Nelson Giants guard Brook Ruscoe became the latest New Zealand player to debut in the Australian National Basketball League. Ruscoe, a development player with Cairns debuted for the Taipans on New Years Eve as the Taipans prevailed over the Perth Wildcats.
Ruscoe, a member of the Junior Tall Blacks team that played in the 2009 Under 19 World Championships has had a good year in 2013. He was a key member of the Nelson team that finnished runners-up in the NZNBL. His good form with the Giants resulted in a call up to the Tall Blacks for their tour of China and soon after that Ruscoe was invited to join the Taipans.
Below is a list of New Zealand players who have appeared in the ANBL other than the 19 players who have appeared solely for the Breakers. The list only contains players eligible for Tall Blacks selection.
Non Breakers players to have played in the ANBL (total NBL appearances).
Brook Ruscoe – Townsville, debuted 31.12.13
Callum Baynes – Brisbane (33)
Craig Bradshaw – Brisbane, Gold Coast (45)
Gareth Dawson – Wollongong, Cairns (6)
Mark Dickel – Victoria, Sydney (71)
*Nick Horvath – W Sydney, Adelaide, South Dragons (100)
Jeremy Kench – Singapore, Wollongong (63)
Warwick Meehl – Brisbane (16)
Miles Pearce – Victoria, Hunter, Brisbane, W Sydney (72)
Tony Rampton – Cairns, Wollongong, W Sydney (251)
NZ Players to have played for the Breakers and another ANBL club (total NBL appearances)
Hayden Allen – Singapore (25)
BJ Anthony – Adelaide (current)
Everard Bartlett – Perth, Adelaide (56)
Dillon Boucher – Perth, Brisbane (325)
Pero Cameron – Gold Coast (130)
*Casey Frank – West Sydney, Wollongong, Gold Coast. (109)
Mike Homik – Perth (19)
Phill Jones – Cairns (157)
Lindsay Tait – Victoria, Wollongong, Cairns (147)
Jeremiah Trueman – Perth (89)
Mika Vukona – South Dragons, Gold Coast (275)
Paora Winitana – Adelaide (74)
*American born, naturalised New Zealander’s
LACEY LOWDOWN 