LACEY LOWDOWN

Matt Freeman

Recap of the latest action from NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball featuring Kiwis.

Former Westlake forward Yanni Wetzel had a career best 3 blocks as San Diego State moved to 3-0 for the season with an 86-61 win at Grand Canyon. Wetzel also secured 6 rebounds to accompany 8 points.

Also recording a career best was Matt Freeman. Another Westlaker, he had his best game to date for UC Santa Barbara as he tied career highs in points (15) and rebounds (5) whilst also dishing a career best 7 assists in the Gauchos narrow 82-81 win against Rice University.

Callum McRae, the former Palmerston North Boys High standout recorded his second double double (11 points and 12 rebounds) in as many games but it wasn’t enough to prevent University of California Riverside going down 62-49 to Sacramento State. He almost made it a third in the 58-51 loss to Pacific producing 8 points and 10 rebounds.

It was nice to see Cantabrian Angus McWilliam playing meaningful minutes for Riverside. The Cantabrian forward played 15 minutes in his second outing for the Highlanders since transferring from Texas Christian University  and contributed 3 rebounds and 3 points.

Former Tall Blacks guard Izayah Le’afa had a solid game for Sacramento State. The Wellingtonian finished with 7 points, a pair of assists and 4 steals and knocked down perhaps the biggest shot of the game, a corner three that put the Hornets up with 2:13 to play.

Former Junior Tall Black and Westlake Boys forward James Moors has decided to redshirt this campaign meaning he will not play for Colorado State University in the current season. Instead he will concentrate on building his fitness and skill base for the 2020-21 season.

The latest wrap on NCAA Women’s basketball.

Fordham University have dropped their first four games but it’s not through the lack of contributions from Kendell Heremaia. The Fordham junior is averaging 14.8 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Rams and recently scored a career high 19 points (5/11 3PG) in the 72-59 loss to Penn State.

Amiee Book continues to make her mark scoring a career high equaling 27 points as Cal State Fullerton beat Loyola 79-74 in overtime. The rangy guard knocked down 6 from 12 three-point attempts and also contributed 6 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Akiene-Tera Reed top scored with 16 points but her Virginia Commonwealth Rams went down 77-55 to top-25 ranked South Florida. It was just the second game back for the 2018 Tall Fern after incurring a hand injury in pre-season training.

McKenna Dale scored a dozen points and added 5 boards as Ivy League school Brown University defeated Maine 76-70.

In just her second game for Arizona Tara Manumaleuga went a perfect three-from-three from beyond the arc. The 2018 Junior Tall Fern tallied 9 points in the  82-50 win against Chicago State.

Colgate University have begun the season with four straight wins. Tegan Graham scored 9 points (4/5FG) in the latest win, a 70-67 overtime victory  against Yale.

Freshman Kaylee Smiler saw 20 minutes of action as BYU Cougars pounded Texas A&M Kingsville 90-38. The Waikato guard scored 6 points and added 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Shalae Salmon was 4 from 6 from the field on her way to 8 points whilst the third Kiwi in the BYU lineup Khaedin Taito played 7 minutes but went scoreless.

Charlotte Whittaker (4 points) fouled out in just 9 minutes as Colorado defeated Wisconsin 74-57. The Cantabrian fared much better in her next outing contributing 6 points (3/4FG) and a pair of rebounds as the Buffaloes made it three wins from three outings with a 66-56 win at Wyoming.

Callum McRae

It’s not often an NCAA Division I Men’s basketball game involves three Kiwis but the match-up between Sacramento State Hornets and UC Riverside was just that.

Callum McRae, the former Palmerston North Boys High standout recorded his second double double (11 points and 12 rebounds) in as many games but it wasn’t enough to prevent University of California Riverside going down 62-49 to Sacramento State.

It was nice to see Angus McWilliam playing meaningful minutes for Riverside. The Cantabrian forward played 15 minutes in his second outing for the Highlanders since transferring from TCU and contributed 3 rebounds and 3 points.

Former Tall Blacks guard Izayah Le’afa had a solid game for Sacramento State. The Wellingtonian finished with 7 points, a pair of assists and 4 steals and knocked down perhaps the biggest shot of the game, a corner three that put the Hornets up with 2:13 to play.

The Hornets have begun the season 2-0, the Highlanders 2-1.

The best performance by a Kiwi woman in the opening week of the NCAA Division I season went the way of Amiee Book.

The former Waimea College and Middleton Grange guard scored a career high 27 points on 10 from 16 shooting for Cal State Fullerton in their 79-63 loss to Southern Utah. Last season Book knocked down the three-ball at 43.2% (the third best three-point shooting in UCSF history) and she was back in the groove making 6 from 9 from beyond the arc in against Southern Utah. Book also added 7 rebounds for good measure.

There were a number of ther noteworthy performances in the opening week.

