CJ Penha Jr

Position: Forward

Height: 202cm

Born: 3 February, 2000 in Pickerington, Ohio

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Most recently played for Norrkoping Dolphins, the 2024 Swedish League champions, where he averaged 11 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Played 3 years at Taylor University (NAIA) followed by a year apiece at Trevecca Nazarene University (NCAA Div 2) and Boston College (NCAA D1).

Averaged 6.3 points and 2.5 rebounds at Boston College (2022-23).

Brody Cooper

Corban Mason

Position: Forward

Height: 204cm

Born: 16 June, 2001

Junior Association: Waikato

High School: Hamilton Boys High School

Previous NBL Clubs – Nelson Giants (2022), Rams (2024)

Played 7 games for the Rams in NBL ‘24. Scored his first NBL points (2) against the Nuggets in Round 5.

Played 8 Rapid League games in 2024 – scored a season high 10 points against Franklin Bulls.

The Coromandel native and former Waikato representative was on a basketball scholarship at Lincoln University before graduating in 2023.

Played for Canterbury at the 2023 U23 National Championships.

Played for Hamilton Boys’ High School at the 2018 Secondary School Nationals.

Ihaka Cate

Position: Forward

Height: 196cm

Born: 29 August, 2007

Junior Association: Canterbury

High School: Christ’s College, Christchurch

Previous NBL Clubs – Canterbury Rams (2024)

Has played 2 games for the Rams making his NBL debut in Round 6 of NBL ‘24 against the Otago Nuggets.

Also played 3 Rapid League games for the Rams – scored 2 points on each occasion.

Played all 7 games for the New Zealand team that finished 4th at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey. Scored 11 points against the hosts in the opening game.

A 2024 Secondary Schools National Championship winner with Christ’s College. Scored 24 points in the Grand Final win against Napier Boys High School – named to the Tournament All-Star 5.

Cate is the 2025 Head Prefect at Christ’s College.

Jake Holmes

Position: Forward

Height: 196cm

Born: 18 September, 2007

High School: Rangiora High School

Previous NBL Clubs – Rookie

A Year 13 student at Rangiora High School. Led Rangiora to the Canterbury Schools Basketball title (Thomson Trophy) in 2024.

Jonty Bond

Position: Guard

Height: 184cm

Born: February, 2006

Junior Association: Nelson

High School: Waimea College

Previous NBL clubs – Canterbury Rams (2024-present)

Played 3 NBL games in 2024 – scored his first NBL points (2) against Manawatu Jets in Round 12 of NBL ‘24.

Also played 7 Rapid League games – scored a season high 14 points against Auckland Tuatara.

A member of the New Zealand team that claimed silver at the 2024 FIBA Asia Cup in Jordan to qualify for the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup. Scored 11 points against hosts Jordan.

Played for the 4th placed Nelson team at the 2024 U20 National Championships – averaged 15.2ppg.

Played for Waimea College, the beaten finalists at the 2023 Secondary Schools National Championship – Named to the Tournament Team after averaging 19.7ppg.

Kaia Isaac

Position: Point Guard

Height: 191cm

Born: 16 September, 2003

High School: Hunter Sports HS, Gateshead, New South Wales

Previous NBL Clubs – Canterbury Rams (2021-present).

Won back-to-back NBL championships with the Rams in 2023 and 2024.

Scored a career high 20 points against Manawatu Jets in Round 14 of NBL ’24.

Named 2024 Rapid League MVP. Averaged 11.4ppg and scored a season high 17 points against Taranaki Airs. 

Made his Tall Blacks debut in the 2024 Asia Cup Qualifier against Chinese Taipei in Christchurch.

Along with Aidan Tonge and Taylor Britt helped the Rams complete the double in 2023 by winning the 3×3 Cup – named Tournament MVP.

A Development Player with the Breakers during the 2024-25 ANBL season.

Named to the Tournament Team at 2022 U19 National Championship, helping Canterbury claim the title.

Played the 2021 season for Maitland Mustangs in the Waratah League averaging 10.5ppg.

Kyle Bowen

Position: Forward

Height: 203cm

Born: October 6, 2000 in Perth.

Junior Club: Perth Redbacks

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Joins the Rams after playing a second season with Melbourne United in the Australian NBL. Averaged 4 points and 4 rebounds per game in the 2024 season.

Enjoyed an outstanding 4 year career at St Mary’s College, California where he played 122 games for the Gaels. Averaged 5.2 points and 6.9 rebounds in his senior year (2022-23).

