Rookie Stacey Thomas lands T&T Top Player Award

Here is the review of Trinidad and Tobago overseas-based players for week-ending 5 November 2023. The first five listed players had outstanding performances with similar game ranking scores.

Eventually, The Top Player Award goes to US-born 6-8 forward Stacey Thomas with mixed results in his rookie professional season. On November 1, Thomas tallied 15pts, 3rebs, 2asts & 1blk as #9 Stariy Lutsk (3-5) suffered a 73-77 loss to #10 BIPA Odessa (2-6) in the Ukraine Super-League. Next day, Thomas shared a team high 15pts along with 7rebs, 2asts, game high 3blks & 1stl guiding Stariy Lutsk to a close 74-70 win over #6 Zaporizhye (4-4). Thomas is averaging 9.8ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.0apg, 1.1bpg & 1.1spg: 54.7%FPG & 80.0%FT in eight games.

Second is 6-4 point guard Khadeen Carrington with a team high 27pts, 2rebs, 3asts & 1stl in Israeli Hapoel Jerusalem's (1-0) home victory over Turkish Galatasaray (0-2) 99-96 in the Euro Basketball Champions League on Novermber 1. Hapoel Jerusalem will meet Benfica in the next round on November 8. Meanwhile, Haopel Jerusalem will play Haopel Be’er Sheva on November 5 & 8 as both teams begin their Israel-Winner League campaign. Carrington is averaging 27.0ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.0apg & 1.0spg: 60.0%2FPG, 50.0%3FPG & 100.0% FT in Iin the Euro Basketball Championships League.

In third is another pro-rookie, 6-2 guard Zidane Moore with 20pts, 6rebs, 5asts & 1stl as #10 Holbaek (1-6) suffered a 61-73 loss to #9 Herlev (2-6) in Denmark-BasketLigaen on November 2. Holbaek next play #8 Bears Academy Aarhus (2-5) on November 9. Moore has demonstrated his ability to compete on the Euro pro circuit since transitioning from Lewis & Clarke Community College (US Junior College). As the starting guard, he enjoys an average of 21.2ppg, 6.0rpg, 4.0apg & 1.8spg: 34.3%2FPG, 32.43FPG & 81.8%FT.

Fourth is US-born 6-5 swingman Devaughn Akoon-Purchell with a game high 21pts, 2reb & 2asts for tenth ranked Lokomotiv (3-4) in a surprised 89-64 win over 7th ranked N.Novgorod (3-3) in the Russia-VTB United League on November 4. Lokomotiv moved-up to ninth place, which they share with Parma-Pari. While, N.Novgorod dropped to the eighth position with three games lost. Lokomotiv will have a break next round. Akoon-Purchell is averaging 12.3ppg, 3.0rpg & 1.7apg: 62.5%2FPG, 33.3%3FPG & 80.0%FT.

Fifth is 7-0 center Johnny Hamilton with 14pts, game high 8rebs & 3blks, along with one steal but Turkish Bursaspor (02) still went under 75-95 to Pinar Karsiyaka (2-0) in the Euro Basketball Champions League (BCL) on November 5. Bursaspor next play Israel Hapoel Holon (1-0) on November 8. Hamilton is averaging 10.5ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.0apg & 3.5bpg: 76.9%2FPG & 33.3%FT in the BCL and 10.8ppg, 8.8rpg & 1.6bpg: 60.5%2FPG & 66.7%FT in Turkey-BSL.

Sixth is 6-9 power forward Imru Duke who featured in two games for #12 ranked Aclala (2-4) in Spain-LEB Silver, West Conference, on November 1 and 4. In the first game, Duke registered 7pts, 2rebs, 1ast, 1blk & 1stl in 66-73 loss to #5 Albacete (4-2). The following game, Duke helped Aclala with 13pts, 4rebs, 2blks & 1stl in a 73-59 win over #13 Melilla (2-4). Aclala next play # 2Huelva CD (5-1) on November 11. Duke is averaging 9.5ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.2apg & 1.0spg: 53.7%2FPG, 15.43FPG & 58.3%FT.

Seventh is 6-9 forward/center Jabari Narcis in two losses with 6th ranked Ehime Orange Vikings (3-8) against #2 Kumamoto Volters (8-3) in Japan B-2 League, West Division, on Novermber 4 & 5. In the first game, Narcis had 4pts, 7rebs & 1stl in a 73-103 result. The following game, he tallied 9pts, 6rebs & 1ast as Ehime went under 89-97. Ehime OV will play against fifth ranked East team Fukushima (4-7) on November 10 & 11. Narcis is currently averaging 5.6ppg & 6.5rpg: 51.4%2FPG, 16.7%3FPG & 57.1% FT.

Eight is US-born 5-8 point guard Tyrell Gomez, who was held scoreless in four minutes off the bench, as bottom-ranked German Hamburg Towers (0-5) were crushed by #5 Spanish Joventut (3-2) 108-76 in the Eurocup league on October 31. Hamburg Towers will play against #3 Turkey Besiktas (4-1) on November 8. Meanwhile, 7th placed Hamburg (3-3) next game in Germany BBL is against #14 Goettingen (1-3) on November 11. Gomez is currently averaging 5.0ppg & 2.0apg: 25.0%2FPG & 33.3%3FPG in Germany BBL and 5.6ppg & 2.0apg: 60.0%2FPG, 30.4%3FPG & 50.0FT in the Eurocup.

With the NBA G League scheduled to start this week three other players with T&T heritage will be in action. These include 6-9 Malique Lewis and 6-7 Zeke Moore with Capitanes Ciudad de México and 6-7 Jules Bernard Jr who signed an An Exhibit 10 contract in October with Washington Wizards but is expected to re-sign with Capital City Go-Go.

The Player of the week selection is based on the player game's ranking through the use an efficiency stats calculation.