
Javion Blake (Import)
Position: Guard
Height: 190cm
Born: 12 July, 1997
High School: Olathe East High School, Kansas
Previous NBL clubs – Rookie
Played for Atenas Cordoba in the 2022-23 Argentinian League
His professional career has also taken him to Australia, Denmark, Czech Republic, Mexico and Rumania.
Played 116 NCAA Division II games at Washburn University (2015-2019). Averaged double figure scoring in all four years.
Following university made his professional debut in the Western Australia State League playing for Kalamunda Eastern Suns in 2019.
Won a Mexican League title with Astros de Jalisco in 2022.

Tu Kaha Cooper
Position: Guard
Height: 190cm
Born: 14 May, 2002
Junior Association: Northland
High School: Whangarei Boys High School
Previous NBL clubs – Manawatu Jets (2021-present)
In his second season with the Jets in 2022 he played 16 games averaging 4.9ppg.
Named to the Tournament Team at both the 2021 U23 and U19 National Championships playing for his native Northland.
Helped Whangarei Boys High School reach the Secondary Schools National Championships in 2019 after an absence of over a decade.

Lachlan Crate

Tama Faamausili
Position: Guard
Height: 186cm
Born: 28 March, 2000
Junior Association: Manawatu
High School: Palmerston North Boys High School
Previous NBL clubs – Manawatu Jets (2022)
Played 16 games for the Jets in 2022 – his debut season – averaging 4.0ppg.
Played for Wellington at the 2021 U23 National Championships.
Played for NZ at the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup in Crete.

Mustapha Heron (Import)
Position: Guard
Height: 196cm
Born: 12 December, 1997
High School: Sacred Heart High School, Connecticut
Previous NBL clubs – Rookie
A 5-star recruit to Auburn University (NCAA Division I) in 2016. Scored in double figures in every game but one in his freshman year.
Transferred to St John’s University for his final two collegiate years. Averaged 13.8 points per game in his senior year.
Has since played in the United Kingdom, Hungary, Iceland and most recently Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA G League where he averaged 7.7 points per game in 37 games.
In the UK he played for Leicester Raiders, the 2021 British League regular season champions.

Josh Leger
Position: Forward
Height: 203cm
Born: 21 March, 2001
Junior Association: Auckland/Counties Manukau
High School: Mt Albert Grammar School
Previous NBL Clubs – Nelson Giants (2020-21), Franklin Bulls (2022)
Played 16 games for the Bulls in 2022 averaging 3 points and 3 rebounds per game.
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 that 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 a cousin of Tall Ferns Krystal and Charlisse Leger-Walker.

Marcel Jones

Liam Judd
Position: Forward
Height: 196cm
Born: 27 July, 2001
Junior Association: Waitakere West
High School: Rangitoto College
Previous NBL clubs – Rookie
Liam Judd was on the Franklin Bulls books in 2021 but didn’t make an appearance.
Played for Auckland Tuatara in the 2022 Schick 3×3 Cup.
Also played for U23 National Championship Grand Finalists North Harbour in 2022. Named to the Tournament Team after scoring 23 points in the Grand Final loss to Taranaki.

Simon Lafaele
Position: Forward
Height: 198cm
Born: 22 July, 2000
Junior Association: Canterbury
High School: St John’s College, Hamilton
Previous NBL Clubs – Rookie
Played for the Airs at the 2022 Schick 3×3 Cup.
Also in 2022 played for Ram.EXE (from Lincoln University) that qualified for an international 3×3 tournament in Japan – all expenses paid!
Named to the Tournament Team at the 2018 Secondary Schools National Championships after standout performances for St John’s College.

Pafe Momoisea
Position: Guard
Height: 190cm
Born: 29 July, 1999
Junior Association: Counties Manukau
High School: Manurewa High School
Previous NBL clubs – Otago Nuggets (2021), Manawatu Jets (2022)
Played all 18 games for the Jets in 2022 averaging 5.9 ppg and 2.8 assists. Scored a career high 14 points against the Rams in May’22.
Following high school he spent a season playing at Coker College in the USA.
Played for NZ Select at the Schick 3×3 Cup in 2020.
He came through the Counties Manukau and GI (Glenn Innes) Rise club programme under coaches Josiah and Sione Maama.

Danny Pippen II (Import)
Position: Forward
Height: 206cm
Born: 12 November, 1997
High School: Allen Academy, Michigan
Previous NBL clubs – Rookie
Played the 2022-23 European season for Lapuan Kobrat in the Finnish League having previously played in the NBA G League for Maine Celtics and Greensboro Swarm.
His season in the Finnish League was his first overseas contract.
Played 4 years at Kent State University (NCAA Division I) making 110 appearances for the Golden Flashes before graduating in 2021. Averaged 19.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in his senior year.

Campbell Scott
Position: Guard
Height: 188cm
Born: 10 March, 2004
Junior Association: Manawatu
High School: Fielding High School
Previous NBL clubs – Southland Sharks (2022)
Scott was a Development Player for the Southland Sharks in 2022 – played 2 games.
Played for Manawatu at 2021 U17 National Championships.

Klein Salmon
Position: Forward
Height: 194cm
Born: 21 July, 2000
Junior Association: Porirua
High School: Mana College
Previous NBL clubs – (Manawatu Jets (2022 – present)
Played all 18 games for the Jets in 2022 averaging 4.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. Scored a career high 12 points against the Jets.
A member of the Porirua team that won the 2021 Under 23 National Championship.
A 2022 New Zealand 3×3 trialist.

Jackson Stent
Position: Forward
Height: 203cm
Born: 2 October, 1997
Junior Association: Canterbury
High School: Westlake Boys HS/Middleton Grange
Previous NBL clubs – Canterbury Rams (2015 and 2022)
Played 7 games for the Rams in 2021 before suffering a season ending shoulder injury.
Played at Nicholls State University and Casper College before completing his collegiate time at Houston Baptist University (NCAA Division I) from 2018-20 playing 54 games for the Huskies.
In the 2021-22 season Stent was Graduate Manager – Operations at Houston Baptist.

Natu Taufale (Head Coach)

Matt Te Huna (Assistant Coach)
