Oscar Goodman has become the third Kiwi to win the NCAA Division 1 National Championship, after his Michigan Wolverines defeated the Uconn Huskies 69 to 63 in this afternoon’s national final.
The Taranaki freshman follows the footsteps of former Viriginia Cavalier and New Zealand big man, Jack Salt, in becoming just the second male to win the coveted College title.
It’s been seven years since Salt tasted sweet victory as a senior for the Cavaliers in 2019, but he finally has a fellow Kiwi he can stand beside in that honour.
Today’s national championship coming 37 years after Michigan’s last national championship, where they defeated Seton Hall in overtime 80-79, with future NBA fourth overall draft pick, Glen Rice leading the way with 31 points and 11 rebounds.
This afternoon it was Elliot Cadeau and the injured Yaxel Lendeborg who combined for 32 points to lead the Wolverines to their school’s second national championship title.
Goodman’s fellow freshman guard Trey McKenney hit the dagger, a big three with just under two minutes to play to extend the Wolverine lead to 9. It was enough to let the confetti reign on Michigan, who leave Indianapolis National Champions.
Although only appeared in 16 games throughout the season, Goodman’s ceiling at the College level has been shown in glimpses with a number of his signature highlight reel jams.
Goodman’s championship win comes just one day after Charlisse Leger-Walker and her UCLA Bruins won their school’s first women’s national championship title. To even just see Kiwi representation in both National Championship games is unheard of, to now triple New Zealand’s NCAA Division One champions in the space of two days is truly unprecdented.
General Manager of High Performance, Paul Downes, reflecting on an incredible time in New Zealand Basketball history.
“From a High Performance perspective, this season has been remarkable.”
Downes not only highlighted the achievements of both Goodman and Leger-Walker, but how both handled themselves in their respective programmes.
“I feel what makes the achievements of Oscar and Charlisse significant is not just that two New Zealanders have won NCAA titles it is also that they have done so at different stages of their journeys. They have done it in different programmes, under different pressures.”
Leger-Walker, of course, transferring from Washington State University where she made an incredible impact before joining up with the Bruins, while Goodman’s completion of his freshman year couldn’t have ended on a better note.
He also highlighted the significant achievements of two other Kiwi’s across the College Hoops world this season.
“What we are seeing across the college landscape is the compounding effect of sustained investment in our pathways, clarity around identity, and alignment between domestic development and international opportunity. Two national champions in the same season, alongside some truly notable performances from other New Zealand athletes is evidence that our people are ready to contribute from the start. We feel Lauren Whittaker’s freshman year at Gonzaga and Bailey Flavell’s impact at Hawai‘i are excellent examples here.”
Lauren Whittaker’s incredible standout freshman year at Gonzaga that saw her take home the WAC’s Freshman and Player of the Year honours. Bailey Flavell was also the recipient of the Big West’s Freshman of the Year award, making her the second Kiwi in a row to win this award behind her Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine teammate, Ritorya Tamilo.
It’s an incredible time for the next generation of aspiring athletes to be witnessing, with the blueprints for achieving at the College level now at the forefront for many.
“Charlisse and Oscar do not represent overnight success. We feel they represent the commitment and dedication in their craft that is needed to excel on and off the court where they have earned the opportunity to be in programmes that compete for National titles. For young athletes in Aotearoa, their highly visible achievements make the pathway tangible.”
Downes, excited for what the future will hold for the next batch of Kiwi hoopers in College.
“They have demonstrated that if you stay invested in your craft and embrace the long game then opportunities at the highest level can follow. Excitingly we believe that such success is not just possible, but repeatable.”
