Jules Bernard Jr lands T&T Top Player Award

Here is the review of Trinidad and Tobago overseas-based players for week-ending 17 December 2023.

The Top Player Award goes to US-born 6-6 guard Jules Bernard Jr who had mixed results with #6 Capital City Go-Go (8-6) in the NBA G League, Eastern Conference, on December 13 and 15. In the first game, Bernard led with a team high 23pts, 4rebs, game high 6asts & 1stl in a 110-106 win over #11 Long Island Nets (8-6). In the other game, he tallied a game high 26pts together with 8rebs, team high 4asts & 2stls in a losing effort, 111-118, against #2 Westerchester Knicks (10-4). Capital City next play #10 Delaware Blue Coats (8-6) and #16 Raptors 905 (2-12) on December 27 and 28 respectively. Bernard is averaging 21.5ppg, 7.2rpg, 4.3apg & 1.1spg: 54.3%2FPG, 39.1%3FPG & 93.3%FT.

Second is 6-9 forward/center Jabari Narcis with mixed results for #7 Ehime Orange Vikings (6-17) against Western Division leaders Fukuoka Rizing (17-6) in Japan B-2 League. On December 16, Narcis contributed a game high 16rebs plus 2pts & 1ast in a 101-94 win. In the return game on the following day, he tallied 5pts, 6rebs, 2asts & 1stl in a 69-82 loss. Ehime OV next play #5 Shizuoka (11-12) and #4 Nishinomiya Storks (13-10) on December 20 & 22. Narcis is currently averaging 8.6ppg & 8.6rpg: 53.7%2FPG, 29.9%3FPG & 56.5% FT.

Third is US-born 6-5 swingman Devaughn Akoon-Purchell with 23pts, 5rebs, 3asts & 1stl as #4 Lokomotiv (11-6) scored a 90-83 victory over #5 Enisey (9-7) in the Russia-VTB United League on December 14. Lokomotiv will play against #8 Uralmash (8-8) and #2 Zenit (12-5) on December 21 and 24 respectively. Akoon-Purchell is averaging 17.3ppg, 4.1rpg & 2.2apg: 62.2%2FPG, 38.6%3FPG & 86.5%FT.

Fourth is 6-2 guard Zidane Moore with 22pts, 5rebs, game high 8asts & 1stl as #10 Holbaek (2-9) suffered a huge 67-101 loss to top ranked Bakken (11-0) in Denmark-BasketLigaen on December 17. Holbaek will meet #2 Svendborg (11-2) on December 30. Moore is averaging 17.8ppg, 5.2rpg, 3.9apg & 1.6spg: 36.1%2FPG, 33.3FPG & 73.5%FT.

Fifth is 6-9 power forward Imru Duke with 17pts, game high 9rebs, 2asts & 1stl as #10 Aclala (5-7) went under 70-100 to top ranked Zamora (11-1) in Spain-LEB Silver, West Conference, on December 16. Aclala next play #6 Iraurgi SB (7-5) on December 20. Duke is averaging 11.8ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.6apg & 1.1spg: 56.3%2FPG, 32.0%3FPG & 57.7%FT.

Sixth is 7-0 center Johnny Hamilton featured in two losses with #8 Bursaspor (6-6) in the Turkey-BSL. In the first game, Hamilton had 6pts and 3rebs in a narrow 85-87 result against Merkezefendi () on December 10. In the other game, Hamilton registered 8pts, 6rebs & game high 3blks in another tough loss, 95-98, to higher ranked #5 Manisa (7-5) on December 17. Meanwhile, third placed Bursaspor (3-2) next game will be in the Euro Basketball Champions League (BCL) against #2 Israel Hapoel Holon (3-2) on December 20. Hamilton is averaging 11.8ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.1apg & 1.8bpg: 65.6%2FPG & 64.9%FT in Turkey-BSL. While in the BCL, he has 9.5ppg, 6.3rpg & 2.5bpg: 61.5%2FPG & 46.2%FT.

Seventh is 6-8 forward Malique Lewis with a 2-1 result for #4 Capitanes Ciudad de México (8-6) in the NBA G league Western Conference. In the first game, Lewis chipped in with 8pts, 3rebs, 1ast & 1stl in a 109-96 win over conference rivals OKC Blue. In their return game on December 13, Lewis had 6pts & 3rebs from 13mins in a 112-117 loss to #7 OKC Blue (8-6). In the third game, Lewis tallied 2pts & 4rebs in 12mins as Capitanes was trounced 108-130 by Eastern Conference #9 Oscelo Magic (8-6) on December 16. Capitanes will play fellow conference rivals #11 Texas Legends (5-9) on December 27 and 28. Lewis is currently averaging 7.1ppg & 5.8rpg: 61.2%%2FPG, 23.5%3FPG & 66.7%FT.

Eight is US-born 5-8 point guard Tyrell Gomez with 18pts, shared team high 6asts, 1reb & 1stl for #15 Sokol (3-9) in a narrow loss, 98-96, to #12 MKS DG (6-7) in Poland OBL on December 15. Gomez previously played with Hamburg in Germany BBL. Sokol next play #13 GTK (5-8) on December 23. Gomez is averaging 21.3ppg, 4.3apg, 1.3rpg & 1.3spg: 50.0%2FPG, 46.9%3FPG & 83.3%FT.

Ninth is US-born 6-8 forward Stacey Thomas with 13pts, 2rebs & 1ast as #9 Stariy Lutsk (5-9) was defeated 63-75 by #3 Cherkas (9-5) in the Ukraine Super-League on December 17. Stariy Lutsk next play against #10 BIPA Odessa (4-10) and #6 Kyiv Basket (7-7) on December 18 and 19 respectively. Thomas is averaging 10.1ppg & 4.9rpg: 54.7%2FPG, 33.3%3FPG & 69.4%FT.

Tenth is 6-4 point guard Khadeen Carrington with 7pts, 3rebs & 1stls as Israeli Hapoel Jerusalem (4-1) scored an upset 71-61 win against previous leader Greek PAOK (3-2) in the Euro Basketball Champions League on December 13. With the result, Hapoel Jerusalem moves into the top position in Group G and next play #4 Portugal Benfica (1-4) in Lisbon on December 20. Meanwhile in the Israel-Winner League, Carrington did not play in ninth ranked H. Jerusalem (1-3) 81-73 win over #10 Hapoel Galil Elion (1-3) on December 16. Their next Israel Winner League game is against top ranked Hapoel Tel-Aviv (4-0) on December 24. Carrington is averaging 13.4ppg, 2.4rpg & 2.0apg: 55.6%2FPG, 42.9%3FPG & 79.2% FT in the Euro Basketball Championships League.

Eleventh is 6-8 forward Shakeil Bertrand with 2pts & 2rebs in eight minutes playing time as Northeastern State University (NSU) went under 72-80 to Rogers State University in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Conference, NCAA Division 2, on December 13. NSU next play Washburn University on December 19. Bertrand is averaging 1.6ppg & 1.9rpg: 75.0%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.