Former SKY CITY Breakers guard Kevin Braswell is joining Harbour Basketball as the Association’s Development Manager and begins his new role in September.
Harbour Basketball CEO John Hunt is delighted with the appointment.
“We are delighted to have acquired the services of Kevin as our Development Manager. Kevin has a proud history as a player with the Georgetown Hoyas, the NZ Breakers and the Southland Sharks, and is making a reputation as being a formidable coach of emerging talent. For the past couple of years we have admired the work the Kevin has done with the Southland basketball community. I know that with Kevin’s help our representative programme will reach the level that we aspire to.”
Braswell recently announced his retirement as a professional player, departing on a high as the Southland Sharks captured the 2015 National Basketball League title. The Sharks defeated the Wellington Saints 89-81 in the Grand Final.
He had played for the Sharks since 2011 helping the franchise win the NBL title for the first time in 2013 before repeating that success this season.
Braswell is best remembered in the Auckland region as the point guard that played a major role as the Sky City Breakers won their inaugural ANBL Championship in the 2010-11 season.
The southpaw guard actually arrived at the Breakers at the back end of the 2009-10 season and took them to the cusp of the play-offs as the team won six of the seven games the American played.
A true point guard with excellent court vision the Baltimore native was dynamic in that Breakers championship winning season. He averaged 10.2 points, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game in a formidable back court that also contained Kirk Penney and two of his good buddies CJ Bruton and Paul Henare.
Braswell graduated from Georgetown University playing 127 games for the Hoyas and finishing his four years as the all time leader in assists and steals at a school that boasts the likes of Patrick Ewing, Allen Iverson and Alonzo Mourning amongst its alumni.
His playing role with the Sharks was also combined with that of Development Manager for Southland Basketball Association.
For his part Braswell is ready for his next challenge.
“Southland will always have a huge place in my heart. Things happen for a reason and it’s now time I move on to new challenges in my life.”
“I’m beyond excited to be a part of the North Harbour coaching staff. I have been developing the talent in the South for the last two years and I’m ready for new challenges. I have many goals that I want to achieve and with the talented kids I’ve watched and the management staff of North Harbour I’m sure we will continue to have more and more success in the future. I’m very thankful for the opportunity and can’t wait to get started.”
The Harbour basketball community looks to be major beneficiaries of this new challenge.
For Braswell the 6am coaching sessions will continue although it’s likely it won’t be quite as chilly at that time of day in North Shore Events Centre as it was in ILT Stadum, Southland.
LACEY LOWDOWN 