Mainland Eagles Player Profiles for Tarkanian Classic
The Mainland Eagles Basketball Academy will make its inaugural tour to Las Vegas over the New Zealand summer of 2014-15. Originating from the South Island of New Zealand, the Academy was set up to help young basketball players in the region achieve their goal of obtaining scholarships to U.S. colleges.
Former UNLV AP All-American point guard Mark Dickel leads the group, while former NCAA coach Caleb Harrison and up-and-coming Otago coach Greg Brockbank act as his assistants.
The men's team will feature in the famed Tarkanian Classic, enabling the players to measure themselves against some of the world's best young basketball talent. This slideshow will preview the roster that will take part in the event, while a preview of the women's roster will be provided at a later date.
It is a strong, although perhaps undersized, team with a group of outstanding guards. The squad contains five members of the Otago Boys' High School team, which recently won the "AA" New Zealand Secondary Schools Championship, the country's biggest high school basketball prize.
The roster also includes a number of players from the 2013 Otago under-17 team, which won the 2013 National Championship Tournament. This differs from the high school competition as it is competed for by regions, rather than schools.
Apologies for where photographs are not available.
1. Joe Cook-Green, Junior, 6'2", 190 lbs
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Joe Cook-Green is one of the country’s most exciting prospects.
A strong, athletic guard, he is a terrier going to the hoop, possessing nice touch and capable of finishing in contact. He has a good mid-range pull-up game in both directions too, which makes him very difficult to guard when he gets going.
Coach Dickel agreed, suggesting that he is a “physically strong scoring point guard with a good mid-range game.” He added that he is “comfortable going either way of dribble, has good instincts defensively and is really tough.”
Cook-Green was named in the all-tournament team of the 2014 National Secondary Schools Championship, being a key player on the Otago Boys' High School winning team. In 2013, he made the under-17 national tournament team for his role in Otago’s championship. On top of this, he has represented his country at age-grade level, most recently playing in the 2014 New Zealand under-19 team, while also having played for the Otago Nuggets in the New Zealand NBL.
2. Richard Rodger, Senior, 6’2”, 180 lbs
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Richard Rodger is a point guard with the complete package. An unselfish player, he takes good options, knowing when to pass, shoot or dribble, and does it all effectively.
Coach Dickel describes him as a “good outside shooter with a pure feel for the game,” while also stating he is “active without the ball and is a good rebounder and defender.”
Rodger has played age-grade basketball for New Zealand and in 2013 was named the MVP of the under-17 national tournament, leading the Otago team to the championship. He plays his school basketball with Kavanagh College, with whom he won the 2014 "A" National Secondary Schools Championship for smaller schools and was named MVP of the tournament.
3. Taylor Britt, Senior, 6’1”, 175 lbs
3 of 12A left-handed point guard, Taylor Britt possesses what he describes as a “three-dimensional game” with his ability to shoot, pass and dribble.
His quick shot release enables him to score under pressure from the outside, while the ability to handle the ball comfortably allows him to get to the hoop and finish strongly. Coach Dickel agreed, stating that he has “good change-of-pace moves to the basket” while also having “a good mid-range game with good touch on his floater” and the ability to shoot from three-point range off the dribble and the catch.
Britt has won two South Island Championships with Canterbury and played his high school basketball for Papanui HS. His goal is to play college basketball, while hoping to then go further and play in a professional league.
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4. Josh Petermann, Senior, 6’1”, 175 lbs
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Josh Petermann brings intensity and loves playing at a high tempo. The German-born, New Zealand-raised guard possesses bundles of quickness, which complements a well-rounded skill set, enabling him to be a threat in transition and the half court.
Coach Dickel referred to his ability to score both off the dribble and from the catch-and-shoot, while also possessing good hands, and describes his defence as being “relentless.”
Petermann was a starter on the 2014 Otago Boys' High School "AA" national champion team, while also starting for the 2013 national championship Otago under-17 team. He is keen to see the level and tempo of the USA players and is currently “trying to do all [he] can to play college ball.”
5. Shou Nisbet, Junior, 6’5”, 195 lbs
5 of 12In 2014, Shou Nisbet debuted for the Canterbury Rams as a 16-year-old, making him one of youngest players to ever play in New Zealand’s NBL. He now joins a select group of players to appear in the league before their 17th birthday. Another member of this group is Coach Dickel, who is full of praise for Nisbet.
“Shou is an athletic point guard, tough off the dribble, good pull-up game and defensively is a warrior,” Dickel said.
A lack of size on the Eagles roster may see Nisbet having to play the bigger spots, but having previously played as a swingman, he should not be too daunted by this. His length undoubtedly makes him an attractive prospect but complements it well with an outstanding skill set. He always plays hard and likes to get his team-mates involved.
Nisbet has played for New Zealand at both the under-17 and under-18 levels, while also having consistently starred for Canterbury age-group teams. He is "so excited" to play in the USA, while also looking forward to getting a feel for the system and culture. His goal is to play college basketball in the U.S., then see where he is at and either play professionally or pursue another career.
