Dion Collins

Position: Forward

Height: 203 cm

Born: 28 September, 1996

Junior Association: Tauranga City

High School: Aquinas College

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Has played 4 seasons of NBL1 West, most recently for Mandurah Magic in 2024.

Played 2 years at Culver Stockton College (NAIA) between 2016-18.

Played a season in Sweden (2019-20) and a season in England for Loughborough Riders (2022-23).

Matthew Foss

Position: Guard

Height: 

Born: 3 August, 2004

Junior Association: Manawatu

High School: 

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Won a blue at Massey University in 2024 for performances when representing the university basketball teams.

A Manawatu age-group player who earned a New Zealand U17 trial in 2021

Josh Crowley-Nepia

Position: Forward

Height: 198cm

Born: 12 November, 2003

Junior Association: Hutt Valley

High School: Upper Hutt College / Hutt Valley High School

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Came through the Hutt Valley representative programme.

Miles Gibson

Position: Forward

Height: 198cm

Born: 4 May, 1998 in Richmond, Virginia

High School: Millwood High School

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

In his rookie pro season in 2024 played for Perth Redbacks in NBL 1 West averaging 21 points and 7.6 rebounds per game

Began his collegiate career at Northwest Kansas Tech (JUCO). Then played a year each at Eastern Michigan University, Metropolitan State University of Denver and then in 2022-23 at Binghamton University.

Played all 31 games for Binghamton averaging 11.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Kenny Goins

Position: Forward

Height: 201 cm

Born: 11 September, 1996 in Troy, Michigan

High School: Warren Mott High School, Michigan

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Played 4 years at Michigan State University. Initially joined Michigan State as a walk-on before gaining a scholarship the following season  – averaged 7.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game in his senior year (2018-19).

Has played professionally in Italy, Greece, Hungary, Mexico and most recently France playing 22 games for Limoges in the 2023-24 season.

In high school he was also an outstanding footballer excelling as a tight end.

Matangirei Hipango

Position: Swingman

Height: 193cm

Born: 28 March, 1993

Junior Association: Manawatu

High School: Hata Paora College and Manukura

Previous NBL Clubs – Manawatu Jets (2020-21)

Played 19 games for the Jets in 2020-21. Scored a career high 5 points against the Hawks in 2021.

Hipango attended Manukura School in Palmerston North in his final 18 months at high school. He top scored for Manukura in their 2016 National Secondary Schools ‘A’ Grand Final loss to St Kevin’s College. He was subsequently named to the Tournament Team that year.

Hikaia Lambert

Position: Small Forward

Height: 193cm

Born: 26 October, 2005

Junior Association: Manawatu

High School: Manukura

Previous NBL clubs – Manawatu Jets (2024-present)

Played 8 games for the Jets in 2024 – scored a season high 5 points against Southland Sharks in Round 16.

Also played 9 Rapid League games for the Jets in 2024 – scored a season high 12 points against Nelson Giants.

Played for Manawatu at the 2024 U20 National Championships – averaged 16.4ppg.

Was the Manukura School’s leading scorer at the ‘A’ Secondary Schools National Championships in 2023 averaging 18.9 points per game.

Manukura were bronze medalists with Lambert named to the Tournament Team.

Son of former player Stacey Lambert who played nine seasons for the Jets.

Tinashe Matambanadzo

Position: Guard

Height: 178cm

Born: 17 March, 1993 in Zimbabwe

High School: 

Previous NBL clubs – Southland Sharks (2018-19),  Auckland Huskies (2020)

Returns to the NBL for the first time since playing for Auckland Huskies in 2020.

Played on the Southland Sharks championship winning team in 2018 – has made 20 NBL appearances  prior to the 2025 season.

In 2024 played for North Adelaide Rockets in NBL 1 Central.

Isaac Miller-Jose

Position: Forward

Height: 208cm

Born: 23 December, 1998

Junior Association: Porirua

High School: Wellington College

Previous NBL clubs – Auckland Huskies (2020), Wellington Saints (2021)

Has played 22 NBL games. Ironically his best performance was against the Jets in 2020 when he tallied 8 points and 9 rebounds.

Played 2 seasons (2023 and 2024) with Norwood Flames in NBL 1 Central – averaged 12 points and 8 rebounds per game in 33 appearances across the two seasons.

The Wellington College product spent five years (2017-22) on a basketball scholarship at Manitoba University, Winnipeg, Canada.

Makhel Mitchell

Position: Forward

Height: 208 cm

Born: 31 January, 2001 in Washington DC

High School: Bishop McNamara High School

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Playing his rookie professional season with the Jets following a 5-year collegiate career that took in 4 universities.

Played his freshman year at University of Maryland followed by two years at Rhode Island. A year at Arkansas followed before playing his final year (2023-24) at Arkansas at Little Rock where he averaged 9.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game for the Trojans.

Played with his identical twin brother at Arkansas, Rhode Island and Maryland.

Dominic Pearce

Position: Forward

Height: 196cm

Born: 2 April, 2007

Junior Association: Waikato

High School: St John’s College, Hamilton and then Palmerston North Boys High School

Previous NBL clubs – rookie

Made his Rapid League debut against the Airs in Round 2 of NBL’25.

