The Kiwi Men’s NCAA Team of the Month for November features four seniors plus outstanding sophomore Callum McRae.
Yanni Wetzell (Senior)
During a month when Yanni Wetzell had a career best performance the former Westlake forward has helped San Diego State to an 8-0 record, their best start to a season since 2010. Wetzell is averaging 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and picked up a Mountain West Conference Player of the Week Award after he had posted career highs in points (20) and rebounds (12) against San Diego University.
Callum McRae (Sophomore)
Callum McRae continues to pound out the numbers for UC Riverside. In the first seven games this season McRae has recorded at least 9 rebounds in six games and scored in double figures on five occasions – he leads the Highlanders in scoring (12.3ppg) and rebounding (9.0rpg) in just his second season with the Highlanders.
The ex-Palmerston North Boys High forward earned Big West Conference Player of the Week (Nov 25) for his exploits including a career high 21 points against Idaho.
Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’afa (Senior)
Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’afahas started his senior season at Sacramento State University in good form averaging 11.2 points per game for the Hornets. He had a career high equaling 23 points at Pepperdine where he also snared 4 steals for the third time this season.
The former Tall Black and St Pat’s College guard is now only six appearances shy of 100 games for the Hornets.
Matt Freeman (Senior)
Matt Freeman had six straight double figure hauls during the month, his move from Oklahoma to UC Santa Barbara reinvigorating his game.
Starting all seven games for the Gauchos (4-3) Freeman is averaging 10.3 points per game. He has become a trusted marksman for the UCSB shooting 87.5 from the free-throw line and 44.8 (13/29) from the three-point line.
Isaac Davidson(Senior)
Another senior making a big impression is Isaac Davidson at Sonoma State University. In seven games for the Seawolves he has scored 140 points passing the twenty mark on four occasions including 26 points (10/15FG) in the recent 85-82 overtime win against Cal State Monterey Bay. Somona are 3-5 overall but importantly have made a 2-0 start in the California Collegiate Conference.
Bubbling Under
Takiula Fahrensohn (Sophomore)
University of Portland Assistant Coach Ben Johnson was anticipating a good season from former Junior Tall Black Takiula Fahrensohn. “Taki has put on a few pounds and can really shoot the ball.”
Fahrensohn hasn’t disappointed scoring in double figures on three occasions in the first six games averaging 8.2 points. The former Auckland Grammar wing is shooting the three-ball at a very healthy 44% (12/27).
Logan Elers (Senior) and Wilfred Dickson (Junior)
The Kiwis are going well at South Dakota School of Mines. Rotorua native Logan Elers is averaging 9.3ppg and 5.4rpg for the Rockers with Wilfred Dickson, the former Napier Boys High guard, 8.0ppg and 4.3rpg.
Tom Higgins (Sophomore)
Tom Higgins, in his second season at Texas A&M International, scored 13 points in three consecutive games and overall averaged 7.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in eight games during November for the Dustdevils.
LACEY LOWDOWN 