The Men’s NCAA Division I class of 2026-27 numbers 24. It’s exactly the same as last year, one that surpassed the previous record that was set in the 2019-20 season when 20 Kiwis played Division I hoops.
Last year we witnessed Oscar Goodman earn the distinction of becoming the second Kiwi after Jack Salt (University of Virginia in 2019) to win a Men’s NCAA Division I Championship after the University of Michigan Wolverines defeated UConn in the National Final.
Goodman is one of eight players, to have already donned a Tall Blacks singlet, that are with Division I teams this season. The others are Jackson Ball, Julius Halaifonua, Carter Hopoi, Hayden Jones, Dontae Russo-Nance and the Isaac brothers, Tama and Kaia.
Russo-Nance and Ball are amongst an exciting bunch of freshmen that incudes Jackson Kiss, Mana Martin, KC Ioane and 2026 Sal’s NBL Youth Player of the Year Jake Holmes.
*Note this list is of players known at the time of writing. It’s possible there may be some players absent from this list with players often moving, or travelling to the USA without publicising their plans, or may yet to be announced by teams.
FRESHMEN
Jackson Ball (University of Wisconsin)
From the Hawkes Bay, Jackson Ball is one of the most decorated junior players to come out of New Zealand in recent years.
Already a Tall Black the former Napier Boys High standout has represented New Zealand at four FIBA age group tournaments.
Played for the New Zealand team that won bronze at the 2026 FIBA U18 Asia Cup in Indiathus qualifying for the 2027 U19 World Cup. Finished as third-best scorer at the tournament with 20.8 points, along 3.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, his performances earning him selection to the All-Star Five.
Played for the New Zealand team that finished 4th at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland – averaged 10.0 points per game and also on the Kiwi team that finished 4th at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey.
His first FIBA Tournament was the 2023 U16 Asian Championship in Qatar.
Other notable achievements:
Played 40 games in the NZNBL as a teenager for Hawkes Bay Hawks.
As a Development Player made his Illawarra Hawks debut in October 2025. At 17 years and 222 days he became the youngest Kiwi to debut in the Australian NBL.
Led the scoring at the 2025 Secondary Schools National Championships averaging 32.1ppg playing for Napier Boys High School.
Scored 35 points for Napier Boys High School in the 2024 Secondary Schools National Championships Grand Final loss to Christ’s College.
Lachy Crate (Murray State University)
Having redshirted the 2025-26 season Crate retains his freshman status.
Played for the New Zealand teams that finished 4th at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland (averaged 10.0ppg) and 4th at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey (averaged 11.3ppg).
Played 17 games for the Nelson Giants in the 2025 NZNBL season having previously played for his home town Manawatu Jets.
Playing for Fielding High School, Crate was the second highest scorer at the 2024 Secondary Schools National Championship averaging 31 points per game.
Jake Holmes (University of California, San Diego)
Out of Rangiora High School the Canterbury Rams forward was named 2026 Sal’s NBL Youth Player of the Year. As an 18 year-old he played in all 21 games making six starts and averaging 8.3 points, 4.5 rebounds plus an assists and a steal per game.
Holmes was member of the Canterbury teams that won back-to-back U20 National Championships in 2025 and 2026.
He led the Rangiora High School scoring at the 2025 Secondary Schools National Championships and played for the NZ U19 team on the tour of China earlier that year.
Will link up with fellow Kiwi Tom Beattie at UCSD.
Krisnan-Cole ‘KC’ Ioane (University of Incarnate Word)
The Hutt Valley local played 23 games in the NBL for Auckland Tuatara during the 2025 and 2026 seasons after shifting north to Auckland. He was named the Tuatara’s Youth Player of the Year in 2026.
He played for the New Zealand U19 team on the tour of China in April 2025. In the same year he captained the Dilworth School team that won the Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Championship – the first Auckland Premier title ever captured by Dilworth.
Jackson Kiss (University of Nevada, Las Vegas)
The 6’8” forward has been named the Mountain West Conference Preseason Freshman of the Year ahead of his first collegiate season.
A Counties/Manukau junior Kiss led the scoring (29.9ppg) at the 2024 Secondary Schools National Championships playing for Auckland Grammar School.
