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Yanni Wetzell

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New Zealand-born basketball player

Yanni Wetzell
Wetzell playing for ALBA Berlin (2022)
No. 5 – Alba Berlin
PositionCenter / Power forward
LeagueBBL
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1996-07-08) 8 July 1996 (age 28)
Auckland, New Zealand
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High schoolWestlake Boys
(Auckland, New Zealand)
College
NBA draft2020: undrafted
Playing career2020–present
Career history
2020–2021South East Melbourne Phoenix
2021–2022New Zealand Breakers
2022Baskonia
2022–presentAlba Berlin
Career highlights and awards

Yannick Clemens Thomas Wetzell (born 8 July 1996) is a New Zealand professional basketball player for Alba Berlin of the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the St. Mary's Rattlers, the Vanderbilt Commodores, and the San Diego State Aztecs.

Early life

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. He attended Westlake Boys High School in Auckland. As a senior in high school, he began playing basketball due to a growth spurt. Wetzell helped lead his team to the 2014 final of the Secondary Schools National Championships, losing to Otago Boys High School. Wetzell did not receive any collegiate offers, so he used an international recruiting agency to connect him to Division II St. Mary's.

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. He was named to the Second Team All-Heartland Conference. Following the season, he transferred to Vanderbilt, choosing the Commodores over Purdue, Baylor, and Texas, and sat out a season per NCAA regulations.

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. 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. 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. He was named to the Second Team All-Mountain West.

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. On 16 August 2020, Wetzell exercised the European out clause in his contract and was released by the Phoenix. 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. Wetzell averaged 11.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.

New Zealand Breakers (2021–2022)

On 2 July 2021, Wetzell signed a three-year deal with the New Zealand Breakers. He was released from the remainder of his contract on 15 April 2022 under mutual consent. Across 22 games, Wetzell averaged 17.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game for the Breakers.

Saski Baskonia (2022)

On 15 April 2022, Wetzell signed with Saski Baskonia of the Liga ACB until the end of the 2022–23 season.

Alba Berlin (2022–present)

On July 26, 2022, he has signed with Alba Berlin of the Basketball Bundesliga.

National team career

In 2017, Wetzell was named to the New Zealand Select Team that played in a tournament in China. He has also competed for the New Zealand U19 Team, also known as the Tall Blacks.

Career statistics

Legend
  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  PIR  Performance Index Rating
 Bold  Career high

EuroLeague

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2022–23 Alba Berlin 31 1 12.6 .519 — .707 2.8 .5 .3 .4 6.5 6.2
2023–24 27 17 20.0 .518 .200 .667 3.5 .9 .6 .3 7.9 7.0
Career 58 18 16.1 .519 .200 .686 3.2 .7 .5 .3 7.2 6.5

Domestic leagues

Year Team League GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 Australia S.E. Melbourne NBL 39 26.4 .556 1.000 .623 6.0 1.6 .7 .7 11.2
2021–22 New Zealand N. Z. Breakers NBL 22 32.6 .594 .000 .720 8.4 1.3 1.6 1.0 17.7
2021–22 Spain Baskonia ACB 11 12.6 .500 — .667 2.9 .4 — .1 3.6
2022–23 Germany Alba Berlin BBL 31 17.9 .599 .000 .775 3.4 1.3 .7 .6 9.2
2023–24 Germany Alba Berlin BBL 38 19.3 .622 .200 .677 3.7 1.4 .5 .3 8.9

College

NCAA Division I

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Vanderbilt Redshirt Redshirt
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 of Samoan and German descent. He is the son of Jenny and Clem Wetzell, who travelled to see him play 12 games at San Diego State. He is the younger brother of television journalist and presenter Pippa Wetzell.

References

  1. "Yannick Wetzell". NBL.com.au. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Basketball: Yanni Wetzell continues rapid rise". New Zealand Herald. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  4. ^ Sisk, David (10 May 2017). "Yanni Wetzell commits to Vanderbilt". Rivals.com. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  5. ^ "San Diego State Hoops Adds Yanni Wetzell". San Diego State Aztecs. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  6. Sparks, Adam (10 May 2017). "Vanderbilt lands 6-foot-10 transfer Yanni Wetzell". The Tennessean. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  7. "Wetzell, Mitchell Join Flynn, Dutcher as Aztecs Collect More Post-Season Kudos". Times of San Diego. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  8. "Mountain West Announces 2019–20 Men's Basketball All-Conference Team" (Press release). Mountain West Conference. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  9. Maggi, Alessandro (28 July 2020). "Phoenix Sign College Star Yanni Wetzell". Sportando. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  10. "Yanni Wetzell Exercises European Out". NBL.com.au. 16 August 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  11. Carchia, Emiliano (19 August 2020). "Yanni Wetzell joins MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg". Sportando. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  12. "Yanni Wetzell re-signs with South East Melbourne Phoenix". ESPN. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  13. Uluc, Olgun (26 June 2021). "NBL Free Agency: who's on the move". ESPN. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Yanni Wetzell International Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  15. "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.
  16. "Yanni Wetzell Signs with NZ Breakers". NBL.com.au. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  17. "Breakers and Wetzell Agree Release to EuroLeague Outfit". NBL.com.au. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  18. "Yanni Wetzell Full Stats". NBL.com.au. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  19. "Yannick Wetzell refuerza la pintura azulgrana". Saski Baskonia (in Spanish). 15 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  20. Maggi, Alessandro (26 July 2022). "Yanni Wetzell signs with Alba Berlin". Sportando. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  21. "NEW ZEALAND SELECT TEAM NAMED TO TRAVEL TO CHINA". Basketball New Zealand. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  22. "FROM ACES TO AZTECS – YANNI WETZELL'S BASKETBALL JOURNEY". Basketball New Zealand. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  23. Dewhurst, Andrew (24 July 2016). "Basketball: Wetzell serves notice that hoops is his game". NZ Herald. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  24. 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.
  25. "Auckland basketballer Yanni Wetzell signs with division one side in US". www.stuff.co.nz. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2022.

External links

Alba Berlin current roster
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