Basketball New Zealand

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Bay Hawks guard Everard Bartlett (Photosport)

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Manawatu Jets guard Reece Cassidy (Photosport)

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Nelson Giants guard Chris Daniel (Photosport)

Breakout seasons in the Dominion Finance NBL can lead to bigger and better things Ö just ask Jeremy Kench and Benny Hill. So who have grabbed their chances so far in 2007?

Inserted as the starting point guard for Scenic Circle Canterbury Rams last season, Kench responded with easily the best of his four years in the league – 18.7 points (52.8% FG, 72.2% FT, 35.5% 3pt), 4.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.9 steals. As a result, he was snapped up by the expansion Singapore Slingers in the Australian NBL and a professional career was born.

Despite his fine basketball pedigree, Hill had always struggled for recognition because he played same position in the same team as NZ Tall Black captain Pero Cameron. With Cameron out of the picture in 2006, his protÈgÈ averaged 18.2 points (42.1% 3pt) and 7.1 rebounds for the Waikato Pistons, played a surprise part in the Tall Blacksí historic series victory over Australia and was the last man cut from the national team that went to the FIBA World Championships in Japan.

Among last yearís big improvers, Aaron Nowell has probably kicked on best. His first season with the Inspire Net Manawatu Jets realised 12.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals Ö now he has added three-point range and bumped his numbers to 15.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.3 steals.

Here are three candidates from the current season Ö

Everard Bartlett (Easy LPG Bay Hawks)

Bartlettís previous claim to fame was winning the ANBL slam dunk competition as an NZ Breakers development player. Hawks coach Shawn Dennis has handed him the starting ìtwoî guard spot this season and Bartlett (21) has expanded his repertoire beyond merely being a slasher. Last weekend, he was 12/22 from the arc and he was now landed more three-pointers (31) than anyone else in the competition.

Reece Cassidy (Inspire Net Manawatu Jets)

Cassidy (25) has been around the league for a while now, debuting in 2001 and claiming two championship titles with the Auckland Stars, but has played exclusively off the bench. As was the case with Nowell before him, the move to Palmerston North and promotion to the Jetsí starting swingman spot has provided an opportunity to show a range of skills that was barely apparent as understudy to Stars veteran Dillon Boucher.

Chris Daniel (Blue Chip Nelson Giants)

In the absence of Kiwi legend Phill Jones, Daniel (22) has stepped up to become the Giantsí premier outside shooter. He trails only Bartlett in total three-pointers made, his 50% accuracy is second (behind new Century City Wellington Saintsí import Bakari Hendrix) among players who have attempted at least three a game and his return from the free throw line leads the league under the same criteria. Look for him to make the jump to the Australian league next summer.

Dominion Finance NBL Guide (Round Nine) (pdf 1.05MB)