Sixty Kiwi basketballers offered scholarships to Division 1 US colleges as NCAA schools begin to pay athletes

“It also highlights the increasing visibility of Aotearoa talent on the global stage and the strength of our domestic competitions, including the Secondary Schools Nationals, the Sky Broadband Rapid League, and the G.J. Gardner Homes Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa and Sal’s National Basketball leagues.

“It’s fantastic to see.”

Among the list of promising youngsters is 18-year-old Troy Plumtree – the younger brother of Welsh Rugby international Taine and son of former All Blacks assistant coach John.

Troy Plumtree is heading to the US after playing for the Wellington Saints in the National Basketball League over the past two years. Photo / Photosport

Plumtree told the Herald the opportunity to play college basketball for California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) arose after his selection in the New Zealand side at the 2024 Fiba Under-17 Basketball World Cup.

“My performance at this tournament got me to college in America, as my now college team by chance watched my game against Argentina,” he said.

The small forward is making the move after playing for the Wellington Saints in the National Basketball League (NBL) over the past two years. In 2023, he also captained Wellington College to their first national basketball title.

“I think NCAA will be a slight step up from the NBL,” Plumtree said. “I think there might be more skill in NCAA, but playing against older and grown men makes it difficult in the NBL.”

Plumtree said it was special being the only basketball player in a rugby-mad family.

“I feel like I’m helping my family branch out and not be known as only rugby … My parents were sad for me to leave but they know it’s a stage I have to go through for my future in basketball, so they were happy.”

The record-high Kiwi presence in US college basketball comes as schools can pay their athletes directly – up to a certain limit – for the first time in NCAA history.

ESPN reported in June the annual cap is expected to start at roughly US$20.5 million ($34m) per school in 2025/26, and the payments are in addition to scholarships and other benefits the athletes already receive.

Some athletes have reportedly been offered multimillion-dollar NIL (name, image, likeness) deals with their respective schools.

Plumtree confirmed Cal Poly is paying their athletes to play for them and called it an “amazing opportunity”.

“I’m super happy and excited to represent Wellington alongside a few other D1 men’s basketball players. Being able to represent my school and the clubs I played for makes me happy and I’m honoured.”

Kiwis playing Division 1 College Basketball in 2025/26 season

Women:

Dani Bayes (Senior) – Boise State UniversityElla Bradley (Senior) – Eastern Kentucky UniversityElla Brow (Junior) – Baylor UniversityIvy Brown (Junior) – University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyLayla-J Cameron (Junior) – University of TulsaMackenzie Chatfield (Junior) – Washington State UniversityFlo Dallow (Sophomore) – University of PortlandPania Davis (Junior) – Florida State UniversityBailey Flavell (Freshman) – University of HawaiiWaiata Jennings (Senior) – University of Alabama Maia Jones (Junior) – Santa Clara UniversityEvie Leeson (Freshman) – Utah Valley UniversityCharlisse Leger-Walker (Senior) – UCLATannika Leger-Walker (Freshman) – University of Nebraska OmahaArielle Mackey-Williams (Junior) – Brigham Young UniversityHelen Matthews (Senior) – UC DavisJess Moors (Senior) – Florida Atlantic UniversityRebecca Moors (Sophomore) – University of HawaiiShawnessy Nordstrom (Sophmore) – California Baptist UniversityHineaupounamu “Missy” Nuku (Junior) – Sacred Heart UniversityLilly Parke (Senior) – Fairleigh Dickson UniversityAmy Pateman (Freshman) – University of San FranciscoOphelia Powell (Freshman) – Cal State BakersfieldRafferty Powell (Freshman) – Gardner WebbShorna Preston (Junior) – Pepperdine University Izzy Pugh (Sophomore) – University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeAshlyn Rean (Sophomore) – Fresno State UniversityHanna Richardson (Sophomore) – Lipscomb UniversityZoe Richardson (Sophomore) – USC UpstateZenthia Stowers (Freshman) – Marshall UniversityEmilee Tahata (Senior) – Rider UniversityRitorya Tamilo (Sophomore) – University of HawaiiLilly Taylelei (Junior) – Iowa StateLauren Whittaker (Freshman) – Gonzaga UniversityOlivia Williams (Senior) – University of San FranciscoKodee Williams-Sefo (Freshman) – Xavier University

Men:

Hunter Adam (Junior) – Davidson CollegeTom Beattie (Junior) – UC San DiegoCarter Berg-McLean (Fresh) – Loyola University MarylandKaia Berridge (Sophomore) – University of EvansvilleNic Book (Sophomore) – USC UpstateWalter Brown (Senior) – University of Nevada, Las VegasIsaiah Chappell (Sophomore) – University of California, DavisLachlan Crate (Freshman) – Murray State UniversityAhmed Essahatay (Senior) – Southeastern Louisiana UniversityTafara Gapare (Senior) – Villanova UniversityBen Gold (Senior) – Marquette UniversityOscar Goodman (Freshman) – University of MichiganCarter Hopoi (Freshman) – Valparaiso UniversityJulius Halaifonua (Sophomore) – Georgetown UniversityKaia Isaac (Senior) – Tarleton State UniversityTama Isaac (Freshman) – University of California, IrvineHayden Jones (Freshman) – University of WisconsinFinn Lally (Senior) – College of William & MaryCory Lovell (Junior) – Stonehill CollegeAkiva McBirney-Griffin (R-S Junior) – University of California, IrvineTroy Plumtree (Freshman) – Cal PolyKael Robinson (Senior) – Northern KentuckyKiani Saxon (Senior) – Wyoming UniversityWill Shortt (Sophomore) – Niagara University

Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers sport and breaking news. He has worked for the Herald since 2022.