Jabari Narcis grips T&T Top Player Award

Here is the review of Trinidad and Tobago overseas-based players for week-ending 24 December 2023.

The Top Player Award bounce back to 6-9 forward/center Jabari Narcis who had mixed results (1-2) in three games with Western Conference #7 Ehime Orange Vikings (7-19) in Japan B-2 League. In the opening game, Narcis scored 11pts & 6rebs in a 79-96 loss to rivals #5 Shizuoka Veltex (13-13) on December 20. Two days after, he chipped in with 4pts, 9rebs & 1blk in an 86-62 win over Nishinomiya Storks. In the return game, Narcis tallied 9pts, 11rebs & game high 2blks as #4 Nishinomiya (14-12) levelled the series with a 90-83 victory on December 23. Ehime OV next play #6 Iwate Big Bulls (5-21) on December 29 & 30. Narcis is currently averaging 8.5ppg & 8.6rpg: 52.7%2FPG, 30.9%3FPG & 55.6% FT.

In a close runners-up spot is 7-0 center Johnny Hamilton who featured in two wins with Turkey Bursaspor. In an Euro Basketball Champions League (BCL) game on December 20, Hamilton had 15pts, 4rebs & a game high 2blks as #4 Bursaspor (4-2) edged #2 Israel Hapoel Holon (3-3) 75-74 on the road. In the Turkey-BSL, Hamilton registered 16pts, 9rebs, game high 3blks & 2stls guiding #6 Bursaspor (7-6) to a 94-84 victory against close contenders #7 Petkim (6-7) on December 23. Bursaspor next play higher ranked #3 Fenerbahce (10-3) on December 30. Hamilton is averaging 12.2ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.1apg & 1.8bpg: 65.7%2FPG & 65.1%FT in Turkey-BSL. While in the BCL, he has 10.6ppg, 5.8rpg & 2.4bpg: 60.6%2FPG & 56.5%FT.

Third is US-born 6-5 swingman Devaughn Akoon-Purchell who featured in two wins for Lokomotiv in the Russia-VTB United League on December 21 and 24. In the first game, Akoon-Purchell contributed 12pts & 5rebs in seventeen minutes off the bench in a one sided 98-73 result over 8th ranked Uralmas (8-10). The next game, he chipped in with 12pts, 3rebs & 2asts as #3 Lokomotiv (13-6) dominated one of their biggest challengers #4 Zenit (13-6) 93-93. Lokomotiv will meet at home #10 Astana (8-11) and #11 Avtodor (8-11) on January 5 and 9 respectively. Akoon-Purchell is averaging 16.6ppg, 4.1rpg & 2.0apg: 61.9%2FPG, 39.1%3FPG & 86.0%FT.

Fourth is US-born 6-8 forward Stacey in two losses with #10 Stariy Lutsk (5-11) in the Ukraine Super-League. In the first game, Thomas scored 12pts, shared team high 6rebs & 1ast in a 68-60 result against #10 BIPA Odessa (5-11) on December 18. The following day, Thomas had 15pts, 4rebs, 2ast, shared game high 1blk & 1stl as Stariy Lutsk ) loss 60-73 to #5 Kyiv Basket (9-7) on December 19. Thomas is averaging 10.5ppg & 4.9rpg: 53.0%2FPG, 33.3%3FPG & 69.4%FT.

Fifth is 6-9 power forward Imru Duke with 14pts, 5rebs, 1ast, game high 3blks & 1stl as Juventuda Aclala (6-7) scored an upset 92-86 victory over higher ranked Iraurgi SB (7-6) in Spain-LEB Silver, West Conference, on December 20. With the result, Aclala improved from tenth to sixth while Aclala dropped from fourth to fifth place. Alcala next play #13 Huelva Comerico Viridis (4-9) on December 30. Duke is averaging 12.4ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1Bbpg & 1.1spg: 57.0%2FPG, 30.8%3FPG & 57.7%FT.

Sixth is US-born 5-8 point guard Tyrell Gomez with 13pts, team high 7asts, 3rebs & 2stls for #15 Sokol (4-10) in 100-87 win over #13 GTK (5-9) in Poland OBL on December 22. Sokol next play #12 Slask (6-8) on December 29. Gomez is averaging 18.8ppg, 5.0apg, 1.8rpg & 1.5spg: 58.8%2FPG, 40.0%3FPG & 87.5%FT.

Seventh is US-born 6-9 forward/center Theo John who added 13pts, 5rebs & shared game high 1blk as #4 Donar Groningen (7-4) defeated #5 BAL Weert (5-5) 64-59 in Holland BNXT League on December 23. Groningen next play #8 Yoast United (2-9) on January 6. John is averaging 9.2ppg, 10.0rpg, 4.0apg, 1.3bpg & 1.3spg: 42.4%2FPG & 70.0% FT.

Eight is US-born 6-6 guard Jules Bernard Jr in two negative results with #6 Capital City Go-Go (8-6) in the NBA G League, Eastern Conference, on December 19 and 21. In the first game, Bernard led with a team high 22pts, 2rebs, 2asts & 1stl but in a losing effort, 102-113, to top ranked Indian Mad Ants (16-2). In the other game, Bernard was limited to 2pts, 2rebs with 4ast as Capital City went under 103-128 to Western Conference rivals #3 Ontario Clippers (10-6). Capital City next play conference rivals #6 Delaware Blue Coats (9-7) and #16 Raptors 905 (4-12) on December 27 and 28 respectively. Bernard is averaging 20.2ppg, 6.4rpg, 4.1apg & 1.0spg: 50.5%2FPG, 38.4%3FPG & 91.8%FT.

Ninth is 6-8 forward Malique Lewis with mixed result for Western Conference #4 ranked Capitanes Ciudad de México (8-6) in the NBA G league against two Eastern Conference rivals. In the first game, Lewis had 4pts, 3rebs & team high 2blks in a104-111 loss to #2 Westchester Knicks (13-4) on December 19. In the other game, Lewis contributed 5pts, 3rebs, 2asts, shared game high 2blks & 2stls in a 115-100 win over #7 Motor City Cruise (9-7) on December 21. Capitanes will play fellow conference rivals #12 Texas Legends (6-10) on December 27 and 28. Lewis is currently averaging 6.8ppg & 5.4rpg: 57.1%%2FPG, 24.3%3FPG & 64.7%FT.

Tenth is 6-4 point guard Khadeen Carrington who contributed 10pts, 3rebs & 1stls as top ranked Israeli Hapoel Jerusalem (5-1) scored a 97-68 road win over #4 Portugal Benfica (1-5) in the Euro Basketball Champions League on December 20. Meanwhile in the Israel-Winner League, Carrington did not play in #13 H. Jerusalem (1-4) 109-100 loss to top ranked Hapoel Tel-Aviv (5-0) on December 24. Their next Israel Winner League game is against #12 Hapoel Be'er Sheva (2-5) on December 31. Carrington is averaging 12.8ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.2apg & 1.0spg: 51.5%2FPG, 44.4%3FPG & 79.2% FT in the Euro Basketball Championships League.

Eleventh is 6-8 forward Shakeil Bertrand who was limited to one assist and bock apiece in fourteen minutes playing time as Northeastern State University (NSU) was hammered 48-84 by Washburn University in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Conference, NCAA Division 2, on December 19. NSU next play Ecclesia College on December 30. Bertrand is averaging 1.4ppg & 1.0rpg: 66.7%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.