The Breakers’ latest recruit is a player who went to school just down the road from the club’s training base.
Sam Mennenga, a 2.06m power forward, has been signed from the Cairns Taipans and will add size and versatility to a squad that was badly hit by injury last season but which almost made the playoffs regardless.
Mennenga, 22, joins the likes of Tom Abercrombie, Kirk Penney, Rob Loe and the Webster brothers as products from Westlake Boys’ High School who have gone on to play professionally for the Breakers.
Since leaving school, Mennenga played two years of college basketball for Davidson in the United States before appearing for the Cairns Taipans last season.
The Breakers have bought out the second year of Mennenga’s Taipans' contract so he can return home to Auckland.
Head coach Mody Maor said signing Mennenga was more evidence of the Breakers’ commitment to recruiting outstanding young New Zealand basketballers.
“The foundation of the Breakers is New Zealand basketball and we want to have the 'most fitting' Kiwis wearing the Breakers’ jersey,” said Maor.
“It doesn’t mean we need a roster which is only comprised of New Zealand basketball players, but we try to pull out all stops to get Kiwis we feel will add to our culture.”
Speaking from Greece where he is currently playing, Mennenga said he was linking up with the club he has supported all his life.
“Growing up, I’ve always been a Breakers supporter,” he said.
Sam Mennenga has been globetrotting the last few years – playing in the US, Australia and Greece. (Source: 1News)
“My first memory of the Breakers is being at the North Shore Events Centre as an eight-year-old watching them play.
“The Breakers were on the same flight as me coming back from Brisbane 10 years ago and I sat and talked to players like Dillon Boucher.
“Being able to chat with them as a young kid inspired me to continue my basketball dream and that’s helped me along the way.”
In his rookie season for the Taipans, Mennenga made 27 appearances averaging 17 minutes, 6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds a game while shooting 47% from the field.
His standout performance was 22 points and 11 rebounds against top-of-the-table Melbourne United.
He also impressed in his professional debut against the Breakers at Spark Arena last September, dropping 17 points and making four rebounds.
At six foot nine in the old measurements, Mennenga weighs in at 109kg, providing Maor with both bulk and versatility.
“Sam is a very typical modern big who can also play at centre,” Maor said.
“He can play inside and out. He’s a good shooter; he’s also a very physical post-player. He can put the ball on the floor and can also spot up and make decisions.
“His ability to play two positions and do it in different ways is something we missed last season.”
SHARE ME