Last week we reviewed the 2017/18 season performances of our Harbour women playing college basketball in the States. This week we turn the spotlight on the seven men.

Denhym Brooke

Year: Junior

University: University of Hawaii at Hilo Vulcans.

Division: II

Conference: PacWest

2017/18 Stats: 12 Games, 10.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game

Denhym played just the first half of the season for the Vulcans that finished their campaign 7-20 overall.

Despite playing just a dozen games he finished fifth in points average stats, third in rebounding and second in blocked shots. His best performance came in the win against Concordia when the former Rangitoto College forward recorded 18 points and 13 rebounds. He tallied three double-doubles.

Joel Coffey

Year: Freshman

College: State College of Florida

Division: Junior College Div I

2017/18 Stats: 29 Games, 4.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.

The seven foot centre scored a season best 15 points on two occasions. Joel also had a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds against Pascoe-Hernando State College in November. Coffey led the team in shots blocked (1.7 per game), rejecting a career high 7 shots against St Petersburg College in February.

Matt Freeman

Year: Sophmore

University: University of Oklahoma Sooners

Division: I

Conference: Big 12

2017/18 Stats: 26 Games, 2.5 points, 1.3 rebounds per game.

The Sooners fell away in the second half of the season finishing 18-14 after being 11-2 in mid January. Oklahoma did make the NCAA Tournament but bowed out in the first round against Rhode Island. Unfortunately Matts’s opportunities dipped alongside the form of the team.  In the first 12 games he contributed 4.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game before finishing with averages of 2.5ppg and 1.3rpg. Freeman saw court time in 26 of Oklahoma’s 32 games.

Isaac Letoa

Year: Freshman

University: Dartmouth College Big Green

Division: I

Conference: Ivy League

2017/18 Stats: 15 Games, 1.1 points and 1 assist per game.

Playing his first season for the prestigious Ivy League school, Isaac made 15 appearances for Dartmouth. His season best performances were 5 points against Princeton in February and 6 assists in just his second game for the Big Green against Emerson back in February. Dartmouth struggled in the Ivy League Conference finishing with a 3-11 record.

Jack Salt  (Junior)

Year: Junior

University: University of Virginia Cavaliers

Division: I

Conference: Atlantic Coast

2017/18 Stats: 34 Games, 3.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.

Jack, a co-captain of Virginia University, is believed to be the first Kiwi to be a starter for a No1 ranked NCAA Division 1 team. Virginia held the No 1 ranking for the final two months of the season during which time they claimed the Atlantic Coast Conference title. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers they made a shock exit in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The big centre started all 34 games claiming a season high 9 rebounds on two occasions and matched a career high 10 points against Savannah State in December.

Alex Talma  

Year: Junior

University: Biola University Eagles

Division: II

Conference: PacWest

2017/18 Stats: 27 Games, 10.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game

Alex started in all 27 games for the Eagles who finished 11-17 for the season. The former Westlake forward finished second in rebounding (6.9rpg) and third in scoring (10.6ppg) for Biola.  He scored a career best 22 points against California Baptist in February. Talma finished the season in outstanding form averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds over the final seven games.

Sam Waardenburg

Year: Freshman

University: University Miami Hurricanes

Division: I

Conference: Atlantic Coast

2017/18 Stats: 21 Games, 3.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game

Sam overcame an early season back injury to help Miami advance to the NCAA Tournament. Playing in the same conference as Jack Salt the former Rangitoto College standoutenjoyed a strong second half of the season with his solid defence and threat from the perimeter earning him increased minutes for the Hurricanes. He scored a season best 12 points against Wake Forrest in February and 7 rebounds against Louisville in January.