Jules Bernard Jr. earns T&T Top Player Award

Here is the review of Trinidad and Tobago overseas-based players who were active for week-ending 5 January 2025.

The Top Player Award goes to US-born 6-6 guard Jules Bernard Jr. who was featured in two games in the NBA G-League. On December 31, Bernard scored a game high 25pts, 12reb, 3ast, 1blk & 1stl as Cleveland Charge defeated Greensboro Swarm 103-100. In the next game on January 3, Bernard 14pts, 2reb, 3ast & 2stl as Greensboro even the series with a 119-109 win in the return game. He is averaging 19.9ppg, 7.9rpg, 3.3apg & 1.1spg: 56.0%2FPG, 28.8%3FPG & 84.3%FT.

Second is 6-4 shooting guard Khadeen Carrington tallied 21pts, 4reb, 4ast & 3stl in a one-point home defeat of much higher ranked Hapoel Jerusalem (10-3) to sixth ranked Ramat Gan (8-5) 87-86 in Israel Winner League in Jerusalem on Sunday evening. H. Jerusalem next play on the road against the league's leader Hapoel Tel-Aviv and it may be a tough game between close rivals. In an Euro Cup fixture, Carrington registered a team high 23pts, 2reb, 2ast & 1stl as second ranked Israeli Hapoel Jerusalem (9-5) scored a 91-79 road win against 5th ranked Romanian Cluj Napoca (7-6) on January 8. H. Jerusalem will meet at home Slovenia’s Cedevita Olimpija (#3) in the next round. In the Israel-Winner League, Carrington is averaging 12.3ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.5apg & 1.0spg: 41.4%2FPG, 24.5%3FPG & 87.9% FT. In the Euro Cup, he has 15.1ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.0apg & 1.2spg: 43.6%2FPG, 31.8%3FPG & 74.5% FT.

Third is 6-8 forward Malique Lewis who chipped in with 14pts, 3reb, 2ast, 1blk &1stl as 6th SE Melbourne Phoenix (11-10) scored a 105-91 win at home against 5th ranked Tasmania JackJumpers (11-10) in Australia-NBL on Sunday. SE Melbourne will meet at home Brisbane (#7) in the next round. Lewis is currently averaging 7.7ppg, 4.6rpg & 3apg: 66.1%%2FPG, 28.2%3FPG & 66.7%FT.

Fourth is 6-5 swingman Devaughn Akoon-Purcell who chipped in with 18pts, 3reb, 3ast & 1blk as third ranked UNICS (18-5) defeat their biggest opponent defending champions Zenit (18-4) 75-71 in Russia VTB United League on Sunday. UNICS will meet at home #5 Uralmash in the next round. Akoon-Purchell is averaging 14.1ppg, 3.0rpg & 2.8apg: 48.9%2FPG, 27.4%3FPG & 91.1% FT.

Fifth is 6-9 forward/center Jabari Narcis with a team high 17pts, 10reb & 2blks as his 7th ranked Beermen (3-4) was defeated by fourth ranked Kings (5-3) 93-81 in the Philippines-PBA league on Sunday. SM Beermen will play against Hotshots (#10) in Pasig City and it may be a tough game between close rivals. Narcis is averaging 22.5ppg, 10.0rpg & 1.0bpg: 47.1%2FPG, 23.1%3FPG & 50.0%FT.

Sixth is 6-5 guard Abdur-Rahman De Leon who was featured in two games for St. Michael College in the NCAA D2, Northeast 10 Conference. On January 2, De Leon had 4pts, 4reb & 1stl in a 72-81 road loss against American International College. In the next game, De Leon scored 10pts, 7reb & 1ast as St. Michael went under again but to Adelphi University, 74-50, on January 5. St. Michael next play Bentley University and Franklin Pierce University on January 8 and 11, respectively. De Leon is averaging 6.3ppg & 3.1rpg: 34.1%FPG, 34.0%3FPG & 85.7%FT.

Seventh is 6-9 power forward Imru Duke with 2pts, 4reb,1ast, 1blk & 1stl as 12th ranked Gandia (4-9) scored a 78-64 home victory over 11th ranked Mataro UE (4-8) in Spain-Segunda FEB on January 4. Gandia will meet at home higher ranked Salou (#7) in the next round. Duke is averaging 8.7ppg, 4.2rpg & 1.0bpg: 52.8%2FPG, 25.0%3FPG & 64.7%FT.

Eight is 6-7 wing Jaylon Hyson with 1pt as Missouri State University - West Plains (MSUWP) scored a 74-65 home victory over Link Year Prep in NJCAA D1, Region 16, on January 4. MSUWP next play Mineral Area College. Hyson is averaging 0.3ppg & 0.5rpg: 100>0%2FPG & 50.0%FT.

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