Kendell Heremaia posted a fine double despite Fordham University losing their opening two games. Heremaia logged 14 points (5/7 3PG) and 9 rebounds as Fordham fell 60-55 to #16 Notre Dame. She followed that with 13 points and 4 rebounds in the 70-51 loss at Columbia.Also doing damage on the boards was BYU centre Shalae Salmon. The Cougars senior pulled down 7 rebounds and added 11 points and a pair of blocks in the 105-52 win against Antelope Valley.

Also doing damage on the boards was BYU centre Shalae Salmon. The Cougars senior pulled down 7 rebounds and added 11 points and a pair of blocks in the 105-52 win against Antelope Valley.

Michelle Nicholls, having transferred from La Salle University has made a successful start to her career at Purdue, Fort Wayne. She led all scorers with 18 points 3/5 3PG) as Purdue beat University of Illinois at Chicago 61-50.

McKenna Dale missed all of last season with an ACL injury but showed no signs of rustiness making 9 points and 5 rebounds as Brown University lost a low scoring encounter with Bryant 45-44.

Kayla Manuirirangi began the season with 10 points (3/6 3PG) as Tulane University Green Wave cruised past Jackson State 82-48.

Sophomore guard Sariah Penese came up with 5 points, a couple of assists and 3 steals as Maryland Baltimore defeated Gettysburg 92-50.

Shout-out to the freshmen who made their Division I debuts. Tara Manumaleuga who produced 3 points, 2 rebounds and an assist on debut for Arizona in the 74-42 demolition of North Dakota.

Kaylee Smiler knocked down a free throw to score her first point as BYU had little trouble in beating Antelope Valley 105-52.

Charlotte Whittaker (3 points and a rebound) saw 13 minutes of action as University of Colorado opened the season with a comfortable 80-57 win against New Jersey Institute.

Akiene-Tera Reed has missed a couple of games with a hand injury but she is expected to make a return in the near future.

Sharne Pupuke-Robati 

Below is the list of Kiwis playing Junior College basketball in the States in the 2019/20 collegiate season.

Women

Kaitlin Burgess (College of Southern Idaho) ex Rangitoto College and Riverton High, USA.

Grace Hunter (South Plains College, Texas) ex Queen Mary’s College, Wellington.

Awatea Leach (Collin Community College) ex Rotorua Girls High

Leah Mafua (Otero Junior College) ex Hutt Valley High

Lauryn Mapusua (Hutchinson Community College) ex Brisbane State High

Jada Menasa (Mineral Area College) ex Mt Albert Grammar.

Rionne Papa (Mineral Area College) ex Auckland Grammar.

Kyra Paniora (Hutchinson Community College)

Kay-Hauata Phillips (?)

Sharne Pupuke-Robati (Utah State Eastern) ex Mt Albert Grammar.

Riana Rangi-Brown (Mineral Area College) ex Mt Albert Grammar.

Connie Taylor (Cowlie College) ex Rangi Ruru Girls

Men

Daniel Christensen (Barstow College) ex Taradale College

Mattson Darrah (Herkimer College) ex Wellington College

Nico Hill (Missouri State – West Plains) ex Opunake High.

Vincent Keremete-Davies (West Valley College) ex Impact Academy

Thabo Manyere (Barstow College) ex Westlake Boys – redshirt 2019/20 due to injury

Jake McKinlay (Mineral Area College) ex Palmerston North Boys High

Dylan Ryburn (Nebraska) ex Hamilton Boys High.

Josh Tawhiao (Barstow College) ex Rangitoto College

Dionne Martin

At least five New Zealand players, three women and two men, have basketball scholarships at Canadian Universities.

Senior

Dionne Martin (Algoma University)

Season 18/19 Games 23, Starts 20, Points 279 (12.1ppg), Rebounds 124 (5.4rpg), Assists 44 (1.9)

From Hamilton Girls High School Martin attended Southeast Community College before Algoma.

The Taupo native was the leading scorer (12.1ppg) and rebounder (5.4rpg) last season. Martin scored double-digit points in nine games for the Thunderbirds.

Juniors

Hayden Collier

Hayden Collier (University of Regina)

Attended Rangiora High School before spending two years at Laramie County Community College.

Isaac Miller-Jose (University of Manitoba)

Season 18/19 Games 16, Points 75 (4.7ppg), Rebounds 56 (3.5rpg)

Scored a season best 20 points against Trinity Western in January, 2019.

Attended Wellington College.

Sophomore

Maia Watling (Cape Breton University)

Season 18/19 Games 9, Points 23, Rebounds 15

Attended Palmerston North Girls High School.

Played for North Canterbury Spirit in 2019 WBC season.

Sofia Kennedy

Freshman

 Sofia Kennedy (University of Windsor)

 From Middleton Grange School, Christchurch.

Played for Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats in 2019 WBC season.

Jayden Bezzant

Continuing our preview of the 2019-20 US college basketball season we take a look at the New Zealand men playing NCAA Division II hoops.

