Jack Andrew

Position: Forward

Height: 208cm

Born: 10 August, 2001

Junior Association: North Otago

High School: St Kevin’s College, Oamaru

Previous NBL clubs – Nuggets (2020-present)

Played all 21 games for the title winning Nuggets in 2022. Had career highs in points (11) and rebounds (12) against the Bulls in August ’22.

A member of the Nuggets  Sal’s NBL Championship winning teams in 2020 and 2022.

Was a Development Player with the Perth Wildcats in the 2022-23 ANBL season.

St Kevin’s College, Oamaru were runners-up in the 2019 ‘A’ Secondary Schools National final with Andrew named to the Tournament Team.

Joe Ahie

Position: Guard

Height: 190cm

Born: 11 May, 2000

Junior Association: Wellington

High School: Onslow College

Highest Honour – NZ U18 Team (2018)

Previous NBL Clubs – Otago Nuggets (2021-present)

Played 18 games for the championship winning Nuggets in 2022 averaging 7 minutes per game coming off the bench.

Debuted for the Nuggets in 2021 playing 6 games.

Represented NZ 3X3 Team at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.

Played through the Wellington representative programme.

Josh Aitcheson

Position: Guard

Height: 1.98m

Born: 25 May, 1998

Junior Association: Otago

High School: Kings High School, Dunedin

Highest Representative Honour – Junior Tall Blacks (2017)

Previous NBL clubs – Southland Sharks (2017), Canterbury Rams (2018),  Nuggets (2020-present)

Played all 21 games for the Nuggets in 2022 averaging 6.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

A member of the Nuggets NBL Championship winning teams in 2020 and 2022.

The former Kings High School and Otago University wing is equally adept in the 3×3 Arena having played for New Zealand at the 2019 U23 World Cup in China playing alongside Taylor Britt and Taane Samuel.

Aitcheson averaged 4.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game playing for the Junior Tall Blacks at the 2017 FIBA U19 World Cup in Egypt.

An accountant at Deloitte.

Matt Bardsley

Position: Swingman

Height: 1.89m

Born: 8 August, 1995

Junior Association: Manawatu

High School: Palmerston North Boys High School

Previous NBL clubs – Nuggets (2020-present)

Played 18 games for the Nuggets in 2022.

A member of the Nuggets Championship winning teams in 2020 and 2022.

Gained notoriety after being named the 84^th and final pick in the 2020 Sal’s NBL draft.

His all-action performances were far removed from that of an 84^th pick and was deservedly rewarded with a contract for the 2021 season.

In 2019 he helped Otago University complete the Tertiary Tournaments double winning both the 3×3 and 5×5 National titles.

Robbie Coman

Position: Forward

Height: 200cm

Born: 12 July, 2002

Junior Association: Auckland

High School: King’s College, Auckland

Highest Honour – NZ U17 Team (2019)

Previous NBL Clubs – Otago Nuggets (2021-present)

A championship winner with the Nuggets in 2022 – played 14 games.

He was the leading scorer for New Zealand at the 2019 FIBA U17 Oceania Championship in New Caledonia averaging 12.4 points per game.

Patrick Freeman

Position: Swingman

Height: 198cm

Born: 20 June, 2003

Junior Association: Wellington

High School: Tawa College

Previous NBL Clubs – Rookie

A member of the wider Nuggets squad in 2022 but didn’t make an NBL appearance.

Freeman was the leading points scorer for Otago at the 2022 U19 National Championships – named to the Tournament Team.

Played all his junior representative basketball for Wellington before the shift to Dunedin. A member of the Tawa College that won back to back Wellington Schools Premierships in 2019 and 2020.

Studying psychology at Otago University.

Michael Harris (Import)

Position: Guard

Height: 193cm

Born: 5 October, 1999

High School:

Previous NBL Clubs – Rookie

Played 17 games for the Perth Wildcats in the 2022-23 Australian NBL season. Scored a career high 17 points against Cairns Taipans. Also played 2games for the Adelaide 36ers in 2019-22.

Averaged 22.4 points per game for Mount Gambier Pioneers in NBL1 South in 2022. Prior to that played three seasons for Forestville Eagles in Adelaide.

Darcy Knox

Position: Guard

Height: 189cm

Born: 10 May, 1995

Junior Association: Otago

High School: Otago Boys High School

Previous NBL clubs – Nuggets (2020-present)

Played 14 games for the Nuggets in 2022 scoring a season best 10 points against the Rams in Round 2.

A member of the Nuggets Championship winning teams in 2020 and 2022.

After High School Knox attended Kansas Technical College for one year (2015-2016)

Knox was the starting point guard as Otago University completed the Tertiary Tournaments double in 2019 winning both the 3×3 and 5×5 Tertiary National titles. Named to the All-Star 5 at the Tertiary Championships.

Nikau McCullough

Position: Guard

Height: 188cm

Born: 7 April, 1997

Junior Association: Waikato

High School: St John’s College, Hamilton

Highest Honour: Tall Blacks – debut 2022

Previous NBL Clubs – Franklin Bulls (2020), Manawatu Jets (2021), Otago Nuggets (2022-present)

Has done some globe-trotting in 2023 playing 8 games in in NBL1 North for Rockhampton Rockets and most recently 2 games in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) for Calgary Surge. Averaged 18.5 points and 4.1 assists for Rockhampton.

Enjoyed an outstanding season with the 2022 championship winning Nuggets team averaging 15.1 points per game. Scored a season high 29 points, going 5 from 9 from beyond the arc, against the Bulls.

Rewarded with a Tall Blacks call up for the tour of Japan in 2022 and has subsequently played 5 games for the Tall Blacks.

Played alongside Tai Wynyard, Dom Kelman-Poto and Taylor Britt as NZ won the FIBA 3×3 World Cup Qualifier Asia in March 2022.

