Three major signings involving former Harbour representatives have taken place in the last few days. Two of the signings will mean we see two players return from NCAA basketball to play professional basketball in our backyard.

Northern Kāhu have announced that Akiene-Tera Reed, is returning from college to play in the new Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa women’s competition.

Following an outstanding collegiate career Tera is returning to her roots for her first foray in the professional arena.

 A veteran of 135 NCAA Division I games the Tall Ferns wing is fifth on the all-time list of games played by a Kiwi woman in Division I hoops. She also amassed 1,624 points, just 24 points shy of eclipsing Erin Rooney’s all-time record of 1,647 points.

Back in 2014 the teenage Tera was already playing for Harbour Breeze, helping them to a WBC title the year she left for the States.

She departed for the States at the end of Year 9 at Westlake Girls High School to relocate to San Juan Capistrano, playing under former Tall Fern coach Tracy Carpenter. She returned to New Zealand and left again at end of Year 11 for Burlington, New Jersey and attended Life Center Academy.

She then went on to play four years at Virginia Commonwealth University, winning an Atlantic 10 Conference title in her senior year. Tera played her fifth and final year at the University of Southern California.

Nearing the completion of a Masters in Human Resources Management Tera will link up with the Kāhu towards the end of this month.

Tera joins Micaela Cocks, Tahlia Tupaea and Ash Kelman-Poto as announced Kāhu signings. Further player announcements, including more Harbour signings, will be forthcoming in the near future. 

The Kāhu play their first home game, against Tokomanawa Queens, at Franklin Pool & Leisure Centre on Monday July 4.  Details of ticket sales will be announced shortly.

The other major local signing is that of Dan Fotu.

The New Zealand Breakers have announced his signing for the 2022-23 Australian NBL season.

Dan has his graduation at the end of this month, before returning home to initially link up with the Auckland Tuatara in the Sal’s NBL.

Like Tera, Dan had an exceptional collegiate career – incredibly he never missed a game in his four years at Saint Mary’s, California. He played 126 games, which ranks him 6^th all-time in the number of Men’s NCAA Division I appearances, and also tallied 726 career points.

It’s expected that Dan will suit up for the Tuatara in early June where he will be playing alongside other Harbour standouts including current U19 players Charlie Dalton, Tom Beattie and Boston Caldwell.

Finally, congratulations to Jordyn Maddix who has accepted a scholarship to play NCAA Division II basketball at Auburn University at Montgomery. The former Westlake Girls High School and Harbour guard has played the last two seasons at Western Texas College.