 Young New Zealand basketballers earning scholarships to the United States to pursue their educations and further their basketball careers are not uncommon. In fact, New Zealand is something of a nursery of world class young talent, with over 70 women and more than 50 men currently in various basketball-scholarship programmes Stateside. Combining basketball talent with a genuine calling in academia is not so common however, but 18-year-old Isaac Letoa will do just that when the Junior Tall Black, former Breakers Academy and current Wellington Saints guard takes up a full academic scholarship with Ivy League Dartmouth College. For some time identified as a real talent in the game, Letoa was a member of the Junior Tall Blacks that scored an upset (and first ever) win over Australia in the 2016 Oceania Championships to earn a spot at the FIBA Junior World Cup in July this year. Not surprising for a player who would grab the attention of the Ivy Leagues, Letoa did his research and jumped at the chance to spend the next few years at Dartmouth. “I researched and realized pretty quickly that a degree from an Ivy League school could open up so many doors in the future. Their Alumni system is so well respected in the States and in many parts of the world. I felt like I would never regret this choice. Of the East Coast Ivies that approached, we looked at their rosters and researched the coaches and thought Dartmouth would be a good fit. They are Division 1, but I wasn't too worried about that, a good Division 2 would have been okay as well.” Letoa had to decide from multiple offers and has made one Head Coach a very happy man with his call to sign with Dartmouth. “We are thrilled to have Isaac become a member of our program and Dartmouth Family,” said Dartmouth Men’s Basketball Head Coach David McLaughlin. “He embodies so much of what we look for when evaluating: A love for the game, a winning and competitive approach every time he is on the court, high basketball acumen, and a work ethic where he truly wants to get better each day. Isaac is a young man of very high character who we feel will have an immediate impact on our team and within the Dartmouth community.” When considering who to thank for helping him reach this point in his life and basketball career, Letoa had a long list to ponder. “Without question my family deserves full acknowledgment. My father (Fata) has been closely involved having been a coach and a mentor throughout the majority of my life. Jordan, my older brother, has had a similar role but uniquely he helped to install a competitive spirit in me. Getting beaten in nearly everything we competed in, you learn to hate losing. My Mother (Paula) has very much had a behind the scenes impact that she doesn’t really get credit for, she has worked extremely hard to support my goals whether they’re basketball-related or not. “All my extended family and friends who have contributed so much to fundraisers and in many other ways over the years. I wouldn’t have got this far if it weren’t for them helping me get overseas to be seen. “Shawn Beck who took the time to organise the initial contact and endorse me as a person which led to this opportunity. Wellington College and Westlake Boys High School for preparing me academically, supporting my basketball and encouraging me to take leadership opportunities. Also, the Westlake Old Boys Association (the Westlakers) for their support and encouragement. “Judd Flavell and Mike Fitchett in their roles as Breakers Academy coaches shaped me as a player, encouraging me as person and putting me forward for consideration to overseas Nike NBA and Adidas Nations camps. John Hunt from the North Harbour Association for the great Rep programme and his support of me and my family over the last three years. “BBNZ for providing opportunities to compete at a high level from Korus, to New Zealand age groups, 3x3 and now JTBs. And to the many coaches I have had over the years - I have learnt something from each one, including Kevin Braswell who is really pushing me at Saints training and helping me to prepare for College ball.” Letoa will study engineering at Dartmouth (relating to Product/Industrial Design) and is looking forward to living on campus and making the most of a wonderful opportunity. “Over 90% of the students