Tai Wynyard was also a team member when winning the 2015 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup. The other team members were Matt Freeman and Sam Timmins.

Played 66 games for St Mary’s University in San Antonio (NCAA Division II) from 2016 to 2019.

JaQuori McLaughlin (Import)

Position: Point Guard

Height: 193cm

Born: 29 January, 1998

High School: Peninsula High School, Washington

Previous NBL Clubs – Rookie

Scored 15 points on debut in the Round 1 home win against the Manawatu Jets.

Played 4 games in the NBA for the Dallas Mavericks in August 2021 although only played a total of three minutes.

Most recently played in the NBA G League averaging 7.2 points and 3.2 assists for Santa Cruz Warriors across 32 games.

Played 2 years NCAA Division I at Oregon State before transferring to UC Santa Barbara where he played a further 3 years.

In his senior year (2020-21) averaged 16 points and 5.2 assists per game as Santa Barbara claimed the Big West Conference title – named the Big West Player of the Year.

Michael Ruske

Position: Guard

Height: 190cm

Born: 31 August, 2002

Junior Association: Otago

High School: Otago Boys High School

Previous NBL Clubs – Otago Nuggets (2022-present)

Played one game for the Nuggets in 2022.

Named to the Tournament Team at the 2021 Aon U19 National Championships

Also an outstanding cricketer playing for Otago Boys High at the 2020 Gillette Cup (Secondary Schools National Tournament).

Sister Nicole, a former Tall Fern, played for Southern Hoiho in 2022.

Max Pearce

Position: Forward

Height: 194cm

Born: 28 October, 2002

Junior Association: Otago

High School:

Previous NBL Clubs – Otago Nuggets (2022-present)

Played 8 games for the Nuggets after debuting against Nelson Giants in the opening game of the 2022 season.

Caleb Smiler

Position: Guard

Height: 191cm

Born:

Junior Association: Waikato

High School: Fraser High School

Previous NBL clubs – Taranaki Airs (2022)

Made his NBL debut against Auckland Tuatara in 2022 – played 5 games for the Airs.

Along with cousin Ezra the pair were members of the Fraser High School team that won the 2021 Secondary Schools 3×3 National title.

Sister Kaylee is on a basketball scholarship at Brigham Young University

Sam Timmins

Position: Centre

Height: 210cm

Born: 23 May, 1997

Junior Association: Otago

High School: Otago Boys High School

Highest Representative Honour: Tall Blacks Debut – 2017 (Appearances 12)

Previous NBL Clubs – Otago Nuggets (2013 and 2021-present), Canterbury Rams (2015), Franklin Bulls (2020)

A championship winner with the Nuggets in 2022 Timmins averaged 16.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.

Timmins played for the Nuggets as a 15-year old in 2013.

Was a Development Player for the NZ Breakers in the 2021-22 Australian NBL season and a fully contracted player in 2022-23..

Played in Estonia for Kalev during 2020-21 European season.

In 2014 he was named Tournament MVP as Otago Boys claimed the Secondary Schools National title.

In 2015 crowned FIBA 3×3 U18 World Champions in Hungary playing alongside Matt Freeman, Tai Wynyard and Nikau McCullough.

Following high school Timmins played 4-years NCAA Division I basketball at the University of Washington where he played 128 games for the Huskies – graduated in 2020.

Tai Webster

Position: Guard
Height: 193cm
Born: 29 May, 1995
Junior Association: North Harbour
High School: Westlake Boys High School
Highest Representative Honour: Tall Blacks – Debut 2012
Previous NBL Clubs – Auckland Pirates (2012), Waikato Pistons (2013)

Webster won an NBL championship with the Auckland Pirates in 2012 while still at Westlake Boys High School. He last played in the NBL for the Waikato Pistons in 2013 before embarking on his college career at Nebraska University.
He played 124 games for the Cornhuskers enjoying a stand out 2016-17 senior season averaging 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game. His 1,116 career points rank third all-time by a Kiwi in Men’s NCAA Division I basketball – Kirk Penney (1,454 points) and Callum McRae (1,265) rank one and two.
Webster has made 54 appearances for the Tall Blacks. He averaged 13.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China – third in scoring and second in assists for the Tall Blacks at the tournament. It was his second World Cup after also playing at the 2014 event in Spain.
In 2017 he played five games for the Golden State Warriors at the NBA Summer League, before signing a professional contract to play for Fraport Skyliners in Germany.
He has subsequently played in Turkey, Lithuania and more recently in Australia for the Perth Wildcats. Also played the 2020-21 season with the New Zealand Breakers.
Won a FIBA Under-18 3×3 World Championships in Italy in 2011 playing alongside fellow Tall Blacks Isaac Fotu and Reuben Te Rangi.
Won a Secondary Schools National Championship with Westlake in 2012.

Todd Withers (Import)

Position: Swingman

Height: 202cm

Born: 6 May, 1996

High School: Northeast Guilford

Previous NBL Clubs – Otago Nuggets (2022-present)

Withers enjoyed an outstanding season with the National Championship winning Nuggets in 2022. His front court partnership with Sam Timmins was a major factor in the Nuggets success – averaged 14 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.9 blocks per game.

Played the 2021-22 Australian NBL season with Adelaide 36ers averaging 8.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

Played 4 years at Queens University (NCAA Division II) before embarking on his pro career in 2018.

Played in the G League for Grand Rapids Drive followed by a season for Bologna (2020-21) in the Italian League where he averaged 10 points and 4 rebounds per game.

Brent Matehaere (Head Coach)

Gerard Martin (Assistant Coach)

Sam Senior (Assistant Coach)

Greg Brockbank (Assistant Coach)