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 15 games for the Nuggets in 2023 averaging 5.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. 

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

His career high of 16 points was scored against the Jets in 2020.

Was a Development Player with the Perth Wildcats in the 2022-23 and 23-24 ANBL seasons playing a total of 3 games.

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

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 18 games in 2023 and has made a total of 74 appearances for the Nuggets – scored a career high 22 points against the Huskies in 2020. 

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.

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)

Has played 65 games in four seasons for the Nuggets.

Played 18 games for the Nuggets in 2023 averaging a career best 5.2 points per game. Scored a career best 18 points against the Airs in 2020.

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

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

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

Played for Taranaki Airs at the 2023 3×3 Cup.

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, Coman has made 37 appearances for the Nuggets prior to the 2024 season.

Averaged 4.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in 18 appearances in 2023 with a career high 14 points scored against both the Bulls and the Jets.

Named to the All-Star Five at the 2023 Tertiary National Championships – scored 20 points in the Grand final defeat against Canterbury University.

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

Zaccheus Darko-Kelly (Import)

Position: Wing

Height: 198cm

Born: 3 May, 1997 in Montana, USA

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Played two years at the University of Montana Western (66 games) and University of Providence (50 games) – both NAIA schools.

In his senior year (2020-21) Darko-Kelly was named to the NAIA All-America First Team as Providence won the Frontier Conference Championship – he averaged 18.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

Played 2 games for the Toronto Raptors in the 2021 NBA Summer League.

Has since played in Greece, Finland and most recently (2023-24) in Germany for Tigers Tuebingen.

Benji Freeman

Position: Forward

Height: 197cm

Born: 21 July, 2003

Junior Association: Canterbury

High School: St Andrew’s, Christchurch

Previous NBL clubs – Taranaki Airs (2022 – 2023)

Played 12 games for the Airs in 2023 averaging 4.6ppg – scored a career high 10 points against the Hawks.

Named to the Tournament Team at the 2022 U23 National Championships after helping Taranaki secure the title. Taranaki made it back to back title wins in 2023 with Freeman again named to the Tournament Team.

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.

Ben Henshall (Import)

Position: Swingman

Height: 195cm

Born: 22 June, 2004 in Perth, Western Australia

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

The Western Australian spent two years at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence before linking  with the Perth Wildcats for the 2023-24 ANBL season. Played 16 games for the Wildcats tallying 50 points – 24 of those points came in one game against South East Melbourne Phoenix.

Scored 14 points against Korea when making his Australian Boomers debut in February 2024.

Played for the Centre of Excellence in NBL1 East in 2022 and 2023. Averaged 18.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists in the 2023 season.

Also in 2023 captained Western Australia to the Australian U20 National Championship title.

Mitchell Hughan

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 17 games for the Nuggets in 2023 scoring a season best 11 points against the Jets. Averaged 3.1 points and 2.4 assists per game. 

A member of the Nuggets Championship winning teams in 2020 and 2022, Knox has played 65 games for the Nuggets.

Played for the Nuggets at the 2023 3×3 Cup.

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.

Kimani Lawrence (Import)

Position: Forward

Height: 198cm

Born: 13 March, 1998 in Providence, Rhode Island, USA

High School: New Hampton High School

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Had a 5 year career at Arizona State University playing 135 games for the Sun Devils. Started all 30 games in his final year (2021-22) and averaged 10.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.

His first professional contract was in Switzerland and in 2023-24 for Kecskemet in Hungary.

Matt Pyper

Position: Wing

Height: 192cm

Born: 17 August, 2002

Junior Association: Otago

High School: Otago Boys High School

Previous NBL Clubs – Rookie

Pyper has been part of the wider Nuggets squad since 2021.

Has played representative basketball for Otago and Otago University.

Plays club basketball in Dunedin for Andy Bay Falcons – Named MVP in 2023.

Michael Ruske

Position: Guard

Height: 183cm

Born: 31 August, 2002

Junior Association: Otago

High School: Otago Boys High School

Previous NBL Clubs – Otago Nuggets (2022-present)

Played three games for the Nuggets in 2023 and also played for the Nuggets at the 2023 3×3 Cup.

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).

Younger brother of former Tall Fern Nicole Ruske.

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)

His first two Sal’s NBL seasons were played while still at St Kentigern College. In 2021 he averaged 11.5ppg and in 2022 averaged 15.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists for the Tuatara. 

After spending the 2022-23 academic year at Oak Hill Academy, Virginia, Russo-Nance signed a three year contract with the Perth Wildcats in the Australian NBL as a Development Player and a fully contracted player thereafter. Played 3 games in the 2023-24 season.

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 BBNZ 2021 Young Male Player of the Year.

Caleb Smiler

Position: Guard

Height: 191cm

Born: 26 September, 2002

Junior Association: Waikato

High School: Fraser High School

Previous NBL clubs – Taranaki Airs (2022) Otago Nuggets (2023-present)

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

Also played 5 games for the Nuggets in 2023.

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 has recently concluded her 5-year career at Brigham Young University.

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), Otago Nuggets (2023-present)

Played 6 games for the Nuggets in 2023 when he averaged 21 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6 assists per game. Webster won an NBL championship with the Auckland Pirates in 2012 while still at Westlake Boys High School. 

Recently completed his second season with the Perth Wildcats in the Australian NBL. Averaged 8.9 points and 2.7 assists for the Wildcats as they progressed to the semi-finals.

He played 124 games for the University of Nebraska 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.

Brent Matehaere (Head Coach)

Dan Vlahov (Assistant Coach)

Ben Peterson (Assistant Coach)

Sam Senior (Assistant Coach)