A student at Palmerston North Boys High School.

Father Nick Pearce played 16 games for the Tall Blacks (1989-92).

Zavier Pearn

Position: Guard

Height: 191cm

Born: 7 April, 2003

Junior Association: Manawatu

High School: Palmerston North Boys High School

Previous NBL clubs – Manawatu Jets (2021 and 2024)

Has played 3 games for the Jets since debuting in 2021.

Played 9 Rapid League games in 2024 scoring a season best 6 points on four occasions.

Averaged 17.8ppg for Massey University at 2024 Tertiary National Championships.

Dontae Russo-Nance

Position: Guard

Height: 191cm

Born: 20 January, 2005

Junior Association: Waitakere West Auckland

High School: Saint Kentigern College

Previous NBL clubs – Auckland Huskies (2021), Auckland Tuatara (2022), Otago Nuggets (2024)

Played 7 games for Otago Nuggets in 2024 averaging 11.4 points and 3.4 assists per game.

His first two Sal’s NBL seasons were played while still at St Kentigern College.

Has played a total of 42 NBL games – scored a career high 26 points on two occasions.

After spending the 2022-23 academic year at Oak Hill Academy, Virginia, Russo-Nance signed with the Perth Wildcats in the Australian NBL.

In 2 years as a Development player (2023-25) has played 17 games.

He was named MVP at the 2019 Aon U17 National Championships as Waitakere West Auckland claimed the title. Given that Russo-Nance was young enough to be playing in the U15 championships the MVP Award took on additional significance.

Russo-Nance was again named to the U17 Tournament Team at both the 2020 and 2021 championships.

Named the 2021 BBNZ Young Male Player of the Year.

Tyson Thata-Paese

Position: Guard

Height: 189cm

Born: 14 October,  2001

Junior Association: Wellington

High School: Tawa College

Previous NBL Clubs – Wellington Saints (2024)

Played 10 games for the Saints in the 2024 season averaging 2.1ppg. Scored a season high 11 points against Canterbury Rams in Round 13.

One of only 7 players to play in all 20 Rapid League games in 2024 – scored 133 points with a top score of 13 points on 3 occasions.

Part  of the standout Tawa College teams of 2019 and 2020 that also featured Ben and Sam Gold.

Corey Webster

Position: Guard

Height: 185cm

Born: 29 November, 1988

Junior Association: North Harbour

High School: Westlake Boys High School

Highest Representative Honour: Tall Blacks – debut 2008 

Previous NBL Clubs – Harbour Heat (2009-10), Wellington Saints (2011, 13-14, 17), Super City Rangers (2016), Franklin Bulls (2022), Canterbury Rams (2023), Auckland Tuatara (2024)

Played 19 games for the Tuatara in the 2024 season – averaged 20.8ppg.

In 2023 Webster scored 25 points in the NBL Grand Final against the Tuatara to help the Rams to an historic 93-82 victory. Averaged 14.5 points in 8 games for the Rams.

Earlier in 2023 he won the African League Championship playing for Egyptian club Al Ahly Cairo.

Webster has won four NBL championships – three with the Saints and one with the Rams. In addition he won three Australian NBL championships with the New Zealand Breakers.

Played 11 seasons with the Breakers totalling 236 games – he is 3rd all-time on the club’s scoring list with 2,664 career points. He then played the last two seasons (2022-24) with the Perth Wildcats.

Played his 100th game for the Tall Blacks against the Philippines in February 2024. Led the New Zealand’s scoring at both the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain (13.7ppg) and the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China (22.8ppg).

In 2017 he played six games for the Dallas Mavericks at the NBA Summer League.

Eric Williams Jr

Position: Guard

Height: 198 cm

Born: 30 July, 1999 in Port Huon, Michigan

High School: New Haven High School

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Most recently played for Manchester in the British Basketball League.

Previously played in Cyprus, Dominican Republic and Poland as well as playing 6 games in the G League for Memphis Hustle in 2024.

Had a 5-year collegiate career playing 2 years at the University of Duquesne where in his first year he was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Freshman Team.

2 years followed at University of Oregon with a final year at the University of San Diego (2022-23) where he averaged 14.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

Tautoko Wynyard

Position: Forward/Centre

Height: 208cm

Born: 9 September, 2004

Junior Association: Waitakere West Auckland & North Harbour

High School: Rangitoto College

Previous NBL Clubs – Canterbury Rams (2023)

Like older brother Tai Wynyard he attended Rangitoto College. Left school late 2022 to attend Oak Hill Academy, Virginia, USA where he played alongside Dontae Russo-Nance.

Played the 2024-25 American collegiate season for North Idaho College (JUCO).

Trained with Auckland Tuatara in 2022 but did not make an appearance. Played on game for the Rams in 2024.

Wynyard is the son of the late Jason Wynyard – a multiple Woodchopping World Champion. Mother Karmyn played college basketball at the University of Alaska Anchorage. 

Tony Webster (Head Coach)

Rob Hartley (Assistant Coach)

Tim McTamney (Assistant Coach)