Devaughn Akoon-Purcell lands T&T Top Player Award

Here is the review of Trinidad and Tobago overseas-based players who were active for week-ending 19 January 2025.

The Top Player Award goes to 6-5 swingman Devaughn Akoon-Purcell in two outstanding wins for #2 UNICS (21-5) in Russia VTB United League. In the first game on January 15, he led with a game high 21pts, 1reb, 2ast & 1stl in 17mins off the bench as UNICS roll over bottom-ranked Kazakhstan Astana (0-25) 104-57. On January 19, Akoon-Purchell tallied 20pts, 1reb & 2stl in another lop-sided win, 94-59, against 11th ranked Samara (7-19). UNICS next play #10 MBA Moscow Russia (8-18) on January 25. Akoon-Purchell is averaging 15.1ppg, 3.0rpg & 2.6apg: 51.0%2FPG, 30.5%3FPG & 90.2% FT.

Second is 6-9 Kadeem Jack who filled up the stats sheet with a double-double by scoring a game 39pts & 11reb along with 1ast, 3stl and 1blk for top ranked North Port Batang Pier (7-3) in the Philippines-PBA on January 16. However, his effort was in vain, as North Port was smashed on the road by 6th ranked Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (6-3). North Port next play #8 SM Beermen (4-5). Jack is averaging 31.8ppg, 11.9rpg, 1.5apg, 1.5bpg, 1.9spg: 59.2%2FPG, 38.5%3FPG & 69.7% FT.

Third is 6-4 shooting guard Khadeen Carrington with 15pts, 5reb, 4ast & 1stl for Israeli 3rd rank Hapoel Jerusalem (8-7) in a 70-74 home loss to Slovenian 2nd ranked Cedevita Ol.'s (10-6) in the Euro Cup competition on January 14. H. Jerusalem next Italy Venezia and is hoping to win this game. Meanwhile in the Israel-Winner League, 3rd ranked H. Jerusalem (11-3) will play #6 H.Holon (9-5) on January 26. In the Israel-Winner League, Carrington is averaging 13.5ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.5apg & 0.9spg: 41.3%2FPG, 30.4%3FPG & 88.9% FT. In the Euro Cup, he has 15.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 2.0apg & 1.2spg: 46.6%2FPG, 30.1%3FPG & 75.9% FT.

Fourth is US-born 5-8 point guard Tyrell Gomez with 19pts, 1reb & 2ast as #3 Chorale de Roanne (14-6) suffered an 89-68 road loss to fifteenth ranked JA Vichy (8-12) in France Pro-B League on January 17. Roanne will meet #11 Antibes (10-10) in the next round on January 24. Gomez is averaging 11.9ppg, 1.2rpg & 4.1aspg: 57.8%2FPG, 41.1%3FPG & 86.8%FT.

Fifth is 6-7 swingman Zeke Moore with 12pts, 5reb, 2ast & 1stl as 16th ranked Hyeres-Toulon (7-13) was edged on the road by bottom-ranked C'Chartres (4-16) 68-66 in France Pro-B League on January 17. Hyeres-Toulon next play against second-placed Orleans (15-5) on January 24. Moore is averaging 16.2ppg, 3.1rpg & 1.1apg: 51.0%2FPG, 43.8%3FPG & 88.9%FT.

Sixth is 7-0 center Johnny Hamilton with 4pts & 4reb & 1stl in twelve minutes off the bench as #14 Lleida (6-11) surprised higher ranked #7 Gran Canaria (10-7) at home 78-88 on January 19. With the win, Lleida moved to twelfth place and will play #10 Baskonia (8-9) in the next round on January 26. Hamilton is averaging 2.0ppg & 3.0rpg: 25.0%2FPG, 0.0%3FPG & 100.0%FT in two games.

Seventh is 6-8 forward Malique Lewis with two wins for #5 SE Melbourne Phoenix (14-11) in Australia-NBL. In the first game on January 14, Lewis chipped in with 5pts & 2reb in a 102-89 win over #10 Cairns (5-19). In the next game, Lewis had 3pts & 2reb as Phoenix defeated #9 NZL Breakers (9-16) 102-89 on January 18. SE Melbourne next play #6 Tasmania JJ (12-13) on January 25. Lewis is currently averaging 7.1ppg, 4.3rpg & 1.2apg: 56.9%%2FPG, 28.9%3FPG & 65.9%FT.

Eight is 6-9 power forward Imru Duke with 6pts & 1reb as eleventh ranked Gandia (6-9) scored an upset 70-81 win over #5 Gran Canaria 2 (8-7) in Spain-Segunda FEB on January 18. Gandia will meet Gandia will meet at home #3 Sant Antoni (10-4) on February 1. Duke is averaging 7.9ppg, 4.3rpg & 1.0bpg: 48.9%2FPG, 25.0%3FPG & 63.6%FT.

Ninth is 6-9 forward/center Jabari Narcis who was limited to 2reb in seven minutes as bottom-ranked Philippines Filipino Beermen (0-5) fell short in the 84-74 loss to third ranked Hong Kong HK Eastern (3-2) in Manila in East Asia Super League on January 15. Narcis is averaging 21.0ppg, 14.3rpg & 1.3bpg: 44.4%2FPG, 19.0%3FPG & 61.1%FT in the Philippines-PBA.

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