Enjoyed a tremendous 2024 NBL1 season. Averaged 13.2 points and !0.2 rebounds and was named Grand Final MVP as Knox Raiders claimed the title.

Mana Martin

Position: Guard

Height: 194cm

Born: 31 July, 2007

Junior Association: Canterbury

High School: St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch

Previous NBL Clubs – Rookie

Played 7 games for the Rams 2024 Championship winning team. Scored a season high 3 points against Tauranga Whai in Round 8 of the 2024 NBL season.

He also logged 9 Rapid League games – scored a season high 15 points against Southland Sharks.

Played for the New Zealand team that finished 4th at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup – scored 10 points in the win against Egypt.

Averaged a team high 26 points per game for St Thomas of Canterbury College at the 2024 Secondary Schools National Championships.

Marco Sula

Max Darling

Position: Forward

Height: 193cm

Born: 30 September, 2000

Junior Association: Nelson

High School: Christ’s College

Highest Honour – Tall Blacks; Debut in 2022 

Previous NBL clubs – Canterbury Rams (2017-18 and 2021-present)

Won back-to-back NBL championships with the Rams in 2023 and 2024.

Played 17 games in the 2024 season averaging 9.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

Scored a career high 22 points on two occasions against the Hawks and then the Bulls in 2023.

Has played 76 games for the Rams prior to the 2025 season.

Played for the Tall Blacks in both of the Asia Cup Qualifying games in February 2025 against Hong Kong and the Philippines – has played 4 games in total.

New Zealand Breaker #150 Darling played 21 games in the 2024-25 ANBL season averaging 5.4ppg.. 

Played for Neptune Constanta in the Romanian League in 2021-22 having previously played for Illawarra Hawks (2020-21) and Vrijednosnice Osijek (Croatia) in 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Darling was New Zealand’s leading rebounder at the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup in Greece. 

Sam Smith

Position: Wing

Height: 190cm

Born: 8 April, 1996 in Tauranga

Junior Association: Tauranga City

High School: Tauranga Boys College

Previous NBL Clubs – Canterbury Rams (2019-22)

Previously played 68 games for the Rams. Scored a career high 23 points against Taranaki Airs in the 2020.

Played a season in Switzerland (2019-20).

Following high school played 2 years Junior College and a further 2 years at Texas Wesleyan University (2017-19), playing 53 games with 26 starts.

Sean Macdonald

Position: Guard

Height: 185cm

Born: April 21, 2000 in Melbourne.

Junior Club: Dandenong Rangers

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Macdonald was awarded the Australian NBL Most Improved Player award in 2024 after helping the Tasmania Jack Jumpers win the ANBL title for the first time.

Missed the bulk of the 2024-25 season due to injury but did average 11.2 and 3.8 assists per game. Has played t seasons for the Jack Jumpers.

Suited up for the Darwin Salties in the past two NBL1 North seasons. In 2024 averaged 15.8 points and 5.5 assists per game.

Played for Australia at the 2016 FIBA U17 World Cup in Zaragoza, Spain.

Has also played for the Australian Boomers making his debut during the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asia Qualifiers.

Tama Isaac

Position: Point Guard

Height: 186cm

Born: 27 December, 2006

Junior Association: Canterbury

High School: Christ’s College

Previous NBL Clubs – Canterbury Rams (2024)

A member of the Rams 2024 Championship winning team. Made his NBL debut against Nelson Giants in the opening game of the 2024 NBL season – scored a career high 11 points against the Bulls in Round 2.

Played 16 Rapid League games in 2024. Scored 135 points with a season high 19 points against Manawatu Jets. 

Made his Tall Blacks debut, playing alongside brother Kaia, in the 2025 Asia Cup Qualifier against Hong Kong.

A member of the New Zealand team that claimed silver at the 2024 FIBA Asia Cup in Jordan to qualify for the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup. Named to the All Star Five – was the tournament’s third leading scorer with 17.3ppg and the top assists man with 5.7apg.

A member of Canterbury’s 2024 U20 National Championship winning team – averaged  a team high 26.3ppg scoring 26 points in the Grand Final win against Waikato – named Tournament MVP.

A 2024 Secondary Schools National Championship winner with Christ’s College. Scored 20 points in the Grand Final win against Napier Boys High School – named the Tournament MVP. 

Younger brother of Kaia Isaac.

Tawhiri Cate

Position: Guard

Height: 188cm

Born: 20 February, 2009

Junior Association: Canterbury

High School: Christ’s College, Christchurch

Previous NBL Clubs – Rookie

Averaged 9.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3 assists per game for New Zealand at the 2024 FIBA U15 Oceania Championships.

