Several New Zealand basketballers, including a few from Otago, will be taking to the court as the US college competition gets under way this week. ODT online sports writer Jeff Cheshire previews the action.
Kiwis in action
Tai Webster (Nebraska)
This needs to be a big season for Tai Webster. A guard from Auckland, Webster is entering his Junior year and has not yet had the impact many had hoped. An energetic player capable of distributing and scoring in a variety of ways, expect him to play a larger role as the Huskers look to fill some sizeable holes. Coming off a strong preseason, Webster will need to be a big performer if Nebraska are to compete in the strong Big Ten conference.
Jack Salt (Virginia)
A redshirt freshman, Jack Salt is the most intriguing of the Kiwis on show this year. Having trained with one of the best teams in college basketball last year, Salt will have improved on what was already an impressive skillset when he left New Zealand. At 6'11" and 250lb, he compares favourably sizewise, while also bringing physicality and a nice touch around the hoop. Playing for Virginia in the ACC he will have to fight for minutes on a strong team that is a genuine national championship contender.
Tom Vodanovich (James Madison)
Wellington product Tom Vodanovich enters his Junior year at James Madison University. A 6'8" forward, Vodanovich brings a tenacity to the game that sees him go hard after rebounds and play with intensity on defence. Having had a handful of higher scoring games last season, he will look to make this a more consistent feature of his game this year.
Michael Karena (Wright State)
Michael Karena transferred to Wright State last year after two years of playing Junior College. An athletic 6'10" centre, Karena had a solid Junior season with Wright State in the Horizon League.
After a slow start he went from strength to strength, scoring well, reaching double digits on a consistent basis.
Zach Young (Nicholls State)
Zach Young did not fill up the stat sheets in his freshman year at Nicholls State. He did gain a starting role midway through the season though, which saw a drastic rise in minutes. A solid player capable of taking good options and filling a role reliably, Young will return to the Colonels backcourt this season.
Gus Riley (Bryant)
Plying his trade for Bryant in the Northeast Conference, Gus Riley's freshman season had its moments early on. Notably he scored nine points against Connecticut, the defending national champions, in his second game. The baskets dried up as the season went on though and he slipped down the pecking order.
Richard Rodger (Southeast Community College)
Former Kavanagh College student Richard Rodger has had a solid start at the Junior College level with Southeast Community College. A skillful guard with a natural feel for the game, Rodger has started three games and scored at 7.6 points per game, while also averaging four rebounds and two assists. With Otago Rodger was named MVP of the Under 17 National tournament two years ago, while also playing for the Nuggets as a schoolboy.
Tylah King (Pacific)
Daughter of Otago Nuggets legend Leonard King, Tylah King is entering her freshman year at Pacific University and will play in the WCC. While being from Brisbane, King retains a loyalty to Otago and was a member of the Under 19 team which finished third at last year's national tournament.
Whitnee Wehi (Pacific)
Joining King at Pacific, Whitnee Wehi was also a member of last year's Otago Under 19 team. A 6'2" forward, Wehi impressed with her Brisbane high school and played for the Junior Tall Ferns in 2014.
Others to come?
There is potential that current Year 13 schoolboys Tai Wynyard (Kentucky), Sam Timmins (Washington) and Matt Freeman (Oklahoma) could all head over this year too. Whether they play or not is another thing. They may opt to redshirt, giving them a chance to train with their teams without losing a year of eligibility. Making up possibly New Zealand's best ever recruiting class and forming three-quarters of the world champion three-onthree New Zealand Under-18 team, this is a trio to keep an eye on.
Three teams to watch
North Carolina
Almost certainly the team to beat, UNC have depth few others can boast. Led by Senior point guard Marcus Paige, they enter the season as the No 1 ranked team. With only one notable loss, they have experience all over the court, a point of difference to the likes of Kentucky and Duke.
Their strength will be their bigs, while there is plenty of buzz surrounding the improvements of sophomore Justin Jackson. They will be without Paige early on and while a big loss, they have a couple of handy guards to cover for him. By the time the conference schedule begins expect them to be firing on all cylinders.
Maryland
Maryland also see the return of a number of key players, while also adding plenty of talent, providing them with depth similar to UNC's. Point guard Melo Trimble led the Terrapins in scoring last year and will be one of the better playeres in the nation, while Jake Layman has a strong all-round game. The addition of highly touted recruit Diamond Stone provides them with size, while transfers Rasheed Sulaimon and Robert Carter could be valuable too. A well-balanced team that can threaten in different ways, Maryland are the clear favourites to win the Big Ten.
Kentucky
It was always going to be a come down from last season's lofty heights, but Kentucky will always be there or thereabouts heading into the season. No one has a higher turnover of players than the Wildcats on an annual basis, yet such is their recruiting ability, they always fill the holes.
This year sees a typically talented and wellrounded group of freshman arrive, to go with the key returners in Alex Poythress, Tyler Ulis and Marcus Lee. Freshman can take a while to adjust to this level, but if they can hold their own early on, this is a team that could be right up there come season's end.
Three players to watch
Ben Simmons (LSU)
New Zealand fans will remember Ben Simmons from when he played for Australia against the Tall Blacks in 2013. Long, athletic and skillful, he is the most exciting prospect in the college game this season. There is not a lot he cannot do, capable of creating his own shot, while also having the vision to set up his team mates after having drawn defenders. At 6'10" Simmons has a size advantage over most perimeter players, while his athleticism and ball handling make him tough for bigs to guard.
Freshman do not always live up to their hype, although with this combination, it is hard to imagine Simmons being anything other than dominant.
Kyle Wiltjer (Gonzaga)
Formerly of Kentucky, Kyle Wiltjer transferred to Gonzaga for his Junior year and became one of the biggest success stories in college hoops. A 6'10" forward, Wiltjer boasts an elite shot, capable of scoring from different spots and providing a good option off the pickandpop. While not amazing in his postwork, he has a handy hook and can shoot the fadeaway jumper to provide a scoring option down low. He can attack off the dribble and grabs a bunch of rebounds too.
Entering his Senior year, Wiltjer will lead possibly the best frontcourt in the nation as the Zags look to be the team to beat out west.
Marcus Paige (North Carolina)
Last year Marcus Paige entered the season as one of the favourites to win the national player of the year award. He did not deliver on the hype, although he was hampered by foot and ankle injuries which he later had surgery on. This season has not started well either, with Paige set to miss the first three to four weeks with a broken hand. But do not write him off based on that.
Paige provides UNC with an outside threat, possessing a quick release and the ability to hit contested shots from deep. In transition he passes well up the court and while not an elite athlete, he uses screens well and has a handy stepthrough to score in the halfcourt.
