Malique Lewis retains T&T Top Player Award

Here is the review of Trinidad and Tobago overseas-based players for week-ending 21 January 2024.

For the second consecutive time the Top Player Award goes to 6-8 forward Malique Lewis (19yrs) who helped #3 ranked Western Conference Capitanes Ciudad de México (17-9) to a 3-1 result in the NBA G League, Western Conference. In the first game, Lewis contributed 18pts, 5rebs, 1ast & 1stl in a 122-116 win over #8 Austin Spurs (13-13) on January 15. Next, he filled the tally sheet with 13pts, 6rebs, 1ast, shared game high 2blks & 1stl in a close 106-100 win over G League Ignite on January 17. In their return contest two days later, Lewis chipped in with 12pts, 4rebs, 1blk & 1stl in a similar margin, 132-126, over the #15 G League team (4-24). In the fourth game, Lewis enjoyed a game high 14rebs along with 2asts, 2stls & 1blk but in a losing effort, 105-128, against #10 OKC Blue (13-15) on January 21. Capitanes next play OKC Blue again on January 24. Lewis is currently averaging 8.8ppg, 6.0rpg & 1.0apg: 65.0%%2FPG, 30.9%3FPG & 70.4%FT.

Second is US-born 6-6 guard Jules Bernard Jr who contributed a double-double 24pts & shared team high 11rebs, shared team high 3stls plus 3asts for #9 Capital City Go-Go (14-12) in 116-101 victory over #15 Raptors 905 (8-19) in the NBA G League, Eastern Conference, on January 17. Meanwhile, Bernard did not play in their 106-102 win over Iowa Wolves on January 20. Capital City next play Eastern Conference top ranked Indiana Mad Ants (20-6) on January 23 and 24. Bernard is averaging 19.4ppg, 6.3rpg, 3.9apg & 1.2spg: 50.0%2FPG, 37.0%3FPG & 94.2%FT in the G League. In three NBA games, he has 0.7ppg & 50.0%2FPG from an average of 5.3mins per game.

Third is US-born 6-5 swingman Devaughn Akoon-Purchell with a game high 23pts, 2asts, 2rebs & 1stl in a losing effort on the road, 74-76, for #3 Lokomotiv (16-7) against lower ranked #13 N.Novgorod (5-15) in Russia-VTB United League on January 19. Lokomotiv will stay on the road against #14 Minsk (0-22) on January 24. Akoon-Purchell is averaging 17.4ppg, 3.5rpg & 2.0apg: 63.0%2FPG, 37.3%3FPG & 86.7%FT.

Fourth is 7-0 center Johnny Hamilton with 15pts, 9rebs, 1ast & team high 2blks as #11 Bursaspor (7-10) lost 85-94 to #7 Darussafaka (8-9) in Turkey-BSL on January 21. Hamilton is averaging 10.6ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.1apg & 1.7bpg: 60.6%2FPG & 56.5%FT in Turkey-BSL. While in the BCL, he has 10.6ppg, 5.8rpg & 2.4bpg: 60.6%2FPG & 56.5%FT.

Fifth is US-born 5-8 point guard Tyrell Gomez with 5pts, team high 7asts & 2rebs for #16 Sokol (4-14) but in a 78-88 loss to #4 Start Lublin (10-7) in Poland OBL on January 19. Sokol next play #14 Zastal (4-13) on January 25. Gomez is averaging 16.5ppg, 6.5apg, 2.3rpg & 1.3spg: 50.0%2FPG, 39.7%3FPG & 91.3%FT.

Sixth is 6-8 forward Shakeil Bertrand as Northeastern State University (NSU) suffered two losses in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Conference, NCAA Division 2, on January 18 and 20. In the first game, he had one rebound, block and steal apiece in a 45-55 result against the University of Central Missouri. In the second game, Bertrand grabbed 1reb & 1blk in a 49-63 loss to Lincoln University. NSU next play Missouri Southern University and Pittsburg State University on January 24 and 27 respectively. Bertrand is averaging 2.0ppg & 1.9rpg: 73.7%FT & 36.4%FT.

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