6. Benoit Hayman, Senior, 6’1”, 170 lbs
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A left-handed, long-armed guard, Benoit Hayman is a dangerous offensive player, while also possessing a tenacious defensive game. Having been short growing up, he learned to play against bigger opponents and now has no problem scoring against longer defences through good pull-up, floater and three-point games.
Coach Dickel remarks that he “constantly puts his defender under pressure” and is a “very aggressive offensive player with a variety of ways to score.”
It was this that saw him dig Otago Boys' HS out of an early hole in its national semifinal against Rangitoto (Auckland) earlier this year. Coming on with his team trailing by 14, Hayman scored 10 quick points to jump-start the team’s comeback. It would go on to win the championship.
Despite flying under the radar nationally, Hayman is establishing himself as one of New Zealand’s premier young guards, and the Las Vegas trip will be a great chance for him to stake a claim for a college scholarship.
7. Matt Dukes, Junior, 6’1”, 180 lbs
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At 16 years old, Matt Dukes is the youngest player on the Eagles roster. He does not lack for experience though, already having two national championships under his belt, both with the 2013 Otago under-17 team and the 2014 Otago Boys’ High School team.
A combo guard who is an outstanding shooter, he focuses on getting into open spots to create his own shot. Coach Dickel adds that he has “deep range,” rebounds well, takes good options and is a tough defender.
He will provide the Eagles with another option from the outside to spread the floor. With another year of high school still to go, Dukes is a good prospect, and the trip to Las Vegas could be the start to fulfilling his goal of playing Division I college basketball in the USA.
8. Jordan Hibbard, Senior, 6’2”, 185 lbs
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An intelligent off-the-ball player, Jordan Hibbard describes himself as an unselfish team-mate who acts as a hype man and brings effort. An athletic outside player, he possesses good footwork offensively, while also running the lanes well in transition and making good cuts in the half court.
Coach Dickel assessed him as an “athletic spot-up shooter who is good on the break and hustles defensively.”
Hibbard has been a consistent Otago age-grade representative over the years and in 2014 started for the under-19 team, which finished third at nationals. He is looking forward to seeing the level of competition in the USA, while holding the aspiration of playing either at college or returning to New Zealand to play in the NBL.
9. Nigel Goulstone, Senior, 6’0”, 185 lbs
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A steady guard who fills his role in his teams, Nigel Goulstone is an unselfish player who looks to set up his team-mates. Coach Dickel adds that he is a “solid shooter who can play at different tempos and is a good passer.”
Goulstone has played his high school basketball for King’s High School, while also having represented Otago age-group teams. He will bring composure and control to the Eagles and may be able to provide contrast to the guards who like to play at a high tempo.
10. Jamie Macdonald, Junior, 6’0”, 175 lbs
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Jamie Macdonald can flat out shoot it. The 17-year-old shooting guard was a member of both the Otago Boys’ High School and Otago under-17 national championship teams over the past two years.
Coach Dickel re-emphasized his prowess in shooting the ball, both off the dribble and catch, while also adding he has a good transition game and hustles on defence.
Macdonald is keen to see both how the game is played in the USA and also how the Eagles go themselves, adding that it “should be great fun.”
11. Hamish Robertson, Senior, 6’3”, 190 lbs
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Hamish Robertson is an energy player who throws himself around on the court. He is not afraid to fly in for rebounds or dive on loose balls, and as Coach Dickel says, “he plays much bigger than his height.” Dickel also adds that he “hustles and fights for every possession, is good off the dribble and finishes well.”
In 2013, he was named the MVP of the "A" National Secondary Schools Championship for smaller schools, as he led St. Kevins College to the championship.
His high intensity allows him to fit into a faster-paced, higher-leveled game, and he is excited to see the level of competition in the USA while also wanting to learn as much as possible. As for his basketball future, he says he will continue to improve as much as he can and "go as far as possible."
12. Jackson Stent, Senior, 6’7”, 195 lbs
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A long, athletic forward, there is a lot to like about Jackson Stent’s game. He is a high-energy player who rebounds well on both ends, while also possessing a solid skill set and an outstanding defensive game. Coach Dickel agreed, adding that he has great defensive footwork and shoots well out to 16 feet.
“[Stent is a] long forward with good movement,” Dickel said. “He hustles and has good feet defensively, has shooting range out to 16 feet and is a good rebounder and passer.”
Stent enjoys playing defence and says that it was his father who helped him learn to use his slight frame to his advantage in this area of his game.
“My Dad helped me use my skinniness as an advantage,” Stent remarked. “Being quick and long helped me enjoy defence and then just working on skills helped my overall game.”
It is this game that has made him so attractive to selectors. He was a member of the New Zealand under-16, 17 and 18 teams, while also making the final Junior Tall Blacks trials and attending Adidas Nations in 2014.
In 2013, he was a member of the "AA" National Secondary Schools Champion Westlake Boys' High School team, while a year later, the team finished second at the same tournament. He has also enjoyed success at the representative national tournaments and was named the MVP of the under-17 national championship.
He views this trip as a great experience and is looking forward to meeting those involved with the USA game. While he would like to go pro in the future, for now his focus remains firmly on his aspiration of playing college basketball in the USA.
All quotes and personalized information were obtained firsthand from the players and coach Mark Dickel on December 2, 2014.
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