dandenong Rangers (4-10) in their last game on Friday. Despite King-Hawea's very good performance the 16th-placed Dandenong Rangers (4-10) were crushed
107-80 on the road by the second-ranked Huskies in the NBL1 South group.
He recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 11 rebounds. King-Hawea also added 3 assists.
This season King-Hawea has very high stats. He averages: 16.3ppg, 8.3rpg, 3.3apg and 1.4spg.
King-Hawea used to play for the New Zealand national team
back in 17.
#5. An experienced former international swingman
Zac Carter (203-1989, currently plays in Australia) was not able to help the league outsider
South West Metro Pirates (0-12) in their last game. Despite his good performance South West Metro Pirates (#14) were crushed
102-78 in Brisbane by the higher-ranked (#13) Roar in the NBL1 North group.
Carter was the second best scorer with 14 points. He also added 6 rebounds in 31 minutes.
So far South West Metro Pirates lost all twelve games in the Regular Season.
This year Carter has relatively solid stats: 11.2ppg, 8.5rpg and 1.2apg in 11 games.
He has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and Australian.
Carter used to play for the New Zealand national team
years ago.
#6. Forward
Jonathan Janssen (205-1995, college:
HPU, currently plays in Australia) was not able to secure a victory for
Phoenix (7-6) in their game against Thunder (8-4) in the Australian State League (second division). Despite his very good performance last Saturday He recorded a double-double by scoring 18 points and getting 11 rebounds.
This season Janssen has very high stats. He averages: 15.9ppg, 9.7rpg, 1.7apg and 1.3bpg.
Janssen is a former international player as he played for the New Zealand senior team year ago.
#7. Former international forward
Mitchell Newton (199-1995, currently plays in Australia) helped
Wanneroo win their game against the sixth-ranked Cougars (9-6)
100-93 in the Australian State League (second division) on Saturday night.
He recorded 11 points in only a mere 14 minutes.
Joondalup City Wanneroo Wolves (14-0) are placed first in NBL1 West group.
So far his team won all fourteen games in the Regular Season.
This year Newton's overall stats are: 4.9ppg and 1.7rpg in 14 games.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
years ago.
#8. Forward
Sioeli Vaiangina (202-1998, college:
Panola JC, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Mitchell Newton. But that was another game of his team in Australian State League which we would like to mention.
Vaiangina helped
Wanneroo win their game against the fourth-ranked Flames (11-5)
91-88.
He scored 9 points.
Joondalup City Wanneroo Wolves (14-0) are placed first in NBL1 West group.
So far his team won all fourteen games in the Regular Season.
Vaiangina's total stats this season are: 8.8ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.3apg and 1.3bpg.
He used to play for the New Zealand U18 national team
back in 14.
#9. Former international guard
Joshua Bloxham (186-1990, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Mitchell Newton. He played also in the last Australian State League game facing Sioeli Vaiangina (above) in the other team.
Bloxham helped
Wanneroo win their game against the fourth-ranked Flames (11-5)
91-88.
He scored 6 points and added 3 assists in 20 minutes.
This year Bloxham's total stats are: 2.5ppg, 2.3rpg and 1.3apg in 11 games.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
years ago.
#10. Center
James Hunter (208-1991, college:
S.Dakota, currently plays in Australia) helped
Mustangs win their game against the tenth-ranked Crusaders (5-9)
81-70 in the Australian State League (second division) on Saturday night.
He recorded 9 points in 17 minutes.
Maitland Mustangs (8-6) are placed sixth in NBL1 East group.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
Hunter has very impressive stats this year: 16.9ppg, 7.9rpg and 1.2bpg in 14 games.
He is a former international player as years ago he still played for the New Zealand senior national team.
#11. Former international guard
Ezra Nikora (183-1991, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
Redbacks in their game against Flames in the Australian State League (second division). He cannot count Friday's game as one of the best ones.
Nikora scored only one point.
His team were defeated
114-110.
This season Nikora averages only 0.2ppg.
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) could not help
Townsville Heat (5-9) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the 12th-placed Townsville Heat (5-9) lost
97-103 on the road to the lower-ranked (#15) Seahawks in the NBL1 North group.
Wattie scored 22 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 36 minutes.
Wattie has relatively good stats this year: 14.7ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.6apg and 1.9spg in 13 games he played so far.
#2. Mason Bragg (182-G-1993, currently plays in Australia) was not able to help
Phoenix (7-6) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the eighth-placed Phoenix (7-6) lost
89-100 in Loganholme to the higher-ranked (#4) Thunder in the NBL1 North group.
Bragg was the top scorer with 26 points. He also added 5 rebounds and 7 assists in 40 minutes.
Bragg has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 17.2ppg, 4.7rpg, 5.7apg and 2.0spg in 13 games.
#3. Elijah Puna (201-F-2000, currently plays in Australia) contributed to an easy victory against the tenth-ranked Ipswich Force (6-7) crushing them
104-84 in the Australian State League (second division) last Sunday.
Puna scored 8 points in only 12 minutes.
Logan Thunder (11-0) is placed first in NBL1 North group.
So far his team won all eleven games in the Regular Season.
This year Puna averages only 4.0ppg in three games.
He has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and Australian.
#4. Javaan Mumtaz (193-G, college:
ENMU, currently plays in Australia) contributed to a 3-point
Northside Wizards' victory against the 13th-ranked Roar (4-8)
69-66 in the Australian State League (second division) on Friday night.
Mumtaz scored 10 points.
Northside Wizards (12-2) are placed first in NBL1 North group.
It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row.
Mumtaz's total stats this season are: 8.4ppg, 3.2rpg and 2.5apg.
#5. Matthew Wilson (200-F-1992, currently plays in Australia) was not able to secure a victory for
Brisbane Spartans (10-2) in their game against Townsville Heat (5-9) in the Australian State League (second division).
Wilson scored 6 points.
Brisbane Spartans (#3) were crushed
110-85 in Hermit Park by the much lower-ranked Townsville Heat (#12) in the NBL1 North group.
This season Wilson averages only 2.6ppg.
#6. Experienced
Kazlo Evans (187-G-1980, currently plays in Australia) managed to help South Adelaide Panthers to win against the eighth-ranked West Adelaide Bearcats crushing them
87-67 in the Australian State League (second division) in Friday night's game.
Evans scored 5 points, had 4 boards, passed 3 assists and added 3 steals.
Evans has averaged so far 2.5ppg, 2.5rpg and 2.6apg.
#7. Xavier Shaw (203-PF-1992, college:
MSU-Northern, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
Suns in their game against Tigers in the Australian State League (second division).
He recorded 7 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 16 minutes.
His team were crushed by 27 points
99-72.
Shaw has averaged so far 8.6ppg and 7.1rpg in 14 games.
#8. Dion Collins (203-F, college:
CSC, currently plays in Australia) contributed to an easy victory against the seventh-ranked Magic
87-71 in the Australian State League (second division) in Saturday night's game.
Collins recorded only 2 points in 4 minutes on the court.
Collins has averaged so far 1.5ppg and 1.4rpg in eight games.
#9. Dylan Ryburn (185-G, college:
Southeast CC, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
Vikings in their game against Camberwell in the Australian State League (second division).
He recorded 6 points.
His team were badly defeated by 18 points
76-58.
This season Ryburn averages only 3.2ppg.
