LACEY LOWDOWN

It’s at a new location but the Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam is back.

The 2019 edition will be held at HoopQuarters in New Lynn with the first round of games played on November 2^nd.

Once again the four participating teams will showcase some of the best high school talent in Auckland with a sprinkling of Tall Blacks and NBL players out to keep the youngsters in line.

Four members of the St Kentigern College Schick National Championship winning team – Levick Kerr, Shalom Broughton Kazlo Evans Jnr and Alex McNaught will be suiting up.

Former Tall Blacks Casey Frank and Dillon Boucher will provide veteran leadership whilst Tinashe Matamabnadzo, Dominique Kelman-Poto, (both Southland Sharks) along with Nick Barrow and Jaylen Gerrand (both Super City Rangers) played in the NBL in 2019.

The opening game at 1.00pm will feature Railsplitters against Blue Chips followed by Birdmen taking on Gauchos at 2.30pm.

Railsplitters will be led by Frank, Barrow and Matamabnadzo with the young backcourt of Marvin Williams-Dunn (Rosmini College) and Kazlo Evans Jnr sure to push the pace. Tautoko Wynyard (Rangitoto College) will be the youngest forward on show.

If Wynyard is the youngest forward then 2019 U17 Nationals MVP Dante Nance is the youngest guard. Playing for Gauchos he will have the Boucher’s (Jayden and Dillon) plus Junior Tall Blacks Jaga Mete (Auckland Grammar) and Sam Mennenga (Westlake) amongst his teammates.

Blue Chips will have player/coach Kevin Braswell pulling the strings alongside Kelman-Poto, Reihana Maxwell-Topia (Rosmini) and the Rangitoto College pair Harry Payne and Ethan Skelton.

Former Westlake standout Jaylen Gerand will be at the point for Birdmen and will be joined in the backcourt by Sataan Tawera (MAGS), Zach Riley (Rangitoto) and Rosmini and Tall Blacks wing Taine Murray.

Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam Co-ordinator Lindsay Tait is looking forward to the seven week season.

“Summer is when real hoopers work on their individual deficiencies to improve their future standing in the game. The players recruited are a mix of the top young talent available alongside the top available men. From our targeted pool of athletes we have selected the four most competitive teams possible in order to get better as a collective in an enjoyable, competitive environment.

“Our youngsters need to learn off our veterans. Our veterans need good quality competition during the summer period,” Tait added.

The Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam is supported by HoopQuarters, SAS and ABSL.