Yanni Wetzell
No. 5 – New Zealand Breakers | |
---|---|
Position | Power forward / Center |
League | NBL |
Personal information | |
Born | Auckland, New Zealand | 8 July 1996
Nationality | New Zealander |
Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
Listed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Westlake Boys (Auckland, New Zealand) |
College |
|
NBA draft | 2020 / Undrafted |
Playing career | 2020–present |
Career history | |
2020–2021 | South East Melbourne Phoenix |
2021–present | New Zealand Breakers |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Yannick Clemens Thomas Wetzell (born 8 July 1996)[1] is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the St. Mary's Rattlers, the Vanderbilt Commodores, and the San Diego State Aztecs.
Early life and high school career[]
Wetzell grew up in Auckland, New Zealand. At the age of eight, he played soccer alongside later San Diego State goaltender Cameron Hogg. Wetzell decided to focus on tennis at the age of 13 and achieved a junior national ranking.[2] He attended Westlake Boys High School in Auckland.[3] As a senior in high school, he began playing basketball due to a growth spurt.[4] Wetzell helped lead his team to the 2014 final of the Secondary Schools National Championships, losing to Otago Boys High School.[3] Wetzell did not receive any collegiate offers, so he used an international recruiting agency to connect him to Division II St. Mary's.[2]
College career[]
As a freshman at St. Mary's, Wetzell averaged 11.7 and 5.6 rebounds per game. He was named Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year. Wetzell averaged 15.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game as a sophomore.[4] He was named to the Second Team All-Heartland Conference.[5] Following the season, he transferred to Vanderbilt, choosing the Commodores over Purdue, Baylor, and Texas, and sat out a season per NCAA regulations.[6]
As a junior at Vanderbilt, Wetzell made 10 starts and averaged 5.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, shooting 49.6 percent from the floor. He was a SEC Academic Honor Roll honoree and earned a degree in economics.[5] The Commodores finished 0–18 in SEC play and coach Bryce Drew was fired. Wetzell contacted Saint Mary's assistant coach Bubba Meyer to request advice about a graduate transfer. San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher was informed, and after taking an official visit Wetzell chose the Aztecs over an offer from Texas Tech. He helped replace Jalen McDaniels, who left early to play professionally.[2] Wetzell averaged 11.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game as a senior, and his 59.2% field goal percentage is ninth-highest in Aztec single-season history.[7] He was named to the Second Team All-Mountain West.[8]
Professional career[]
South East Melbourne Phoenix (2020–2021)[]
On 28 July 2020, Wetzell signed his first professional contract with South East Melbourne Phoenix of the National Basketball League.[9] On 16 August 2020, Wetzell exercised the European out clause in his contract and was released by the Phoenix.[10] He signed with Riesen Ludwigsburg of the German Basketball Bundesliga on 19 August, but rejoined the Phoenix on 14 October after experiencing passport complications with his move to Europe.[11][12] Wetzell averaged 11.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.[13]
New Zealand Breakers (2021–present)[]
On 2 July 2021, Wetzell signed a three-year deal with the New Zealand Breakers.[14][15]
National team career[]
In 2017, Wetzell was named to the New Zealand Select Team that played in a tournament in China.[16] He has also competed for the New Zealand U19 Team, also known as the Tall Blacks.[17]
Career statistics[]
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
College[]
NCAA Division I[]
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017–18 | Vanderbilt | ![]() | ||||||||||
2018–19 | Vanderbilt | 32 | 10 | 18.5 | .496 | .265 | .763 | 3.8 | .3 | .7 | .6 | 5.9 |
2019–20 | San Diego State | 32 | 32 | 27.8 | .592 | .318 | .642 | 6.5 | 1.3 | .8 | .6 | 11.6 |
Career | 64 | 42 | 23.2 | .559 | .286 | .688 | 5.2 | .8 | .7 | .6 | 8.8 |
NCAA Division II[]
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015–16 | St. Mary's | 29 | 29 | 25.1 | .530 | .500 | .632 | 5.6 | .9 | .3 | .3 | 11.7 |
2016–17 | St. Mary's | 30 | 30 | 31.3 | .501 | .409 | .667 | 6.8 | 1.5 | .8 | .6 | 15.5 |
Career | 59 | 59 | 28.3 | .514 | .420 | .654 | 6.2 | 1.2 | .6 | .4 | 13.6 |
Personal life[]
Wetzell is the son of Jenny and Clem Wetzell, who traveled to see him play 12 games at San Diego State.[18]
References[]
- ^ "Yannick Wetzell". NBL.com.au. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ a b c Zeigler, Mark (4 May 2019). "SDSU basketball lands 6–10 grad transfer from New Zealand, via Vanderbilt". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ a b "Basketball: Yanni Wetzell continues rapid rise". New Zealand Herald. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ a b Sisk, David (10 May 2017). "Yanni Wetzell commits to Vanderbilt". Rivals.com. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ a b "San Diego State Hoops Adds Yanni Wetzell". San Diego State Aztecs. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ Sparks, Adam (10 May 2017). "Vanderbilt lands 6-foot-10 transfer Yanni Wetzell". The Tennessean. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ "Wetzell, Mitchell Join Flynn, Dutcher as Aztecs Collect More Post-Season Kudos". Times of San Diego. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ "Mountain West Announces 2019–20 Men's Basketball All-Conference Team" (Press release). Mountain West Conference. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ "Phoenix Sign College Star Yanni Wetzell". Sportando. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ "Yanni Wetzell Exercises European Out". NBL.com.au. 16 August 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- ^ "Yanni Wetzell joins MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg". Sportando. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ "Yanni Wetzell re-signs with South East Melbourne Phoenix". ESPN. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- ^ Uluc, Olgun (26 June 2021). "NBL Free Agency: who's on the move". ESPN. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ "Rising Kiwi Star Turns Back on Australia to Join Sky Sport Breakers on 3-Year Deal". nzbreakers.basketball. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
- ^ "Yanni Wetzell Signs with NZ Breakers". NBL.com.au. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
- ^ "NEW ZEALAND SELECT TEAM NAMED TO TRAVEL TO CHINA". Basketball New Zealand. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ "FROM ACES TO AZTECS – YANNI WETZELL'S BASKETBALL JOURNEY". Basketball New Zealand. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ Zeigler, Mark (7 February 2020). "From Auckland to Laramie: Yanni Wetzell's parents traverse the Mountain West". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
External links[]
- 1996 births
- Living people
- Basketball players from Auckland
- Centers (basketball)
- New Zealand Breakers players
- New Zealand expatriate basketball people in the United States
- New Zealand men's basketball players
- Power forwards (basketball)
- San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball players
- South East Melbourne Phoenix players
- St. Mary's Rattlers men's basketball players
- Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball players