In our latest weekly wrap we have a roundup from the Sal's NBL in addition to news on some of our former rep players based overseas. 

New Zealand NBL:

Corey Webster was again in sparkling form for the Manawatu Jets as they won a high scoring encounter against Hawkes Bay Hawks.

A couple of days earlier Jaylen Gerrand top scored for the Indian Panthers with 23 points in their 103-88 loss to the Hawks.

Jonathan Janssen also scored 23 points – a season high - as Otago Nuggets were edged 108-107 in overtime at the Canterbury Rams.

In another one point game Rob Loe, despite missing most of the second half with an ankle injury, scored 13 points in Auckland Tuatara’s 111-110 loss to Taranaki Airs in New Plymouth. Dylan Wilkie was also in double figures with 11 points for the Tuatara in the loss. The Tuatara return to Eventfinda Stadium on Saturday evening to take on Canterbury Rams.

Kruz Perrott-Hunt made 13 points as Tauranga Whai suffered an 84-78 home loss to Southland Sharks.

Overseas:

Sam Waardenburg and Sam Mennenga went head to head in the Puerto Rican League and it was the ex-Westlaker Mennenga that came away with the smile and the win as San German beat Indios de Mayaguez 75-72. Sam M scored a game high 23 points (7/12FG, 7/7FT) and added 11 rebounds in the win while Sam W tallied 12 points.

Isaac Fotu scored 17 points, on 5 from 9 shooting, as Tochigi Brex, the Japanese League Eastern Conference champions, beat one of the best named teams going around – Akita Northern Happinets – 89-72.

Also in Japan brother Dan Fotu and Gifu Swoops have been matched up with Iwate Big Bulls in the B3 quarter-finals – a best of three series.

In the German League Yanni Wetzell scored just the 2 points but did claim 7 rebounds as ALBA Berlin beat lowly Frankfurt 89-68. 

Tai Webster had 4 assists and 9 points as Bourg went down 89-80 in French League action. 

College Transfers

A number of our collegiate players in America have announced that they are looking to find a new university for the 2025-26 academic year. Changes that have been confirmed to date are:

NCAA Division I

With two years of eligibility remaining Mackenzie Chatfield has transferred from Western Kentucky to Tom Abercrombie’s alma mater, Washington State University.

Zoe Richardson, following her freshman year, has moved from Siena College to USC Upstate.

NCAA Division II

Boston Caldwell has moved to the Lone Star State after accepting a scholarship at The University of Texas at Tyler. This year Boston played for D III Keystone College and was named to the Second Team All-United East Conference team. For the season he averaged 16.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg and recorded 26 assists while playing and starting in 23 games.

Graduate transfer Hannah Wentworth, having taken a year away from playing, has committed to Lynn University. Lynn play in the same Sunshine State Conference as Eckerd College from where Hannah graduated in 2024.