Imports to bring oomph to Nuggets; coach ‘really excited’
BASKETBALL
THE Otago Nuggets have added some significant starpower to their roster.
Isaiah Moss has been announced as the team’s second import.
A 1.96m shooting guard, Moss has signed with the Nuggets after an impressive college career in the United States.
The 24yearold joins Australian forward Geremy McKay, who was unveiled as the side’s other import earlier this week.
Both signings are contingent on the Government granting the league a critical workers exemption for its imports.
Moss played three years at the University of Iowa, before transferring to the University of Kansas for his final year last season.
Notably Kansas was ranked as the No 1 team in college basketball when Covid19 ended the season.
During that year he averaged 7.9 points per game and 2.3 rebounds.
He showed himself to be an exceptional shooter — he averaged more than 37.8% from the threepoint line over his college career — while also being a solid defender.
Highly regarded Kansas coach Bill Self even went as far to say that the team would not have been where it was without Moss.
He also once scored 19 points in the final 96 seconds of a game for Iowa, nearly hauling in lategame 14point deficit against Minnesota in the process.
Nuggets coach Brent Matehaere was thrilled with the signing.
‘‘He’s going to certainly create some space for people to be able to play, they won’t be able to hang off him too much,’’ he said.
‘‘He’s certainly a skilled shooter, so really excited, it’s something that really suits what we’re trying to do this year.’’
Alongside that, Matehaere said Moss was capable of playing with the ball in his hands, something he had done more of at Iowa.
At the other end he was prepared to take the tough defensive assignments, which was important for the Nuggets too.
However, it was the smaller things that had made Moss catch Matehaere’s eye.
‘‘What really impressed me is the key things that stand out to me when I watch those little clips before I watch a whole game are when they make a basket what’s the next thing they do?
‘‘The next thing Isaiah does is basically pick up on defence.
‘‘He’s finding his player, moment to moment he’s playing the game the whole time.
‘‘We can really see that’s entrenched in the way he plays.
‘‘That’s exactly what we’re looking for in our players as well.’’
Moss and McKay join Sam Timmins, Matthew Bardsley and Pafe Momoisea as confirmed signings for the team.
The Wellington Saints also announced an import yesterday, Kerwin Roach being set to join the perennial contenders.
The season is set to begin on April 24, when the Nuggets host the Saints at the Edgar Centre.
OTAGO’S Sam Timmins has made a solid start to his stint in Estonia.
Timmins has played three games for TLU/Kalev in the EstoniaLatvia basketball league, having joined the team at the end of last year.
The centre, who will return to play for the Otago Nuggets, had 14 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in his last outing — a twopoint loss.
He had six points in each of his first two games, to go with 10 and seven rebounds.
TLU/Kalev, which is based in the Estonian capital city of Tallinn, is coming 11th in the 13team league.
Meanwhile, guard Benoit Hayman is continuing his impressive career in Switzerland.
In his third season with Nyon in the Swiss top league, he is averaging 11.2 points, 3.3 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Hayman posted 23 points, six assists and five rebounds in his latest outing, a narrow loss.
Nyon is battling at the bottom of the table, having managed just one win.
In the United States, Oamaru’s Matt Brien has delivered some handy performances for the University of Nebraska Kearney, in the NCAA division two.
He is averaging 6.5 points per game, to go with 4.4 rebounds per game.
Last week he had 16 points and six rebounds against Missouri Western.
The team has won four of its 11 games.