live on campus at Dartmouth, which is apparently quite rare and also makes the atmosphere pretty good. Your name is drawn 'out of a hat' and you’re placed into a dorm 'cluster' like a high school house group. You stay within that cluster of dorms for the rest of your college years although some choose to move in to fraternity and sorority houses. “I want to make the most of this fantastic opportunity, gain an Ivy League degree, contacts for life and of course, some competitive basketball. I’ve always aspired to play the sport professionally wherever my talents/ability takes me.” The family is extremely proud of Isaac, with dad Fata speaking on their behalf. “Paula, Jordan and I are incredibly proud of this opportunity as we have seen first-hand the consistency of dedication and effort that has led to it. Isaac and others like him play sport for school, region, country and sometimes club resulting in many trainings per week and still muster the energy consistently to keep up with, and at times excel in schoolwork. “But as he'll be the first to say, none of it would be possible without the huge support of our extended families, the Breakers, the fantastic teachers and staff at Westlake Boys, and the many friends and supporters who have dipped into their pockets for countless fundraisers to get him overseas over the years. It has definitely been a big team effort and we're hugely grateful. “We want to acknowledge his brother Jordan especially, who has played a huge role in the family over what has been a tough year. Both our sons are made of tough stuff and shine in their own ways and once again, we just couldn't be prouder of them.” Player Bio: Isaac Letoa • Full name: Isaac Kobe Letoa • Date of Birth: 2 August 1998 • Height: 185cm (6"1) • Playing Position: Point Guard • Home town: Wellington/Auckland • Home Club/Association: North Harbour • School attended in NZ: Wellington College and Westlake Boys High School • Provincial and National teams represented: Wellington: U13 2007-2010, U15 2011 & 2012, U17 2013 Auckland: U17 2014, U19 2015 (DNP 2016) New Zealand: U16 2014, U17 2014, U18 2014, 3x3 2016, JTB 2016 • College signed to: Dartmouth College, NCAA Division 1  The Secondary Schools 3x3 National Slam, which serves as a delicious appetizer for the 2017 Secondary Schools season, reached a climax in Tauranga on Saturday with four titles contested.
And what a starter the Senior Boys final proved to be – a re-match of the 2016 AA National Secondary Schools Grand Final between Palmerston North Boys High School and Rangitoto College with a number of protagonists from that epic game featuring strongly. Palmerston had Callum McRae, Oscar Oswald and Haize Walker harnessing their effort against Dan Fotu, Zack Te Puni and Logan Anderson locking the Rangitoto 3x3 three-peat quest. Fotu scored the first point of the final and then added a two after baskets from McRae and Oswald. Back to back scores from Walker and Oswald gave Palmerston an 8-6 lead but Fotu tied the game at the 5 minutes mark, 8-8. Harry Clarke gave Rangi a 13-10 lead with 4 minutes to play but Walker struck back again. Te Puni executed an athletic block then knocked down a free-throw to make it 16-12 with under three to play. McCrae reduced the deficit to 16-14, but Fotu (10pts) and Te Puni (7pts) had the final say to clinch a third consecutive title for Rangitoto, the final score 20-16. An exhausted Fotu was delighted with the win, “The boys played well even though we were fatigued. I have a knee injury, which has been troubling me for a month now, but the other boys more than made up for what I was unable to do. We are all year 13’s at Rangi so it was nice to win the trophy in our last 3x3 season together.” Earlier in the semi-finals Rangitoto beat a well drilled St Kentigern College 18-11 and Palmerston North Boys High had to come from behind to beat Westlake Boys High School 15-11. The Senior Girls final was an all Waikato affair between St Peter’s School, Cambridge and Melville High School. After an early Melville score via Kaylee Smiler, Ella Bradley made consecutive points then Jaz Ellis made a baseline jumper to edge Melville back ahead 3-2. Kharmen Kereama stretched the lead further, but then Charlisse Leger-Walker and Rylee Godbold took charge. The pair made a number of key plays