Jabari Narcis retains T&T Top Player Award

Here is the review of Trinidad and Tobago overseas-based players for week-ending 10 December 2023.

The Top Player Award stays with 6-9 forward/center Jabari Narcis who remained consistent over the past two weeks in his new environment, Japan B-2 League. Narics filled the stats sheet despite two losses for West Division #7 Ehime Orange Vikings (5-16) against East Division #3 Aomori Watts (13-8) on December 9 and 10. In the first game, Narcis scored double-double 23pts along with a game high 16rebs in a narrow loss, 91-94. In the return game, Narcis registered another double of 13pts & a team high 10rebs plus 2stls in a 100-94 result. Ehime OV next play against the West Division leader Fukuoka Rizing (16-5) on December 15 & 16. Narcis is currently averaging 9.0ppg & 8.3rpg: 54.8%2FPG, 31.0%3FPG & 52.4% FT.

Second is US-born 6-6 guard Jules Bernard Jr with mixed results for #9 Capital City Go-Go (6-4) against #14 Greensboro Swam (3-10) in the NBA G League, Eastern Conference, on December 5 and 7. In the first game, Bernard had 20pts, 9rebs, high 7asts & 1stl in a one-point loss, 104-105. In the return game, he chipped in with 14pts, 5rebs, 3asts & 1stl as Capital City scored a comfortable 139-107 victory levelling the match-up 1-1.Capital City next play #10 Long Island Nets (6-5) on December 12 and 13. Bernard is averaging 21.0ppg, 7.5rpg, 4.4apg & 1.0spg: 51.9%2FPG, 42.2%3FPG & 91.4%FT.

Third is 6-9 power forward Imru Duke with 16pts, 4rebs, 1ast & 1blk, 1stl as #10 Aclala (5-6) suffered a narrow loss, 60-62, to #11 Ponferrada (5-6) in Spain-LEB Silver, West Conference, on December 9. Aclala next play top ranked Zamora (10-1) on December 13. Duke is averaging 11.8ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.5apg, 1.0bpg & 1.1spg: 58.8%2FPG, 22.7%3FPG & 57.7%FT.

Fourth is US-born 6-9 forward/center Theo John who featured in two victories with #4 Donar Groningen (6-5) in Holland BNXT League on December 6 and 9. In the first game, John contributed 5pts, 6rebs, 1ast & 2stls in a 57-52 triumph over Leeuwarden. In the next contest, he added 4pts, game highs 6asts, 9rebs & 4blks as Groningen cruise past #7 Den Helder (2-8) 75-51. Donar Groningen next play #5 BL Weert (5-5) on December 23. John is averaging 9.2ppg, 7.6rpg, 3.0apg & 2.0bpg: 56.3%2FPG, 33.3%3FPG & 57.9% FT.

Fifth is US-born 5-8 point guard Tyrell Gomez who contributed 22pts, a shared team high 5asts & 1stl in his debut game for #15 Sokol (3-9) in a 118-115 victory over #14 Arka (3-8) in Poland OBL on December 6. Gomez previously played with Hamburg in Germany BBL. Sokol next play #12 MKS DG (5-7) on December 15. Gomez is averaging 22ppg, 5apg, 1spg: 50.0%2FPG, 50.0%3FPG & 100.0%FT.

Sixth is 7-0 center Johnny Hamilton with 10pts, game high 9rebs, a shared game high 2blks & 1stl as 3rd placed Turkey Bursaspor (2-3) scored a 77-65 win over 4th ranked Spain Rio Breogan (2-3) in the Euro Basketball Champions League (BCL) on December 6. Bursaspor will play against 2nd placed Israel Hapoel Holon (3-2) on December 20. Meanwhile in the Turkey-BSL on December 10, Hamilton had 6pts & 3rebs in a shocked 85-87 loss to #15 Merkezefendi (3-8). Sixth placed Bursaspor (6-5) next play #5 Manisa (6-5) on December 17 in the Turkey-BSL. Hamilton is averaging 12.2ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.2apg & 1.6bpg: 65.9%2FPG & 64.7%FT in Turkey-BSL and 9.5ppg, 6.3rpg & 2.5bpg: 61.5%2FPG & 46.2%FT in the BCL.

Seventh is US-born 6-5 swingman Devaughn Akoon-Purchell with 17pts, 3rebs, 1ast & 2stls as #4 Lokomotiv (10-6) scored a 80-66 victory at home over #11 MBA Moscow (5-10) in the Russia-VTB United League on December 9. Three days earlier, Akkon-Purchell did not play in a 73-67 loss to #8 Parma-Pari (8-9). Lokomotiv will play against #5 Enisey (9-6) on December 14. Akoon-Purchell is averaging 16.7ppg, 4.0rpg & 2.1apg: 60.6%2FPG, 40.0%3FPG & 84.4%FT.

Eight is US-born 6-8 forward Stacey Thomas who featured in two wins with #9 Stariy Lutsk in the Ukraine Super-League on December 8 and 9. In the first game, Thomas tallied 14pts, 5rebs, 2blks, 1ast & 1stl in a 79-70 win over #6 Polit-Halychyna (6-6). Next day, he was limited to four minutes contributing 4pts & 1reb in a 72-64 win against #5 Hoverla (7-6). Thomas is averaging 9.8ppg & 5.2rpg: 53.4%2FPG, 33.3%3FPG & 68.9%FT in eight games.

Ninth is 6-9 Kadeem Jack with 12pts, 8rebs, 1blk & 1ast as #9 Pieno Zvaigzdes (4-9) went under 77-101 to #2 Rytas (11-2) in Lithuania-LKL on December 9. Pieno Zvaigzdes next play #6 Jonava (6-6) on December 16. Jack is averaging 16.6ppg, 8.7rpg & 1.6bpg: 57.3%2FPG & 57.4%FT.

Tenth is 6-8 forward Malique Lewis in two wins, off the bench, with top ranked Capitanes Ciudad de México (8-4) against two Western Conference rivals in the NBA G League. On December 5, Lewis contributed 6pts & 1reb in 13mins for a second win against #10 Austin Spurs (5-7), 119-108. In another game, Lewis contributed 8pts, 3rebs, 1ast & 1stl in a 109-96 victory over #8 OKC Blue (7-6) on December 10. Capitanes will play OKC Blue again on December 13 and Eastern Conference #5 Oscelo Magic (7-4) on December 16. Lewis is currently averaging 7.8ppg & 6.2rpg: 67.4%%2FPG, 23.3%3FPG & 75.0%FT.

Eleventh is 6-2 guard Zidane Moore with 11pts, 7rebs, 1ast & 2stls as #9 Holbaek (2-9) went under 87-115 to #5 Randers (7-4) in Denmark-BasketLigaen on December 8. Holbaek will meet unbeaten top ranked Bakken (10-0) on December 17. Moore is averaging 17.3ppg, 5.2rpg, 3.4apg & 1.7spg: 32.9%2FPG, 33.8FPG & 72.3%FT.

Twelfth is 6-8 forward Shakeil Bertrand who was limited to four minutes playing time as Northeastern State University (NSU) suffered a 77-89 loss to Emporia State University in their second Mid-America Intercollegiate Conference game (NCAA Division 2) on December 9. NSU next play Rogers State University on December 13. Bertrand is averaging 1.6ppg & 1.9rpg: 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.