In 2018-19 there were 21 Kiwi men at NCAA Division II colleges – for the 2019-20 season that number has dropped to 18 but still well above the 11 that were playing in 2017-18.

Combined Division I and II there are 38 Kiwi men at US colleges this season.

Seniors

 Jayden Bezzant (Northwest Nazarine University)

Season 18/19 Games 26, Starts 8, Points 341 (13.1ppg), Rebounds 54 (2.1rpg), Assists 55 (2.1)

Has scored 944 career points for the Nighthawks in 77 games played.

From Tauranga attended St John’s College, Hamilton.

Isaac Davidson (Sonoma State University)

Season 18/19 Games 27, Starts 23, Points 375 (13.9ppg), Rebounds 121 (4.5rpg)

Last season led Sonoma in 3-point shooting percentage making 39 from 86 at 45.4%.

Like sister, Tall Fern Penina Davidson, Isaac attended Rangitoto College.

Logan Elers (South Dakota School of Mines)

Season 18/19 Games 30, Starts 0, Points 359 (12.0ppg), Rebounds 189 (6.3rpg), Assists 65 (3.2)

Out of Rotorua Boys High School Elers had highs of 21 points, 18 rebounds and 7 assists for South Dakota last season playing alongside fellow Kiwi Wilfred Dickson.

Juniors

Wilfred Dickson (South Dakota School of Mines)

Season 18/19 Games 30, Starts 1, Points 123 (4.1ppg), Rebounds 44 (1.5rpg)

From Napier Boys High School Dickson is playing alongside Logan Elers for South Dakota School of Mines Rockers.

Patrick Robertson (University of Maine at Augusta)

Season 18/19 Games 22, Starts 0, Points 55 (2.5ppg), Rebounds 44 (2.0rpg)

A shooting guard Robertson is out of Rosmini College although he spent his final year in high school at Rotorua Boys High.

Sophomores

 Mandela Baledrokadroka (Davis & Elkins College)

Season 18/19 Games 6, Starts 6, Points 85 (14.2ppg), Rebounds 45 (7.5rpg), Assists 28 (4.7apg)

Former Mt Albert Grammar School standout with one of the coolest names in Kiwi basketball.

 Conor Flanagan (University of West Florida)

 The former Auckland Grammar School centre will play alongside Johnny Helu for the superbly named Argonauts – sat out last year due to injury incurred at NZ U23 Nationals.

Expected to play substantial minutes this season.

Tom Higgins

Tom Higgins ( Texas A&M International)

Season 18/19 Games 26, Starts 12, Points 91 (3.5ppg), Rebounds 81 (3.1rpg)

Before completing his high school studies at Auckland Grammar School Higgins attended Te Awamutu College. Scored a season high 16 points against St Mary’s, Texas in his freshman year.

Played for the Junior Tall Blacks at the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup in Greece.

Josh Lowe (Lee University)

Season 18/19 Games 23, Starts 0, Points 59 (2.6ppg), Rebounds 38 (1.7rpg)

The rangy forward spent time at Impact Academy in Florida after graduating from Ashburton College.

Oscar Oswald

Oscar Oswald (St Edwards University)

Season 18/19 Games 6, Starts 0

The former Palmerston North Boys High standout will unfortunately have to redshirt the 2019-20 season after undergoing ACL surgery.

Played for the Junior Tall Blacks at the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup in Greece.

Tom Power (University of Hawaii at Hilo)

Season 18/19 Games 26, Starts 1, Points 31 (1.2ppg), Rebounds 41 (1.6rpg)

The former Hamilton Boys High forward is well regarded at Hilo where he played in all 26 games for the Vulcans last season as a freshman.

Tom Power

Freshmen

Matt Brien (University of Nebraska at Kearney)

Attended St Kevin’s in Oamaru before finishing high school at St Pat’s College, Wellington. Then spent a year at OnPoint Academy in El Reno, USA.

 Kurt Feneon (Christian Brothers University)

Formerly of Christchurch Boys High School and Mainland Eagles Academy.

Will Heather (Dallas Baptist University)

The former Rosmini College centre missed the 2018-19 season due to shoulder surgery.

Played for New Zealand at the 2017 FIBA U18 3×3 World Cup in China.

Sione Johnny Helu (University of West Florida)

Out of Wellington College Helu will play alongside Conor Flanagen for the West Florida Argonauts. He was MVP at 2019 U23 Nationals playing for Hutt Valley.

Tyler Marsh (St Cloud State University)

A product of Waimea College, Nelson and Mainland Eagles Academy.

Oscar Robertson (Regis University)

Out of New Plymouth Boys High School played for New Zealand at the 2017 FIBA U17 Oceania Championships in Guam.

Thomas Whyte (Assumption College)

After graduating from Auckland Grammar School attended St Thomas More Prep School in the States for a year.

Played 3×3 Basketball for New Zealand at 2018 Youth Olympics in Argentina.