The Men’s NCAA Division 1 class of 2025-26 numbers 24 which is by some margin the largest ever cohort to represent New Zealand in the top echelon of collegiate basketball.
The previous record was set in the 2019-20 academic year when 20 Kiwis played Division I hoops.
Twelve of the 25-26 intake are playing Div 1 for the first time with half that number emanating from the team that finished fourth at the 2025 FIBA Under 19 World Cup – Lachy Crate, Oscar Goodman, Carter Hopoi, Tama Isaac, Hayden Jones and Troy Plumtree.
Another freshman is Carter Berg-McLean while fellow Wellingtonian Cory Lovell suits up after previously playing in junior college.
Others appearing in Division I this season, having negotiated a route through NAIA, NCAA Division 2 and JUCO are Walter Brown, Kaia Isaac, Kael Robinson and Kiani Saxon.
*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.
NCAA Division I Men
FRESHMEN
Carter Berg-McLean, G (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.
Played 2 games for the Wellington Saints in 2023. Scored 7 points on debut against the Hawks.
Lachy Crate, G/F (Murray State University)
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- averaging 5.9 points per game – having previously played for his home town Manawatu Jets.
Had played 36 NBL games at the conclusion of the 2025 season.
Playing for Feilding High School, Crate was the second highest scorer at the 2024 Secondary Schools National Championship averaging 31 points per game.
Oscar Goodman, F (University of Michigan)
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.
He began the tournament by scoring 26 points in the opening game against Turkey and finished with 25 points in the bronze medal game against the same opposition. He posted a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds against Lithuania and scored in double figures in every game bar the loss to the USA.
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 be invited to the elite residential basketball training centre.
He was named to the Tall Blacks team for two FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers – in the Philippines and in Christchurch against Chinese Taipei in November 2024.
Carter Hopoi, F (Valparaiso University)
Played all 7 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.
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.
A member of the New Zealand team that claimed silver at the 2024 FIBA Asia Cup in Jordan. Hopoi had an outstanding tournament averaging a team high 10.3 rebounds to go with 17.0ppg.
Averaged 15.6ppg for Mount Maunganui College at the 2024 Secondary Schools National championships.
Tama Isaac, G (University of California, Irvine)
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 assists (5.0apg) and second in scoring (13.6ppg – named to the Tournament All-Second Team.
A member of the Canterbury Rams 2024 NZNBL Championship winning team. Played 15 games for the Rams in 2025 – averaged 9.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game – scored a career high 23 points against Nelson Giants in NBL ’25
Made his Tall Blacks debut, playing alongside brother Kaia, in the 2025 Asia Cup Qualifier against Hong Kong.
Named MVP at the 2025 U20 National Championships – scored 21 points and added 15 assists in the Grand Final win against Hawkes Bay.
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.
Hayden Jones, G (University of Wisconsin)
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).
Also played all 7 games for the New Zealand team that finished 4th at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey – averaged 11.6 points, 6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
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 on a basketball scholarship at Santa Clara University.
Troy Plumtree, F (Cal Poly State University)
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) and 4th at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey – averaged 12.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game
Played 3 games for the NZNBL championship winning Wellington Saints in 2025. Scored an NBL best 9 points on debut against Auckland Tuatara in the opening game of the 2024 NBL season.
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.
SOPHOMORES
Kaia Berridge, G (University of Evansville)
Played 29 of Evansville’s 32 games averaging 12 minutes per game. Formerly of Mt Maunganui High School and Tauranga City Basketball he spent time at Archbishop Riordan High School, California before linking up with Evansville Purple Aces who went 8-12 in the Missouri Valley Conference last season.
The 6’4” (193cm) guard played for New Zealand at two FIBA events in 2022 – the U16 Asian Championships and the U17 World Cup in Spain.
Career GP 29 GS 0 Points 35
Nic Book, F (University of South Carolina Upstate)
Nic Book, the third member of the Book family to gain a basketball scholarship (following in the footsteps of sister Amiee (CSU Fullerton & Fresno State) and brother Josh (Missouri Western State), finished third on the rebounding list for Upstate last season averaging 4 boards per game and earned 9 starts.
Attended Christ’s College in Christchurch although he spent his last two school years in the USA, initially at Westfield High School, Indiana and then Oak Hill Academy in Virginia.
He averaged 9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game at the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup in Spain.
Career GP 31 GS 9 Points 115 Rebs 124
Isaiah Chappell, F (University of California, Davis)
Made 21 appearances off the bench in his freshman season – scored a season high 10 points at Washington.
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 21 GS 0 Points 49
Julius Halaifonua, C (Georgetown University)
Played 6 games in his freshman season before suffering a season ending injury.
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 all 7 games 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 school years at the NBA Global Academy in Canberra.
Career GP 6 GS 0 Points 18
Will Shortt, F (Niagara University)
Appeared in all 31 games for the Purple Eagles last season – posted season high’s in points (12) and rebounds (11) against Saint Peter’s.
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 31 GS 0 Points 113 Rebs 61
JUNIORS
Hunter Adam, G (Davidson College)
Has appeared in all 65 games played by the Wildcats in the last two seasons scoring a season best 11 points on two occasions in the 2024-25 campaign – averaged 3.2 points and 2.7 rebound per game.
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 65 GS 7 Points 198 Rebs 146
Tom Beattie, G (UC San Diego)
After 2 years and 60 appearances for the University of Hawaii Beattie has transferred to University of California San Diego, the reigning Big West Conference champions.
