Jules Bernard recaptures T&T Top Player Award

Here is the review of five Trinidad and Tobago overseas-based players who were active for week-ending 25 February 2024.

The Top Player Award remains with US-born 6-6 guard Jules Bernard Jr. with #6 Capital City Go-Go (20-17) against #13 Cleveland Charge (16-21) in the NBA G League, Eastern Conference, on February 23 and 24. In the first game, Bernard had 22pts, team high 8rebs, 4asts & 1stl but in a losing 111-128 effort. In the return game, Bernard contributed 19pts, 4rebs, 6asts & 1stl in as Capital City even the contest 1-1 with a 120-107 victory. Capital City next play Western Conference #8 Capitanes Ciudad de México (19-15) and Eastern #11 Wisconsin Herd (17-21) on February 26 and 28, respectively. Bernard is averaging 20.6ppg, 6.2rpg, 3.6apg & 1.2spg: 54.1%2FPG, 36.0%3FPG & 89.6%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.

Second is 6-8 forward Malique Lewis who was featured in two games with Western Conference #8 Capitanes Ciudad de México (19-13) against Eastern Conference #7 Long Island Nets (20-17) in the NBA G League on February 22 and 24. In the first game, Lewis filled the stats sheet with 15pts, 5rebs, 1ast, game high 2blks & 2stls in a 115-122 loss. In the return game, he registered 10pts, 7rebs, 1ast, shared game high 2blks & 1ast but in another losing effort, 93-112. Capitanes (19-15) next play Eastern Conference #6 Capital City Go Go (20-17) on February 26 and rivals #13 Memphis Herd (15-22) on February 28. Lewis is currently averaging 8.3ppg, 6.1rpg & 1.1apg: 61.7%%2FPG, 28.3%3FPG & 67.7%FT.

Third is 6-9 forward/center Jabari Narcis with mixed results for #10 Shanan United (17-23) against #12 Toyko Z (17-23) in Japan B-3 League. In the first game, Narcis contributed a shared game high 18pts, 5rebs & 1ast in a 79-71 victory on February 24. The following day, he tallied 5pts, 4rebs, 1ast, 1blk & 1stl in an upset loss, 93-96. Shanan United next play #13 Okayama Try Hoop (15-25) on March 2 and 3. In four games with Shanan, Narcis is averaging 11.3ppg & 6.6rpg: 64.3%2FPG, 46.7%3FPG & 33.3%FT. Previously, Narcis averaged 8.2ppg & 8.5rpg: 54.5%2FPG, 29.2%3FPG & 48.6% FT in Japan B-2 League.

Fourth is Canada-born 6-3 guard John Cody, who enjoyed a 2-0 record, with #2 Sudbury Five in the Canada-BSL during the week. In the first game, Cody contributed 5pts in a 99-89 win over #6 Montreal Toundra (5-9) on February 19. In the next game, he added 14pts, 1reb & 1ast as Sudbury smashed # Jamestown Jackals 133-108 on February 24. Sudbury (10-6) will meet #3 KW Titans (9-6) on February 29 and #1 London Lighting (10-6) on March 5. Cody is averaging 13.4ppg, 2.4rpg & 1.6apg: 46.8%2FPG, 42.1%3FPG & 84.8%FT.

Fifth is 6-8 forward Shakeil Bertrand with mixed results for Northeastern State University (NSU) in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Conference (MAIC), NCAA Division 2. In the first game, Bernard contributed 4pts, 1reb & 2stls in a 99-88 win over Newman University (8-17, 4-15) on February 22. Two days later, he was limited to a block shot in one minute playing time off the bench in a 68-74 loss to University of Central Oklahoma (19-9, 11-9). NSU, who has an overall record of 10-16 and 5-15 in the MAIC, close off the regular season on the road at Lincoln Missouri Western State University (14-12, 9-11) on February 29 and University of Central Missouri (11-15, 6-14) on March 2. Bertrand is averaging 2.3ppg & 1.5rpg: 75.0%2FPG & 37.5%FT.

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