to grasp the lead for St Peter’s and then hold off Melville to close out a hard fought 12-9 victory. Leger-Walker was delighted with her team’s effort “We had to play with just three players after Jayze Waihi got a fractured wrist, so it was a really good performance - the rest of us had to step up. “It’s also nice to add the 3x3 trophy to the AA National title we won in October,” she added. Both Senior Girls semi-finals were nail biters with Melville beating local rivals Hamilton Girls High School 9-8 and St Peter’s squeezing home 18-17 against Westlake Girls Red. In the Junior Boys semi-finals, Rosmini College Blue held off a fast finishing St Thomas of Canterbury College 18-16 and St John’s College Hamilton beat surprise package Te Aroha College 13-9. Rosmini’s Taine Murray opened the scoring in the final but the athletic Finn Lally responded for St John’s. Ezra Harris gave St John’s a 4-3 advantage, but Murray maintained Rosmini’s momentum with three straight points. Josef Schnuriger gave Rosmini an 8-5 mid point lead but a steal and athletic drive from Kobe Olsen-Matara reduced the arrears to 10-8. Thomas Morgan stretched the Rozza advantage and the outstanding Murray (9 points) capped off a fine team performance by making the last play to seal an 11-8 win for Rosmini. In the Junior Girls semi-finals Melville High defeated Westlake Girls Red 11-9 and Kavanagh College, Dunedin proved too good for St Mary’s College, Ponsonby winning 12-5. Kavanagh, flying the flag for Otago, fell behind to an early Leila Hemi Ta’Ala double, but fought back through Dre Whaanga, Anita Samasoni and Annabelle Ring. With five minutes to play Melville led 11-6 as Aria Cowley and Kaeya Hereaka made points. Cowley stretched the lead to 14-8 then wrapped up the win with a banked right hander. Ta’Ala led all scorers with 10 points as Kavanagh closed out an impressive 15-8 win The 3x3 Slam Dunk competition was won by Zack Te Puni (Rangitoto College). The 3x3 3-point shooting contest was won by Hayden Druce (Long Bay College). FINAL PLACINGS Placing Junior Girls Final Team Placing 1: Melville High School 2: Kavanagh College 3: St Marys College, Ponsonby 4: Westlake Girls High School Red 5: Hamilton Girls High School 6: Rotorua Girls High School 7: Westlake Girls High School Green 8: Rangitoto College 9: Saint Kentigern College 10: Bethlehem College 11: St Peters School, Cambridge 12: Long Bay College Junior Girls Final Officials Jade Matenga & Josh Adamson Placing Senior Girls Final Team Placing 1: St Peters School, Cambridge Red 2: Melville High School 3: Westlake Girls High School Red 4: Hamilton Girls High School 5: Massey High School 1 6: Rotorua Girls High School 7: Massey High School 3 8: Aquinas College 9: Ashburton College 10: Massey High School 2 11: Buller High School 12: St Dominics Catholic College 13: Kavanagh College 14: Pukekohe High School 15: Westlake Girls High School Green 16: St Peters School, Cambridge Blue Senior Girls Final Officials Alex Pou Poassa & Julie Adamson Junior Boys Final Team Placing 1: Rosmini College Blue 2: St Johns College, Hamilton 3: Te Aroha College 4: St Thomas of Canterbury College 5: Rotorua Boys High School 6: Saint Kentigern College 7: Rongotai College 8: St Peters School, Cambridge 9: Long Bay College 10: Rosmini College White 11: Aquinas College 12: Wanganui High School 13: Bethlehem College 14: Tai Wananga 14: Kavanagh College Junior Boys Final Officials Tamatea Bennett & Jo Ogle Senior Boys Final Team Placing 1: Rangitoto College Blue 2: Palmerston North Boys High School 3: Westlake Boys High School 4: Saint Kentigern College 5: Rongotai College Blue 6: Rongotai College Gold 7: Feilding High School 7: Long Bay College 8: Rangitoto College Red 9: Aotea College 10: St Peters School, Cambridge 11: Pukekohe High School 12: Rotorua Boys High School 13: St Johns College, Hamilton 14: St Pauls Collegiate, Hamilton 15: Aquinas College 16: Tai Wananga 17: Wanganui High School 18: Kavanagh College 19: Papamoa College Senior Boys Final Officials Crystal Bidois & Devina Banks Dunk Champion Zack Te Puni – Rangitoto College Blue 3 point Champion Hayden Druce – Long Bay College |
CategoriesArchives
October 2023
|
RSS Feed
OrganisationCollege Sport Media is dedicated to telling the story of successful young sportspeople in New Zealand
|