Breakers audition two of our young talent

 

Best of luck Ethan and James

They won’t have to sing for their contracts but the SKYCITY Breakers are looking for some on court x-factor in a group of 29 young basketballers at the weekend as the race for development player contracts heats up.

Breakers Academy Head Coach Judd Flavell put the group through their paces in a number of drills and scrimmages as he searches for the next batch of talent to either join or continue on their Breakers development pathway.

“We had over 50 applicants for the trials and have narrowed that down to 29 this weekend. There are a few new names but there are also a number of former and current Academy players who are looking to make the step up.

“We have already committed to current Academy player Jack Salt with a development player contract but he is away with the Tall Blacks, as is another contender in Brook Ruscoe.

“I have no doubt as to the quality and determination of this group though, it is another indication as to the growth of the sport and the talent coming through. I wish we could take more of them but ultimately 3 or 4 will be given a chance to live and train day to day as a SKYCITY Breaker.”

 

One of the interesting names on the list is an athlete from the USA who carries a NZ passport and citizenship. Nash Oh hails from Emory University in Atlanta and while born in the USA (Washington) does have a New Zealand mother who ensured her son kept his New Zealand ties with dual citizenship. Oh has already worked out at Breakers HQ and will be a keen contender this weekend.

Flavell says this weekend is a shop window for the sport, with opportunities beyond those the SKYCITY Breakers can offer.

“This is a gathering of some of the best young talent from around the country. As such I have invited along some of the Bartercard NBL coaches to scout and perhaps do some work on their rosters for next season. It is vital that these players are given the chance to further their development and for many, that next step will be in the NBL.”

Development players experience life as a fulltime Breaker, allowing for a continuation of any school or tertiary studies. Development players train with the fulltime roster and have opportunities to suit up and be on the team list (in particular for home games) to experience game night atmosphere and on occasions will be called upon for court time during the season.

Current SKYCITY Breakers players to have come through the Development Player system include Tom Abercrombie, Alex Pledger, Mika Vukona, Corey Webster and Reuben Te Rangi.

Players attending this weekend:

 

Current Academy athletes
Jack Salt – Tall Blacks, Academy, Waitakere Rangers, NZU20
Tohi Smith-Milner – Academy,                      Matt Freeman – Academy, NZU18, NZU17
Tai Wynyard – Academy, NZU16                 Denhym Brooke – Academy, NZU18
Yuat Alok – Academy, NZU18                     Josh Howe – Academy, NZU20
Luuk Witteveen – Academy, NZU18                        Jaylen Gerrand – Academy, NZU18
Derone Raukawa – Academy                         Matt Lacey – Academy

 

Former Academy athletes
Duane Bailey – Waitakere Rangers                Marco Alexander – Waikato Pistons
Brad Anderson – Taranaki Mountain airs       Ana Haku – Waikato Pistons
Shea Illi – Waitakere Rangers

Others

Nash Oh - Emory University                          Alonzo Burton – Hawkes Bay Hawks
Brook Ruscoe – Tall Blacks, Nelson Giants   Alex Schipper – Waikato Pistons
Ethan Rusbatch – Taranaki Mountain airs    Canterbury Basketball      

Dier Manyang Makoi – Manawatu Jets     Dane Brookes – Taranaki Mountain airs
Nico Buckrell – NZU20                                 James Comer – Waikato Pistons
Angus Riley – Nelson Giants                         Ayrton Groenestein – St Kents College
James Cawthorn - Canterbury
Saman Mohammadizadeh – Harbour             Xavier Shaw – Montana State Northern, US Coll
Josh Martinac – Whangarei, recently returned from US High School