Beattie will be hoping to have as much success with the Tritons as Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones enjoyed in 2024-25.
As a co-captain Beattie started 24 of Hawaii’s 31 games in his sophomore season. Averaged 7.4 points per game with a season high 16 points against San Jose State. Was second on the team in total assists (49).
Beattie played 12 games for Auckland Tuatara in the 2023 Sal’s NBL scoring a season high 15 points against the Otago Nuggets. Also in 2023 he was a member of the North Harbour team that won the Aon 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 Championship.
Career GP 60 GS 27 Points 342
Cory Lovell, F (Stonehill College)
The former Hutt International High School forward initially headed to Italy to attend College Prep Academy.
From Italy he headed to Harcum College in Philadelphia with Lovell helping the Bears to a 23-7 record in 2024-25. He anchored the team’s defence with 39 total blocks. In addition averaged 8.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
Akiva McBirney-Griffin, F (University of California, Irvine)
McBirney-Griffin played 28 games in his freshman season as UCI clinched a share of the Big West Conference Regular Season title in 2022-23.
Since then however his career has been plagued by misfortune and he has missed both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons due to injury.
The former Waikato and St John’s College, Hamilton forward played the 2020 and 2021 NBL seasons with the Otago Nuggets, winning an NBL championship in 2021.
Career GP 29 GS 8 Points 66
SENIORS
Walter Brown, F (University of Nevada, Las Vegas)
The changing face of NCAA eligibility sees Brown suiting up for UNLV despite having played three years as a professional.
During those three years he won back-to-back NZNBL championships with the Canterbury Rams in 2023 and 2024 – named 2023 NBL Youth Player of the Year.
Has played 85 games for the Rams scoring a career high 25 points against the Southland Sharks in 2025.
A Development Player for the Tasmanian Jack Jumpers from 2022-25 winning an ANBL championship with the Jackies in the 2023-24 season.
His good domestic form in 2023 propelled him into the Tall Blacks team for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Played all 3 games for the Tall Blacks against Australia in May 2025 – scored 9 points in the game-three win.
Ahmed Essahatay, G (Southeastern Louisiana University)
After 18 months at Long Island University the former Onslow College and Scots College guard transferred to Southeastern Louisiana University for his junior year. He made 27 appearances in 2024-25.
In his time at Long Island he started in half of his 26 appearances. He debuted against Stonehill College in January 2023 and scored a career high 12 points against the same opponents in January 2024.
Career GP 53 GS 13 Points 142
Tafara Gapare, F (Villanova University)
The college merry-go-round continues for Tafara Gapare as he prepared to play at his fourth 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 and in 2024-25 suited on 32 occasions for Maryland – scored a season high 19 points against Bucknell.
At Georgia Tech he scored a career high 20 points against Penn State and had a team high 33 blocked shots for the season which was the 10th highest in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
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 91 GS 15 Points 360
Ben Gold, F (Marquette University)
Has played three years at Marquette University accumulating 107 appearances – the 18th Kiwi to play 100 Men’s NCAA Division I games. The Golden Eagles have been to the NCAA Tournament in all three years that Gold has been at Marquette.
He played and started all 34 games in the 2024-25 season averaging 7.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Scored a career best 17 points against Providence and pulled down a career high 13 rebounds against Xavier.
Played for the Tall Blacks at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia.
The former Tawa College wing completed his schooling by spending two years at the NBA Global Academy in Canberra – the first Kiwi to be invited to attend.
Career GP 107 GS 36 Points 531
Kaia Isaac, G (Tarleton State University)
Like Canterbury Rams teammate Walter Brown, Isaac has been granted college eligibility despite having played four years as a professional with the Canterbury Rams.
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.
Finn Lally, F (College of William & Mary)
Following two strong seasons playing junior college (JUCO) the former Waikato Basketball and St John’s College alum played his first Division I season for the College of William & Mary in 2024-15 – made 20 appearances.
His season best performance was against Virginia Lynchburg when he had 12 points and 9 rebounds.
In the 2023-24 season he averaged 9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game for Trinidad State College Trojans, scoring a career high 30 points, as the Trojans advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament.
Played for New Zealand at the 2019 FIBA U17 Oceania Championships in New Caledonia – averaged 5.4 points and 3.8 rebounds on the silver medal winning team.
Career GP 20 GS 0 Points 68
GRADUATE SENIORS (5th Year)
Kael Robinson, G/F (Northern Kentucky University)
Having played three years at Rocky Mountain College, Robinson played the 2024-25 season at Montana State Billings where he was named to the All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference First Team after averaging 17.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.
Ahead of his first venture into NCAA Division I hoops Robinson has accumulated 1,600 points, 563 rebounds, 278 assists and 97 steals in 112 collegiate games.
The former St John’s College, Hamilton wing played 14 games for the Wellington Saints in 2021 and 15 for Franklin Bulls in 2022.
Kiani Saxon, F (Wyoming University)
Also playing NCAA Division I basketball for the first time is Kiani Saxon.
Spent his first two collegiate seasons with Louisiana State University Eunice (JUCO) before transferring to Missouri Western State (NCAA Division II).
Played and started in all 31 games for Missouri Western in 2024-25 – averaged 6.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and a block per game.
The former Liston College forward played for the Auckland Huskies in 2021 in the Sal’s NBL and also represented Harbour at the U23 Nationals in 2023.
*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.
