Jayden Bezzant

Position: Guard

Height: 185cm

Born: 9 July, 1996

Junior Association: Tauranga

High School: St John’s College, Hamilton

Highest Representative Honour – Tall Blacks (debuted 2022)

Previous NBL clubs – Manawatu Jets (2020-21)

Played two season with the Jets helping them to the NBL Grand Final in 2020.  In 2021 averaged 15.8 points and 2.7 assists per game. Scored a career best 30 points against the Nuggets in the opening game of the 2020 season.

After school gained a four-year scholarship at Northwest Nazarene University (NCAA Division II), graduating in 2020 after playing 91 games for the Nighthawks.

Averaged 14.0 points and 3.9 assists per game in his senior year.

Denhym Brooke

Position: Forward

Height: 203cm

Born: 7 July, 1996

Junior Association: North Harbour

High School: Rangitoto College

Highest Representative Honour – NZ U18 Team (2013)

Previous NBL Clubs: Super City Rangers (2019), Taranaki Mountain Airs (2020), Franklin Bulls (2021-present)

One of four players to play all 18 games for the Bulls in their inaugural NBL season in 2021. Led the team in blocked shots (1.5bpg) whilst also averaging 11.6 and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Following high school Brooke spent four years at colleges in Hawaii. Initially he attended BYU Hawaii and then transferred to Hawaii at Hilo (both NCAA Division II colleges).

In his senior year at Hilo (2018-19) he averaged 6.9 points and led the team in blocks with 1.6 per game.

Kane Bennett-Keil

Position: Forward

Height: 1.98m

Born: 13 July, 1997

Junior Association: Waitakere West

High School: Auckland Grammar School

Highest Honour: NZ U17 Team (2013)

Previous NBL Clubs – Super City Rangers (2014), Otago Nuggets (2020)

Bennett-Keil was a key member of the Nuggets 2020 Sal’s NBL Showdown championship winning team averaging 11.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Missed the 2021 NBL season due to injury.

After leaving Auckland Grammar School he spent 2-years at Barstow Community College playing 52 games followed by a season at Chaminade University (2017-18).

Then had 2-years at Antelope Valley University (NAIA) where in over 50 games he averaged 9.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Graduated from Antelope Valley in 2020.

Bennett-Keil’s 2013 NZ U17 Team included Joe Cook Green, Isaac Davidson, Nico McCullough, Richie Roger, Sam Timmins and Tai Wynyard.

Isaac Davidson (Tier 2)

Position: Small Forward

Height: 201cm

Born: 6 June, 1997

Junior Association: Waitakere West

High School: Rangitoto College

Highest Representative Honour – NZ U18’s (2014)

Previous NBL clubs – Bulls (2020-present)

Davidson played just 9 games for the Bulls in 2021 due to Breakers commitments – averaged 13.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Scored 27 points against Taranaki on NBL debut in 2020.

Has played the last two seasons for the Breakers in the Australian NBL.

After school gained a four-year scholarship at Sonoma State University (NCAA Division II) and led the team in scoring in his senior year averaging 15.3 points per game. Played 93 games for the Seawolves scoring over 1,000 points.

A member of the Rangitoto College team that won Secondary School Nationals in 2015.

Sister Penina is a current Tall Fern.

Adam Dunstan

Position: Forward

Height: 203cm

Born: 15 October, 1991

Junior Association: Western Bay of Plenty

High School: Tauranga Boys College

Highest Representative Honour – Junior Tall Blacks (2008)

Previous NBL clubs – Bulls (2020-present)

Played 16 games for the Bulls in 2021 averaging 2.7ppg – scored a season high 10 points against the Hawks.

Dunstan was in the 2009 extended JTB’s squad training for the 2009 U19 FIFA World Cup but broke his wrist in training.

Following a stint at the  Breakers Academy in 2009 and 2010 he attended Otago University.

Leon Henry

Position: Forward

Height: 2.00m

Born: 14 October, 1985

Junior Association: Auckland

High School: Mt Albert GS and Avondale College

Highest Representative Honour – Tall Blacks Debut: 2009 (Appearances 27)

Previous NBL Clubs – Harbour Heat (2004), Waitakere Rangers (2005-2006), Wellington Saints (2008-2011, 2016-2019 and 2021), Otago Nuggets (2012), Southland Sharks (2013-2014), Auckland Huskies (2020).

Averaged 9.0 points and 5.2 rebounds for the NBL Championship winning Wellington Saints in 2022.

A 7-time NBL championship winner (six with the Saints) Henry has also enjoyed success in the Australian NBL playing three seasons with the New Zealand Breakers and two seasons (2014-2016) with the Townsville Crocodiles.

Caleb Landon

Position: Forward

Height: 200cm

Born: 12 March, 2003

Junior Association: Auckland

High Schools: Auckland Grammar School

Previous NBL Clubs – Rookie

Graduated from Auckland Grammar in 2021.

Talanoa Latu

Position: Wing

Height:

Born:

High Schools: Pakuranga College

Previous NBL Clubs – Rookie

Captained Pakuranga College in his senior year in 2019-20. If he takes to the court he will become the first NBL player from Pakuranga College.

Josh Leger

Position: Forward

Height: 203cm

Born: 21 March, 2001

Junior Association: Auckland/Counties Manukau

High Schools: Mt Albert Grammar School

Previous NBL Clubs – Nelson Giants (2020-21)

Played 13 games for the Giants in 2021 scoring a season high 11 points against the Bulls in the penultimate round.

