Tai Wynyard

Tai Wynyard
No. 11 – Super City Rangers
Position Power forward / Center
League NZNBL
Personal information
Born 5 February 1998
Auckland, New Zealand
Nationality New Zealand
Listed height 204 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Listed weight 116 kg (256 lb)
Career information
High school Rangitoto College
(Auckland, New Zealand)
Pro career 2014–present
Career history
2014–present Super City Rangers
2014–2015 New Zealand Breakers
Career highlights and awards

Tai Hikuroa Wynyard (born 5 February 1998) is a New Zealand professional basketball player who currently plays for the Super City Rangers of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He previously served as a development player for the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian NBL and has committed to playing for the University of Kentucky.

Early life and career

Born in Auckland, Wynyard attended Rangitoto College where he helped the school's basketball team win the Auckland premier championship in September 2014, recording 24 points and seven rebounds in the final over Auckland Grammar.[1]

After appearing in the Super City Rangers' first three games of the 2014 New Zealand NBL season, Wynyard travelled to the United States to participate in the 2014 Jordan Brand Classic held on 18 April.[2][3] He scored just two points and grabbed one rebound as he fouled out in just 11 minutes.[4] Following the event, he returned to New Zealand and re-joined the Rangers, playing a further six games for the club to finish the season with averages of 4.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.[5]

On 15 July 2014, Wynyard became the youngest Tall Black when he took to the court against South Korea in Wellington.[1][6][7] He later missed out on making the final squad for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain as he went on to lead the Junior Tall Blacks in December during the 2014 Oceania Championships in Fiji.[8]

On 15 August 2014, Wynyard signed with the New Zealand Breakers as a non-contracted development player so as to keep his amateur status and his NCAA eligibility.[9] He made his debut for the Breakers in just the second game of the season on 17 October, recording one assist and one block in 44 seconds of play against the Adelaide 36ers.[10]

On 26 January 2015, Wynyard committed to the University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball program with the aim of joining the team in 2016–17.[11][12] On 12 March, he was named to take part in the 2015 Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon.[13] In the 11 April game, Wynyard recorded two points, two assists and one rebound as the World Team defeat Team USA, 103–101.[14]

Personal

Wynyard is the son of world champion woodchoppers Jason and Karmyn Wynyard. His mother also played college basketball for the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves from 1992 to 1995.[15]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Burnes, Campbell (17 September 2014). "College Sport: Wynyard living life in the fast lane". NZHerald.co.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  2. ↑ Hinton, Marc (8 April 2014). "Kiwi teen to play Michael Jordan Brand Classic". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Karl, Ross (9 April 2014). "Teen to play basketball in front of Michael Jordan". 3news.co.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "Tai Wynyard commits to Kentucky". 3news.co.nz. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  5. ↑ "Player statistics for Tai Wynyard – NZNBL". FoxSportsPulse.com. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Worthington, Sam (15 July 2014). "Tai Wynyard set to make debut for Tall Blacks". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  7. ↑ "Tai Wynyard Keeps Breakers Academy Streak Going". NZBreakers.co.nz. 16 July 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  8. ↑ "Junior Tall Blacks named for Oceania Champs". Basketball.org. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  9. ↑ "Breakers Announce Their D-Unit for the New Season". NZBreakers.co.nz. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  10. ↑ "Player statistics for Tai Wynyard – ANBL". FoxSportsPulse.com. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  11. ↑ Egan, Brendon (26 January 2015). "Rising Kiwi hoops star Tai Wynyard to play for the University of Kentucky Wildcats". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  12. ↑ Borzello, Jeff (25 January 2015). "Tai Wynyard to join Wildcats". ESPN.com. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  13. ↑ Hinton, Marc (12 March 2015). "Tai Wynyard to play in elite US basketball classic". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  14. ↑ Vecenie, Sam (11 April 2015). "World Team beats USA in Nike Hoop Summit behind Murray's 30". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "Wynyard signs for Kentucky Wildcats for 2016". NZBreakers.co.nz. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.

External links