Following the tournament he moved to the USA to complete his high school education at Utah Prep.
He played for the New Zealand team that placed 4th at the 2025 FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey where he averaged 7.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Mana Martin (Siena Univeristy)
The Cantabrian guard boasts three years playing experience in the NZNBL with the Canterbury Rams making 26 appearances and winning a championship ring in 2024.
Martin became the first Rams player to score over 300 Rapid League points. He also holds the record for most points in a single game with 31 points against the Airs in 2025.
Named Tournament MVP at the 2026 U20 National Championships after leading Canterbury to the title – averaged a team high 27 points per game.
Played for the New Zealand team that finished 4th at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup – scored 10 points in the win against Egypt.
Averaged a team high 26 points per game for St Thomas of Canterbury College at the 2024 Secondary Schools National Championships and a year earlier led the team to Thompson Trophy success (Canterbury Schools title).
Dontae Russo-Nance (Pepperdine University)
Aucklander Dontae Russo-Nance will be one of the most experienced freshmen in college basketball in 2026-27.
Having already represented the Tall Blacks he has five years’ experience playing in the New Zealand NBL and three years under his belt with the Perth Wildcats in the Australian NBL.
After spending the 2022-23 academic year at Oak Hill Academy, Virginia, Russo-Nance signed with the Perth Wildcats in the Australian NBL.
His first two Sal’s NBL seasons (with Auckland Huskies in 2021 and Auckland Tuatara in 2022) were played while still at St Kentigern College.
With subsequent stints at Otago Nuggets (2024) and Manawatu Jets (2025-26) he has chalked up 65 NZNBL appearances.
Hunter Te Ratana (Mercyhurst University)
Played for Waikato and St Kentigern College, Auckland before completing his high school education at Darrow School in Upstate New York.
Playing for St Kentigern at the 2024 Secondary Schools National Championships he finished fourth highest scorer overall averaging 26.9ppg.
Te Ratana was a member of the New Zealand team that finished fourth at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey. He also played for the New Zealand team that won a silver medal at the 2023 FIBA U16 Asian Championship in Doha. Scored 12 points in the gold medal game against Australia.
Was named as the defensive player of the tournament at the 2026 U20 National Championships, leading Waitakere West to the Grand Final.
SOPHOMORES
Carter Berg-McLean (Loyola University Maryland)
The Wellingtonian attended St Pat’s College, Silverstream before heading to Rockville, Maryland to complete his high school studies at Georgetown Prep School.
In his first season for LUM he played 30 of 32 games scoring 99 points and was third on the team for assists (47). Scored a season high 12 points against American while also grabbing 9 rebounds.
Career GP 30 GS 0 Points 99
Oscar Goodman (University of Michigan)
Though playing limited minutes Goodman holds the distinction of becoming the second Kiwi after Jack Salt (University of Virginia in 2019) to win an NCAA Division I Championship after Michigan Wolverines defeated UConn in the National Final.
Played 16 games scoring a season best 6 points against Penn State.
Played for the New Zealand teams that finished 4th at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland and 4th at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey where he was named to the All-Star Five after averaging 17 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
From Opunake, the former New Plymouth Boys High School student attended the NBA Global Academy in Canberra – the third New Zealander after Ben Gold and Julius Halaifonua to graduate from the elite residential basketball training centre.
Made his Tall Blacks debut against Chinese Taipei in November 2024.
Career GP 16 GS 0 Points 22
Carter Hopoi (Valparaiso University)
Played all 33 games for Valparaiso in his Freshman year – scored 125 points and was second on the team in blocks (24). Scored a season best 14 points at Indiana State.
Played all seven games for the New Zealand team that finished 4th at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland – averaged 7.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
The former Mt Maunganui College forward played 18 games for Tauranga Whai in the 2025 NZNBL season – averaged 11.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. Scored an NBL best 24 points against the Hawks.
Debuted for the Tall Blacks in November 2024 in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifier against Taiwan.
Career GP 33 GS 2 Points 125
Tama Isaac (University of California, Irvine)
Played all 35 games for UCI as a freshman and started on each occasion. Averaged 6.3 points and a team high 3.8 assists per game. Had a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds on debut against Bethesda.