Leger was initially signed by the Bulls as a Development Player in 2020 but an injury crisis at Nelson Giants saw him added to the Giants roster for tht season.

Leger formed a formidable ‘Twin Towers’ front court at Mt Albert Grammar in 2019 playing alongside Nate Wilson on a team that won bronze at the 2019 Secondary School National Championships under Coach Daryl Cartwright.

He is the cousin of Tall Ferns Krystal and Charlisse Leger-Walker.

Zach McKenzie

Position: Forward

Height:

Born:

Junior Association: Auckland

High Schools: Dilworth School

Previous NBL Clubs – Rookie

2019 Sportsman of the Year at Dilworth School

Christian Martin

Position: Forward

Height: 187cm

Born: 27 November, 2003

Junior Association: North Harbour

High School: Westlake Boys High School

Highest Representative Honour:

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

A trialist at the 2022 New Zealand National Camp.

Named to the Tournament Team at the 2021 U19 National Championships helping Harbour to third place.

Giddy Potts (Tier 2)

Position: Guard

Height: 188cm

Born: 8 August, 1995

High School: Athens High School

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Has played professionally in Korea, Italy, Holland and Mexico since graduating from Middle Tennessee State University in 2018.

Played 132 games at MTSU and named to the All-Conference USA Second Team after averaging 13.3 points per game in his senior year.

Played for the Toronto Raptors at the 2018 NBA Summer League.

Anzac Rissetto

Position: Forward/Centre

Height: 208cm

Born: 24 January, 2001

Junior Association:

High School: Auckland Grammar School, Nelson College

Highest Representative Honour – NZ U17 Team (2018)

Previous NBL clubs – Wellington Saints (2019), Nelson Giants (2021)

In 2021 averaged 7.3 points and 3.3 rebounds for the Nelson Giants.

After graduating from Auckland Grammar School Rissetto played 11 games for the NBL championship winning Saints team in 2019 before heading to the States.

Played 33 games for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (NCAA Division I) over 2 seasons (2019-21.

He was the NZ’s leading rebounder at the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup in Argentina averaging 8.9rpg and also scored 6.3ppg.

His aunty Brenda Ellison (nee Roberts) played over 50 games for the Tall Ferns between 1982 and 1988, whilst uncle Riki Ellison won three NFL championships with the San Francisco 49ers during the 1980’s. Rissetto’s father Allen Ellison, and uncle Morris Roberts, both played for the Maori All Blacks.

Kael Robinson

Position: Wing

Height: 198cm

Born: 21 June, 2002

Junior Association: Waikato

High School: Fraser High School/St John’s College, Hamilton

Highest Representative Honour: Named to the 2020 Junior Tall Blacks squad.

Previous NBL clubs – Wellington Saints (2021)

Played the 2021-22 American collegiate season at Rocky Mountain University (NAIA) averaging 8.5ppg

Played 14 games for the 2021 NBL Championship winning Wellington Saints.  

The athletic Robinson helped St John’s win the 2020 Mel Young Invitational Tournament, the unofficial secondary schools national championship that year. He scored 23 points in the Final against Scots College.

Named to the Tournament Team at the 2021 Aon U19 National Championships playing for Wellington.

Ethan Skelton

Position: Guard

Height: 193cm

Born: 17 November, 2003

Junior Association: Waitakere West

High School: Rangitoto College

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Skelton was co-winner, alongside Zach Riley, of the 2021 Rangitoto College Sportsman of the Year Award. The Rangitoto Premier basketball team were Auckland champions in 2021. 

He was named MVP at the 2021 Secondary Schools Volleyball National Championship after leading Rangitoto College to the title. He was also selected for the NZ Junior Men’s volleyball squad.

Jett Thompson

Position: Guard

Height: 188cm

Born: 25 February, 2003

High School: Westlake Boys High School

Highest Representative Honour – NZ U17 Team (2018)

Previous NBL clubs – Franklin Bulls (2021-present), Otago Nuggets (2020)

Played 16 games for the Bulls in 2021 averaging 4.7ppg – scored a season high 12 points on two occasions.

Joined the 2020 NBL championship winning Nuggets team in 2020 as an injury replacement making a single appearance against Manawatu Jets.

Thompson was a senior at Westlake Boys under Coach Tony Webster in 2020.

Played for NZ at the 2018 FIBA U15 Oceania Championship in Port Moresby where New Zealand beat Australia 59-57 in pool play.

Corey Webster (Tier 2)

Position: Guard

Height: 185cm

Born: 29 November, 1988

Junior Association: North Harbour

High School: Westlake Boys HS

Tall Blacks: Debuted in 2008 – 92 appearances

Previous NBL clubs – Harbour Heat (2009-10)  Wellington Saints (2011, 2013-14 and 2017), Super City Rangers (2016)

Webster returns to the NBL for the first time since 2017 when he won the third of three championships with the Saints.

Webster led the Tall Blacks scoring at both the 2014 FIBA World Cup (13.7ppg) and the 2019 World Cup in China (22.8ppg).

After leaving school he spent one year at Lambuth University, Tennessee (NAIA) before signing with the Breakers.

He played 11 seasons with the New Zealand Breakers during which time he won three Australian NBL championship rings. Sits 4th on the Breakers all-time scoring list after amassing 2,664 points in 236 appearances.

In 2017 he played six games for the Dallas Mavericks at the NBA Summer League. He has also played overseas in Serbia, Greece, Israel, China, Italy and Egypt.