Devaughn Akoon-Purchell lands T&T Top Player Award

Here is the review of Trinidad and Tobago overseas-based players for week-ending 4 February 2024.

The Top Player Award goes to US-born 6-5 swingman Devaughn Akoon-Purchell with 19pts, 3rebs & 2asts helping #3 Lokomotiv (19-7) to an 80-74 victory over #9 Runa Basket (11-15) in Russia-VTB United League on February 3. He enjoyed a shooting efficiency of 3-5 (60%) from mid-range, 3-6 (50%) threes and 4-4 (100%) free throws. Akoon-Purchell is averaging 17.0ppg, 3.4rpg & 2.1apg: 63.4%2FPG, 37.5%3FPG & 87.1%FT.

Second is US-born 6-6 guard Jules Bernard Jr who contributed a double-double 20pts & 11rebs plus 1ast & 1blk as #10 Capital City Go-Go (15-15) scored a 119-106 win over #7 Long Island Nets (17-13) in the NBA G League, Eastern Conference, on February 3. Capital City next play Western Conference #1 Rio Grande Valley Vipers (21-10) on February 6 and 8. Bernard is averaging 19.8ppg, 6.3rpg, 3.4apg & 1.3spg: 50.0%2FPG, 36.4%3FPG & 91.4%FT in the G League. Meanwhile, in three NBA games with Washington Wizards he has 0.7ppg & 50.0%2FPG from an average of 5.3mins per game.

Third is 7-0 center Johnny Hamilton who filled the stats sheet with 6pts, 9rebs, 2asts, game high 3blks & 1stl as #11 Bursaspor (8-11) defeated #13 Buyukcekmece (7-12) 94-81 in Turkey-BSL on February 3. Hamilton is averaging 11.3ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.0apg & 1.7bpg: 60.6%2FPG & 56.5%FT in Turkey-BSL. While in the BCL, he has 10.6ppg, 5.8rpg & 2.4bpg: 63.4%2FPG & 64.8%FT.

Fourth is US-born 5-8 point guard Tyrell Gomez with 13pts, 2rebs, 4asts & 4stsl for #16 Sokol (4-16) in a 58-68 loss to #7 Dziki (11-9) in Poland OBL on February 2. Sokol next play #10 Czarni (10-10)) on February 10. Gomez is averaging 16.7ppg, 6.1apg, 2.2rpg & 1.5spg: 50.0%2FPG, 39.8%3FPG & 92.9%FT.

Fifth is 6-2 guard Zidane Moore with 16pts, 8rebs, game high 5asts, 1blk & 1stl, but in a losing effort, 75-89, with #10 Holbaek (3-15) against #9 Herlev (3-15) in Denmark-BasketLigaen on February 1. Holbaek will meet #8 Bears Academy Aarhus (4-12) on February 9. Moore is averaging 18.4ppg, 5.5rpg, 4.1apg & 1.5spg: 40.6%2FPG, 30.6%FPG & 68.8%FT.

Sixth is 6-9 power forward Imru Duke with 10pts, 5rebs, 1ast & 1stl for #12 Alcala (7-11) in a 64-72 loss to #3 Albacete (12-6) in the Spain-LEB Silver, West Conference, on February 3. Alcala next play #7 Melilla (8-10) on February 10. Duke is averaging 13.7ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0bpg & 0.9spg: 61.0%2FPG, 28.6%3FPG & 57.9%FT.

Seventh is 6-8 forward Malique Lewis with 2pts, team high 10rebs, 4asts & 1stl for #5 Capitanes Ciudad de México (17-12) in a 96-119 loss to #10 Salt Lake City Stars (14-16) in the NBA G League, Western Conference on February 4. Capitanes will play Salt Lake again on February 5 and #7 Ontario Clippers (17-15) on February 11. Lewis is currently averaging 8.4ppg, 6.1rpg & 1.1apg: 62.4%%2FPG, 28.4%3FPG & 71.4%FT.

Eight is 6-4 point guard Khadeen Carrington with 10pts, 2rebs & 3asts as Israeli Hapoel Jerusalem scored an 83-74 home win against Turkish Pinar Karsiyaka in the Euro Basketball Champions League on January 31. H.Jerusalem next play Spain’s Lenovo Tenerife on February 7. Carrington is averaging 11.8ppg, 1.9rpg & 1.9apg: 52.6%2FPG, 40.0%3FPG & 80.0% FT in the Euro Basketball Championships League.

Ninth is Canada-born 6-3 guard John Cody with 13pts as #2 Sudbury Five (6-4) edged #4 Newfoundland Rogues (4-2) 126-125 in Canada-BSL on February 2. Sudbury next play top ranked London Lighting (8-3) on February 10 and 13. Cody is averaging 13.5ppg, 2.6rpg & 1.4apg: 53.0%2FPG, 46.9%3FPG & 90.9%FT.

Tenth is 6-8 forward Shakeil Bertrand with 4pts, 2rebs & 1blk as Northeastern State University (NSU) suffered a 63-73 loss to Emporia State University in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Conference, NCAA Division 2, on February 1. In another game, Bertrand did not play in their 75-66 victory over Washburn University on February 3. NSU next play at home against Rogers State University and Missouri Western University on February 10 and 15 respectively. Bertrand is averaging 2.6ppg & 1.9rpg: 77.8%2FPG & 28.6%FT.

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