Played all seven games for the New Zealand team that finished 4th at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland. Led the team in assists (5.0apg) and second in scoring (13.6ppg) – named to the Tournament All-Second Team.
Made his Tall Blacks debut, playing alongside brother Kaia, in the 2025 Asia Cup Qualifier against Hong Kong.
A member of the Canterbury Rams 2024 NZNBL Championship winning team.
A 2024 Secondary Schools National Championship winner with Christ’s College. Scored 20 points in the Grand Final win against Napier Boys High School – named the Tournament MVP.
Younger brother of Kaia Isaac.
Career GP 35 GS 35 Points 222
Hayden Jones (University of Wisconsin)
Played 27 games for the Badgers in his freshman season – scored a season high 8 points against Milwaukee.
Played all 7 games for the New Zealand team that finished 4th at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland – led the team in scoring (14.6ppg) and rebounding (7.7rpg).
Scored 7 points on his Tall Blacks debut against Hong Kong in February 2024. At 17 years and 47 days he became the 4th youngest player to debut for the senior national team. Following in the footsteps of father Phill they are the 8th father/son duo to play for the Tall Blacks.
Had played 39 games for the Nelson Giants at the conclusion of the 2025 NZNBL season.
Scored a career high 20 points against Taranaki Airs in 2025.
Sister Maia Jones is a senior at Santa Clara University. Father Phill Jones is a distinguished former Tall Black.
Career GP 27 GS 1 Points 45
Troy Plumtree (Cal Poly State University)
Played 26 games with a couple of starts as a freshman at Cal Poly. Scored a season high 31 points, on 13 from 17 shooting, against CSU Bakersfield.
Played for the New Zealand teams that finished 4th at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland (averaged 6.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game).
Played three games for the New Zealand NBL championship winning Wellington Saints in 2025.
Led Wellington College to the 2023 Secondary Schools National Championships title and to 4th place at the 2024 tournament – named to the Tournament Team at both events.
Career GP 26 GS 2 Points 124
Aaron Sievert (Lafayette College)
A prolific scorer in high school basketball at Northcote College in Auckland, Sievert moves to Lafayette after playing two years at Casper College.
He played 57 games with 48 starts at Casper where in his second year (2025-26) he amassed 517 points at 16.7ppg making 89/218 threes at 41%.
Played on the New Zealand U21 3×3 team in 2025 and in 2023 he was a member of the Harbour team that won the U19 National Championship.
JUNIORS
Isaiah Chappell (University of California, Davis)
Played all 33 games for the Aggies in 2025-26 with 18 starts – scored a career high 20 points against Seattle University.
Chappell, the son of Mike Chappell an American forward who played for the New Zealand Breakers, was educated at Crossroads School for Art and Sciences in Santa Monica, California.
Born in Auckland the 6’9” (206cm) forward was named to the New Zealand team for the 2022 FIBA Asian Championship but unfortunately the team had to withdraw from that tournament. The team also included current collegiate players Tom Beattie, Hunter Adam, and Charlie Dalton.
Career GP 54 GS 18 Points 328
Julius Halaifonua (Oklahoma State University)
Enjoyed a standout 2025-26 season at Georgetown University before opting to transfer. Led the Hoyas in field goal percentage (113 from 186 at 61%) and blocks (23) while averaging 9.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Became the 8th youngest ever Tall Blacks debutant, at 17 years, 292 days, when making his mark against Hong Kong with 4 points, 4 rebounds in 2024.
Played for New Zealand at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland. Averaged 10.6 points and 5.4 rebounds as the team earned a 4th placed finish at the tournament – had 15 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks in the semi-final against the USA.
Out of Harbour Basketball and Rosmini College Halaifonua spent his last two high school years at the NBA Global Academy in Canberra.
Career GP 38 GS 28 Points 321
Will Shortt (Northern Kentucky University)
Made 61 appearance over two seasons for Niagara University. Last season started 25 of 30 games and posted a career high 22 points against Quinnipiac.
