Hawkes Bay Hawks shooting guard Luke Aston produced a breakout performance in the National Basketball League and is finally delivering on all that potential wrapped up in his 2m frame.
He scored 32 points, grabbed six rebounds, made four steals and had two assists in the 83-74 win over the Canterbury Rams on Sunday.
He was named NBL player of the week for his efforts and 24-year-old is hoping to build on that form during what remains of the season.
But here is the rub - his career-high haul was for the Hawkes Bay Hawks.
It should have been for the Otago Nuggets.
Aston grew up in Queenstown and honed some of his sweet skills while he attended Otago Boys' High School.
He played for the Nuggets in 2010 but left New Zealand later that year to take up a scholarship at Santa Rosa Junior College.
Aston returned in 2012 when his mother, Marie, was diagnosed with cancer.
He was able to spent a few precious days with her before she died.
Aston remained in the country and signed with the Nuggets for 2013.
The team made a dream start to the campaign, notching up eight consecutive wins.
Aston made some contributions from the bench.
He had a lovely shot from the outside but his defence and a talented roster prevented him playing a bigger part in the campaign.
He went back to the States to complete his education, switching to Brigham Young University, Hawaii.
He still has a few papers left to complete his degree in exercise and sports science and will head back in August.
But he wanted to come back to New Zealand to play this season and had hoped it would be for the Nuggets.
''I was going to come back and play for the Nuggets but then I heard they were out, and the Hawks called,'' he said.
The Hawks cannot reach the playoffs and the season has been a tough one.
Coach Liam Flynn was replaced earlier this month, and veteran shooting guard Paora Winitana has assumed the reins.
Aston has averaged about 18 minutes and has been starting some games from the bench.
But he has stepped up in the past few games and repaid the faith with a big haul against Canterbury.
''It was just one of those games when everything seemed to go right and all the shots fell.
''We practise a lot and I shoot a lot of shots, so every now and then they are going to go in.''
Aston has landed 29 of his 64 three-point attempts - a tremendous rate of 45.3% - this season.
He has been getting some clean looks and some silver service from experienced point guard Jared Kenny.
But the scouting has also paid off.
Knowing how your opponent will look to defend you can buy some precious seconds and make the difference between making or missing the shot.
Luke's younger brother, Liam (19), plays for the St Kilda Saints in Dunedin club basketball and is also hoping to to attend college in the United States.
''It is kind of hard without the Nuggets there at the moment. There is not really anything to feed people through,'' Luke said.
''You've kind of got to move on, especially for the next year or so while they rebuild.''