A 2024 Secondary Schools National Championship winner with Christ’s College playing alongside his brother Ihaka.

Taylor Britt

Position: Guard

Height: 187cm

Born: 22 September, 1996

Junior Association: Canterbury

High School: Papanui High School

Highest Representative Honour – Tall Blacks Debut: 2020

Previous NBL clubs – Canterbury Rams (2015 and 2018-present)

Won back-to-back NBL championships with the Rams in 2023 and 2024. Averaged 16.3 points and 6.5 assists in 2024

Britt finished off the 2024 Sal’s NBL season with a crowded trophy cabinet, winning Most Outstanding New Zealand Guard (John MacDonald Cup), Most Improved Player, and earning his first All-Star Five nod. 

2025 is Britt’s 8th season with the Rams. Has made 115 appearances with his 31 points against the Airs in 2020 a career high.

Played for the Tall Blacks in both of the Asia Cup Qualifying games in February 2025 against Hong Kong and the Philippines. Has played 31 games for the Tall Blacks including 4 at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Played 13 games for the ANBL championship winning Perth Wildcats in 2019-20 and a further 13 games in 2020-21.

Played 58 games over two seasons at Southeast Community College (2015-17) averaging 11.2ppg.

Tony Worthington

Position: Forward

Height: 201cm

Born: 23 July, 2005

Junior Association: Canterbury

High School: Rolleston College

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Played for Canterbury team that won the 2024 U20 National Championships.

Currently on a basketball scholarship at Lincoln University.

Tohi Smith-Milner

Position: Forward

Height: 206cm

Born: 6 October, 1995

Junior Association: Waitakere 

High School: Rosmini  College

Highest Representative Honour – Tall Blacks – Debut 2014 

Previous NBL clubs – Auckland Pirated (2012), Super City Rangers (2014 and 2015), Nelson Giants (2018) Auckland Huskies (2020), Wellington Saints (2021 and 2023-24), Canterbury Rams (2017 and present)

Put up NBL career best numbers for the Saints in 2024 – averaged 18.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Was also a member of their championship winning team in 2021.

Made 8 from 11 threes on his way to scoring 30 points – equalling his career high – against Otago Nuggets in Round 3 of NBL ‘24.

Smith-Milner has played 121 NBL games prior to the 2025 season.

Smith-Milner has played 67 games for the Tall Black since debuting as a teenager against Korea in Tauranga in 2014. 

Smith-Milner enjoyed an outstanding tournament at the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup. He scored 25 points (14pts in the fourth quarter) to carry the Tall Blacks to an 83-75 victory in the bronze medal game against Jordan – named to the Tournament All Star Five.

He equalled that tally of 25 points in the win against the Philippines in the Asia Cup Qualifier in Auckland in February, 2025.

Was a member of the bronze medal winning team at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. 

He joined Melbourne United in 2015 as a Development Player and played five seasons with the Australian NBL club winning a championship in 2018. Then played two seasons with South East Melbourne Phoenix, Adelaide 36ers for the 2023-24 season and Brisbane Bullets for the 2024-25 season.

Helped Rosmini College win their first Secondary Schools National title in 2011. After school Smith-Milner attended Polk State College, Florida for one year.

Walter Brown

Position: Forward

Height: 195cm

Born: 23 May, 2003

Junior Association: North Canterbury

High School: St Bede’s College, Christchurch

Highest Representative Honour – Tall Blacks Debut: 2022 v Jordan

Previous NBL clubs – Canterbury Rams (2021-present)

Won back-to-back NBL championships with the Rams in 2023 and 2024.

Scored 17 points and tallied 8 rebounds in the 2024 semi-final win against Taranaki Airs. Averaged 9.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game that season.

Named 2023 Sal’s NBL Youth Player of the Year – averaged 9.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Has played 67 games for the Rams prior to the 2025 season. Scored a career high 20 points on two occasions – against the Hawks and the Saints in 2023.

His good domestic form in 2023 propelled him into the Tall Blacks team for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Played for the Tall Blacks in both of the Asia Cup Qualifying games in February 2025 against Hong Kong and the Philippines – has played 18 games in total.

A Development Player for the Tasmanian Jack Jumpers from 2022-25. Won an ANBL championship with the Jack Jumpers in the 2023-24 season.

A member of Canterbury’s 2021 and 2022 U19 National Championship winning teams.

Quinn Clinton (Head Coach)

Judd Flavell (Assistant Coach)

Ben Sheat (Assistant Coach)

Liam Connelly (Assistant Coach)

Craig Hickford (Assistant Coach)