Jabari Narcis lands T&T Top Player Award

Here is the review of Trinidad and Tobago overseas-based players for week-ending 3 December 2023.

The Top Player Award goes to 6-9 forward/center Jabari Narcis despite featuring in two losing efforts with West Division #7 Ehime Orange Vikings (5-14) against #5 Nishinomiya Storks (11-8) in Japan B-2 League on December 1 and 2. In the first game, Narcis had a double-double 12pts & game high 13rebs, a shared game high 3blks & 2asts as his team was dominated 66-90. The following day, Narcis had another double of 21pts & game high 18rebs in a 66-77 result. Ehime OV will meet at home #3 Aomori Watts (11-8) on December 9 & 10. Narcis is currently averaging 8.1ppg & 7.8rpg: 53.8%2FPG, 27.0%3FPG & 57.6% FT.

Second is 6-9 Kadeem Jack with mixed results during the week. In the first game, Jack contributed 18pts, 8rebs, 3asts, 2blks & 2asts as P.Zvaigzdes edged 11th ranked Nevezis (1-10) in Lithuania-LKL on November 27. In another game, Jack had a double-double 19pts & a shared game high 10rebs along with 3blks. 1ast, 3blks & 1stl in a losing effort, 83-86, at home against #7 Neptunas (6-6). Eight-ranked P.Zvaigzdes (4-8) next play #3 Rytas (10-2) on December 9. Jack is averaging 17.1ppg, 8.8rpg & 1.6bpg: 56.8%2FPG & 58.0%FT.

Third is 6-8 forward Malique Lewis with a 2-1 record coming off the bench for Capitanes Ciudad de México (4-3) during the week against three Western Conference rivals in the NBA G League. On November 30, Lewis contributed 2rebs in 13mins as Capitanes scored a narrow 111-109 win against Rio Grande Valley Vipers. In the return game on December 1, Lewis had 9pts, 8rebs & 1stl in a 104-110 losing effort. Two days after, Lewis filled the stats with 23pts, 9rebs, 1ast, 1blk & 1stl as Capitanes dominated Austin Spurs 155-109. Capitanes will play Austin Spurs again on December 5 and OKC Blue on December 10. Lewis is currently averaging 7.9ppg & 7.0rpg: 63.9%%2FPG, 25.9%3FPG & 80.0%FT.

Fourth is 7-0 center Johnny Hamilton with 7pts, 9rebs, 1blk & 1stl as 4th placed Turkey’s Bursaspor (1-3) went under 75-93 to first ranked Israeli Hapoel Holon (3-1) the Euro Basketball Champions League (BCL) on November 29. Bursaspor will play against 3rd placed Spanish team Rio Breogan (2-2) on December 6. In the Turkey-BSL on December 3, Hamilton had a double-double 13pts & 10rebs along with 4asts & a team high 3blks in a shocked 91-85 road loss to eleventh ranked Tofas (5-5). Fifth placed Bursaspor (6-4) next play #15 Merkezefendi (2-8) on December 10 in the Turkey-BSL. Hamilton is averaging 12.8ppg, 8.2rpg, 1.3apg & 1.8bpg: 65.4%2FPG & 68.8%FT in Turkey-BSL and 9.3ppg, 5.3rpgm & 2.7bpg: 70.6%2FPG & 57.1%FT in the BCL.

Fifth is 6-7 Jules Bernard Jr with 22pts, 8rebs & 3asts for #6 Capital City Go-Go (5-3) in a losing effort, 99-103, against #9 Maine Celtics (5-4) in the NBA G League, Eastern Conference, on December 3. Capital City next play Greensboro Swam (2-8) on December 5 and 7. Bernard is averaging 22.3ppg, 7.7rpg, 4.2apg & 1.0spg: 53.8%2FPG, 42.9%3FPG & 93.3%FT.

Sixth is 6-9 power forward Imru Duke with 17pts, 5rebs, 1blk & 2stls in a losing effort, 74-86, with #7 Aclala (4-5) against #6 Huesca (5-5) in Spain-LEB Silver, West Conference, on December 2. Duke made a significant contribution of 15pts, 8rebs, 4asts & 2blks. Aclala next play #11 Ponferrada (4-6) on December 9. Duke is averaging 11.4ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.6apg, 1.apg, 1.0bpg & 1.1spg: 58.4%2FPG, 23.8%3FPG & 45.0%FT.

Seventh is 6-9 forward/center US-born Theo John with a double-double 12pts & 10rebs along with 2asts, 2blks & 1stl as Groningen suffered a close 70-72 loss to ZZ Leiden in Holland BNXT League on November 28. Groningen next play Leeuwarden and Den Helder on December 6 and 9, respectively. John is averaging 9.2ppg, 7.6rpg, 2.9apg & 2.0bpg: 58.5%2FPG, 37.5%3FPG & 53.3% FT.

Eight is US-born 6-5 swingman Devaughn Akoon-Purchell with a game high 19pts, 4rebs, 2asts & 2stls in leading #5 Lokomotiv (9-5) to an 82-75 upset victory at home over #2 UNICS (9-4) in the Russia-VTB United League on December 2. Lokomotiv will play against #9 Parma-Pari (7-8) and #11 MBA Moscow (5-9) on December 6 and 9, respectively. Akoon-Purchell is averaging 16.7ppg, 4.1rpg & 2.2apg: 60.3%2FPG, 40.0%3FPG & 86.7%FT.

Ninth is 6-4 point guard Khadeen Carrington with 17pts, 4rebs, 1ast & 1stl as 2nd ranked Israeli Hapoel Jerusalem (3-1) scored an 85-70 road win over 3rd ranked Turkish Galatasaray (1-2) in the Euro Basketball Champions League on November 30. Carrington is averaging 15.0ppg, 2.3rpg & 2.5apg: 54.2%2FPG, 50.0%3FPG & 80.0% FT in the Euro Basketball Championships League.

Tenth is 6-2 guard Zidane Moore with 11pts, 3asts & 1rb as #9 Holbaek (2-8) was trounced 52-109 by top ranked Bakken (9-0) in Denmark-BasketLigaen on November 29. Holbaek will meet #5 Randers (6-4) on December 8. Moore is averaging 18.1ppg, 5.0rpg, 3.8apg & 1.6spg: 33.3%2FPG, 36.8FPG & 75.0%FT.

Eleventh is 6-8 forward Shakeil Bertrand who featured in two losses with Northeastern State University (NSU). In their first conference game, Bernard had a rebound and an assist in a 43-65 loss against Fort Hays State University in their first Mid-America Intercollegiate, NCAA Division 2, on November 30. In the other game, he grabbed 4rebs in an 82-85 result against University of Nebraska-Kearney on December 2. NSU next play Emporia State University on December 9. Bertrand is averaging 2.2ppg & 1.8rpg: 71.4%FT & 50.0%FT.

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