Jules Bernard Jr retains T&T Top Player Award

Here is the review of Trinidad and Tobago overseas-based players for week-ending 19 November 2023.

The Top Player Award remains to 6-7 Jules Bernard Jr in a dominating display for Capital City Go-Go (3-2) in the NBA G League. In the first game, Bernard missed a triple-triple finishing with 25 pts along with a team high 10rebs & 8asts but in a tough losing effort, 116-120, against Delaware Blue Coats on November 13. Two days after, he filled the stats sheet with 21pts, 6rebs, 3asts, 3stls & 1blk guiding his team 120-114 revenge win against Delaware. In first game versus College Park Skyhawks, Bernard chipped in with 12pts, 2rebs & 3asts in a 111-105 triumph on November 18. In the return game on the following day, he tallied a team high double-double of 24pts & 10rebs with 4ats, 3sts & 1blk in a 104-110 loss. Capital City next play Raptors 905 (0-5) on November 25 and 27. Bernard is averaging 22.4ppg, 7.6rpg, 4.4apg & 1.2spg: 47.12FPG, 48.3%3FPG & 91.7%FT.

Second is US-born 6-5 swingman Devaughn Akoon-Purchell with a team high 22pts & 7rebs plus 2asts, 1blk & 1stl guiding #6 Lokomotiv (6-5) to an 85-63 win over #13 Avtodor (3-8) in the Russia-VTB United League on November 19. Lokomotiv next play #5 Runa Basket Russia (6-2) and #14 Minsk (0-11) on November 19 & 26, respectively. Akoon-Purchell is averaging 16.3ppg, 4.2rpg & 2.3apg: 68.6%2FPG, 39.3%3FPG & 81.0%FT.

Third is 6-9 power forward Imru Duke with 15pts & a game high 8rebs along with 1ats, 1blk & 2stls as #7 Aclala (4-4) scored a 78-72 win over #11 La Roda (2-6) in Spain-LEB Silver, West Conference, on November 18. Aclala next play top ranked Zamora (7-1) on November 25. Duke is averaging 10.3ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.5apg & 1.1spg: 55.9%2FPG, 18.8%3FPG & 38.9%FT.

Fourth is 6-9 Kadeem Jack with 19pts, 8rebs, 1ast & 3blks but #8 Pieno Zvaigzdes Pasvalys (3-7) suffered a close 88-91 loss to top ranked BC Wolves Vilnius (9-1) in Lithuania-LKL on November 18. P. Zvaigzdes next play #11 Kedainiu Nevezis-Optibet (1-8) on November 27. Jack is averaging 16.7ppg, 8.7rpg & 1.3bpg: 61.2%2FPG & 56.3%FT.

Fifth is 7-0 center Johnny Hamilton with 20pts, 4rebs, 2asts, 1blk & 1stl as #9 Bursaspor (5-3) scored a narrow 82-80 win over #10 Galatasaray (3-5) in Turkey-BSL on November 17. Bursaspor next play #16 Samsunspor (1-7) on November 26. In the Euro Basketball Champions League (BCL), Bursaspor (0-2) will play Germany Telekom Baskets Boon (2-1) on November 21. Hamilton is averaging 13.3ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.1apg & 1.6bpg: 66.2%2FPG & 71.4%FT in Turkey-BSL and 10.5ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.0apg & 3.5bpg: 76.9%2FPG & 33.3%FT in the BCL.

Sixth is teenage 6-8 forward Malique Lewis with his first double-double, 12pts & 13rebs, plus one block & a steal as Capitanes Ciudad de México (1-3) suffered their second loss, 102-108 to Eastern Conference Birmingham Squadron (3-1) in the NBA G League on November 13. In another game, Lewis had 3rebs & 2asts in a 101-105 loss to Western Conference Memphis Herd (2-4) on November 19. Capitanes play Memphis again on November 20 and Texas Legends on November 24. Lewis is currently averaging 5.8ppg & 6.3rpg: 46.2%2FPG, 25.0%3FPG & 75.0%FT.

Seventh is 6-8 forward Shakeil Bertrand with a contribution of 6pts, 2rebs & 1ast off the bench as Northeastern State University (NSU) beat Haskell Indian Nations University 92–70 in non-conference game on November 15. In the next game against The University of Texas (Tyler), Bernard had 2pts, 2rebs & 1ast in 76-63 win on November 18. NSU completes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate, NCAA Division 11. NSU next play Division 111 University of the Ozarks (Arkansas) on November 20. Bertrand is averaging 3.5ppg & 2.0rpg: 75.0%FT & 50.0%FT.

Eight is 6-9 forward/center Jabari Narcis in two losses with West Division #6 Ehime Orange Vikings (5-10) against top ranked East team Chiba (13-2) in Japan B-2 League on November 17 & 18. In the first game, Narcis was limited to 2rebs in an 82-102 result. The next game, he tallied 6pts, 9rebs & 1stl in an 80-97 loss. Ehime OV will play conference rivals #2 Shiga L-Stars (9-6) on November 25 & 26. Narcis is currently averaging 6.1ppg & 6.7rpg: 52.0%2FPG, 20.0%3FPG & 68.4% FT.

Ninth is 6-4 point guard Khadeen Carrington with 6pts, 1reb, 3asts & 1stl as Israeli Hapoel Jerusalem (2-1) suffered a close 77-79 loss to Greece PAOK (2-1)) in the Euro Basketball Champions League on November 15. Hapoel Jerusalem will meet Turkey 3rd ranked Galatasaray (1-2) on November 28. Carrington is averaging 14.3ppg, 1.7rpg & 3.0apg: 56.3%2FPG, 44.4%3FPG & 81.3% FT in the Euro Basketball Championships League.

Tenth is 6-2 guard Zidane Moore with 17pts, 5rebs, 4asts & 1stl as #10 Holbaek (2-7) suffered a 70-78 loss to #7 Vaerlose (5-5) in Denmark-BasketLigaen on November 16. Moore was efficient from beyond the arc scoring five of ten threes but went 0-5 from the 2-point range. Holbaek will meet #5 Randers (6-5) on December 8. Moore is averaging 19.1ppg, 5.6rpg, 3.9apg & 1.9spg: 33.3%2FPG, 36.0FPG & 76.9%FT.

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