NZ Breakers retart Academy for young talent
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
The NZ Breakers restarted an Academy to identify developing elite young talent in New Zealand basketball.
During its previous long-standing tenure, the Academy played a key role in the development of dozens of Breakers and Tall Blacks, including current rostered players Sam Mennenga, Reuben Te Rangi and Anzac Rissetto.
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The Academy has also had a significant impact on the broader youth basketball development ecosystem in New Zealand, offering a clear development & performance pathway for players and families.
The Academy relaunches with an initial intake of up to 20 male athletes from school years 11-13. Selected post-high school players will also be eligible for the programme, providing they have clear professional or collegiate pathway goals.
Breakers President of Basketball Dillon Boucher stressed the importance of player pathways and the role the club must play in this space.
“By investing in the younger generation and their on and off-court development, the club is helping create BNZ Breakers of the future but is also contributing to the overall health of basketball pathways, opening doors for young players and their families and strengthening connections to the wider basketball community.”
“Marc Mitchell (Chair and owner) made it clear from day one that a reinvestment into the community and player pathways was high on the list of priorities to reestablish the club in the basketball landscape,” said Boucher.
“As New Zealand’s only professional basketball club, we have a responsibility to contribute to player development and assist players and their families in their journey. If we can help guide and improve our young basketball talent on and off court, it stands to reason that we will enjoy a greater depth of talent to choose from in the future while also improving the overall stocks of the game in New Zealand.”
Boucher also said that this is just the first iteration of the new look Breakers Academy, with hopes that the club will in the future integrate a female academy into the club’s development and pathway programmes.
The programme will be led by BNZ Breakers Assistant Coach and Breakers Academy Director Matt Lacey. Head Coach of the programme will be Josiah Maama who is fresh off his Assistant Coach role with the San Antonio Spurs NBA Summer League team.
Maama is also the Head Coach of the Junior Tall Blacks and Dilworth School and has just returned from leading the NZ U18 programme to a bronze medal finish at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup.
Also joining a decorated coaching staff team are former Tall Black Lindsay Tait and Tuatara and NZ Select assistant coach Sione Maama.
Off the court, the Strength & Conditioning programme will be overseen by BNZ Breakers Head of Performance Shane Connolly with assistance from Tom Faulks.
The Breakers Academy brings together elite coaching, professional training facilities, off court physical development, off court life skills, and exposure to professional pathways into a daily training environment that is unparalleled in New Zealand.
Breakers Academy Director Matt Lacey can’t wait to get to work with the fist intake of athletes.
“Ever since the new owners made their intentions clear in this space we have been building towards this day when we can get the Academy up and running, providing opportunities for some of our best young players.
“Our first intake will see an exciting group of players working with a world class coaching group as they continue their journey as basketballers but also develop as young men and work on the off-court skills that will help them succeed wherever the game takes them.”
Coaching staff evaluated talent across school, representative, and national team spaces for many months in anticipation of selecting the 2026 Breakers Academy athletes, named below.
NZ Breakers Academy 2026 Intake:
Daley Pohio, Westlake Boys High School
Harry Kelso, Pukekohe High School
Noah Duncan, Westlake Boys High School
Lincoln Wilson, Westlake Boys High School
Kingston Kailahi-Aso, Dilworth School
Zach Guy, Westlake Boys High School
JC Goodman, Dilworth School
Leva Tone, St Peter’s College
Hunter Johns, Rosmini College
Nic Bamford, Westlake Boys High School
Lawson Pryor, Auckland Grammar School
Harper Wilson, Westlake Boys High School
Jackson Couper, Auckland Grammar School
Taye Thomson, Auckland Grammar School
Brigham Hakaraia, Dilworth School
Brooklyn Stininato, St Peter’s College
Kaylis Peneha, Dilworth School
Ben Wilson, Dilworth School
Kenzo Soqeta, Auckland Grammar School
Cooper Fisi'iahi, Dilworth School
Kaea Wharemate, Auckland Grammar School
Ronan O'Sullivan, Dilworth School
First home game
September 20
Spark Arena
5pm Tip off, Doors Open 4pm
v Illawarra Hawks