Led the team in blocks (26), was second highest rebounder (4.4rpg) and also averaged 6.5 points per game.
Shortt graduated from Auckland Grammar School in 2022 before heading to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida for the 2023/24 varsity season.
The 6’8” (203cm) forward played for New Zealand at two FIBA events in 2022 – the FIBA U16 Asian Championships and the FIBA U17 World Cup in Spain. At the World Cup he averaged 5 points and was the Kiwis third highest rebounder averaging 5 boards per game.
Career GP 61 GS 25 Points 308
Kahuranaki ‘Kahu’ Treacher (Oregon State University)
The Hawkes Bay local spent his last two high school years at St Albans School in Washington DC before playing two years at Eastern Arizona Junior College.
In his second year (2025-26) at Eastern Arizona he averaged 13.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. He now embarks on his first Division I season at Oregon State University.
Played for the New Zealand team that finished 4th at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland.
Also played 11 games for the Hawke’s Bay Hawks in the NZNBL.
SENIORS
Hunter Adam (University of Portland)
Played 98 games in a three-year career at Davidson College Wildcats before shifting to the University of Portland for the upcoming season.
During those three years he tallied 386 points and 224 rebounds. The Cantabrian is poised to become just the 20th Kiwi to play 100 Men’s NCAA Division I games.
Adam concluded his successful junior career in 2022 by leading Christ’s College to the Secondary Schools National Championship and Canterbury to the U19 National Championship. Scooped the MVP Award at both Tournaments.
Also played for Canterbury Rams in the 2022 Sal’s NBL making 12 appearances.
Career GP 98 GS 7 Points 386
Tom Beattie (UC San Diego)
Started all 34 games for the University of California San Diego in 2025-26 where he averaged 10.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and a team high 3.4 assists per game. Poised to play his 100th NCAA Division I game.
Prior to UCSD Beattie made 60 appearances in a 2-year stint at the University of Hawaii where he was a co-captain in his sophomore year.
Beattie played 12 games for Auckland Tuatara in 2023 and also that year he was a member of the Harbour team that won the U19 National Championship where he was named to the Tournament Team.
Played for the Rosmini College team that were beaten finalists at the 2022 Secondary Schools National Championships.
Career GP 98 GS 61 Points 716
Tafara Gapare (Villanova University)
Something of a college nomad Tafara Gapare is preparing to play at his fifth university in as many years.
The former Wellington Basketball and Scots College forward played 30 games at the University of Massachusetts in his freshman year, 29 games for Georgia Tech University in as a sophomore, 32 occasions for Maryland as a junior and at Villanova last year played nine times to become the 19th New Zealander to play 100 NCAA Division I games.
He makes his fifth and final stop at Coppin State University.
Averaged 11.7 points and 4.2 rebounds for New Zealand at the 2018 FIBA U15 Oceania Championships. New Zealand beat Australia in pool play before losing 61-58 in the final – Gapare named Tournament MVP.
Career GP 100 GS 15 Points 386
Kaia Isaac (University of Portland)
Isaac played his first collegiate season (2025-26) at Tarleton State University. He moves to Portland University after playing all 32 games, with 31 starts for Tarleton.
A back-to-back NZNBL championship winner with the Canterbury Rams in 2023 and 2024.
Has played 67 games for the Rams scoring a career high 27 points against the Southland Sharks in March, 2025.
Made his Tall Blacks debut in the 2024 Asia Cup Qualifier against Chinese Taipei in Christchurch. Played all 3 games for the Tall Blacks against Australia in May 2025 – scored 14 points in the game-three win.
Younger brother Tama Isaac is a sophomore at UC Irvine.
Career GP 32 GS 31 Points 180
Akiva McBirney-Griffin (Northern Illinois University)
After an injury interrupted four years at the University of California Irvine, McBirney-Griffin has transferred to Northern Illinois University for his final collegiate year.
Hi 2025-26 season was his most productive as he made 16 starts in 34 appearances in UCI’s march to the Big West Conference regular season title.
The former Waikato and St John’s College forward played the 2020 and 2021 NBL seasons with the Otago Nuggets, winning an NBL championship in 2020.
Career GP 63 GS 24 Points 144
