Izayah Le’afa will join Sydney for next NBL season as the side continues to reconfigure under new coach Brian Goorjian.
A silky combo guard with strong defensive attributes, Le’afa has spent the past two campaigns with the New Zealand Breakers, helping the side qualify for the 2022/23 championship series.
Le’afa’s two-year deal continues a busy free agency period for the Kings, who crashed out of the finals last season on the hunt for a third consecutive title.
Le’afa joins Keli Leaupepe as one of two new additions thus far as Sydney farewell dual-championship winners Jordan Hunter and Angus Glover.
Izayah Le’afa drives to the basket during a recent NBL clash with the Kings in Sydney. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)
Goorjian’s roster is beginning to take shape with Shaun Bruce, Kouat Noi, Makuach Maluach, Alex Toohey and Klairus Amir all retained, but the side notably lacks a big man now that Hunter has left.
Ex-NBA star Jonah Bolden, the side’s back-up centre last campaign, has also been linked with a move away from the Kings.
New Zealand international Le’afa was drawn to Sydney by the chance to play under Goorjian, the NBL’s most prolific championship-winning coach.
“Being able to pick the brain and learn from one of the best coaches to ever do it is an incredible opportunity to grow my game and push me out of my comfort zone,” Le’afa said.
“Not to mention all the pieces we have in place, it really feels like the club is building something special once again in Sydney.”
Elsewhere, the Perth Wildcats have signed college star Elijah Pepper.
The Australian-born guard was crowned player of the year for the NCAA’s Big West conference after guiding UC Davis to the 2024 conference final, which they lost to Long Beach State.
Former NBL players Casper Ware and Alan Williams are among the previous recipients of the same conference MVP award.
During his college career, Pepper broke the record as UC Davis’ all-time leading scorer, which had stood since the 1970s, and was twice selected in the all Big-West first team.
“I’m super grateful to be in this position and signing for such a great organisation. I’m excited to get going,” he said on signing with Perth.
News Related
-
-
-
FILE PHOTO: A man walks in the Central Business District on a rainy day, in Beijing, China, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo By Joe Cash, Ellen Zhang and Kane Wu BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) – U.S. furniture company head Jordan England thinks his firm’s Chinese suppliers are among the best ...
See Details:
Analysis-West's de-risking starts to bite China's prospects
-
Independent senators are trying a parliamentary tactic last successful 90 years ago to give first responders PTSD protections and end domestic violence discrimination in the workplace. Senators Jacqui Lambie and David Pocock took four elements of Labor’s larger workplace law reform bill and it passed the Senate against the government’s ...
See Details:
'Beyond a joke' Labor won't ensure PTSD protections: MP
-
-
-
-
Photograph: Rod McGuirk/AP The stateless Rohingyan refugee who successfully overturned the legality of indefinite immigration detention was accidentally named in documents published by the high court. The man was identified by his surname in a home affairs department email providing an internal update about the case, which was among documents ...
See Details:
Rohingyan refugee NZYQ accidentally named in documents published by high court
-
Photograph: Rod McGuirk/AP The stateless Rohingyan refugee who successfully overturned the legality of indefinite immigration detention was accidentally named in documents published by the high court. The man was identified by his surname in a home affairs department email providing an internal update about the case, which was among documents ...
See Details:
Colorado loses commitments of 2 more high school recruits
-
Photograph: Rod McGuirk/AP The stateless Rohingyan refugee who successfully overturned the legality of indefinite immigration detention was accidentally named in documents published by the high court. The man was identified by his surname in a home affairs department email providing an internal update about the case, which was among documents ...
See Details:
Queensland Health issues urgent patient safety alert over national bacteria outbreak
-
Photograph: Rod McGuirk/AP The stateless Rohingyan refugee who successfully overturned the legality of indefinite immigration detention was accidentally named in documents published by the high court. The man was identified by his surname in a home affairs department email providing an internal update about the case, which was among documents ...
See Details:
Townsville Community Pantry 'distressed' by fruit, vegetable waste at Aldi supermarket
-
Photograph: Rod McGuirk/AP The stateless Rohingyan refugee who successfully overturned the legality of indefinite immigration detention was accidentally named in documents published by the high court. The man was identified by his surname in a home affairs department email providing an internal update about the case, which was among documents ...
See Details:
What Is The Beaver Moon And What Does It Mean For You?
-
Photograph: Rod McGuirk/AP The stateless Rohingyan refugee who successfully overturned the legality of indefinite immigration detention was accidentally named in documents published by the high court. The man was identified by his surname in a home affairs department email providing an internal update about the case, which was among documents ...
See Details:
Labor senator Pat Dodson to resign from politics due to health issues
-
Photograph: Rod McGuirk/AP The stateless Rohingyan refugee who successfully overturned the legality of indefinite immigration detention was accidentally named in documents published by the high court. The man was identified by his surname in a home affairs department email providing an internal update about the case, which was among documents ...
See Details:
Hamas releases 11 more hostages, as Israel agrees to extend ceasefire
OTHER NEWS
Disrupt Burrup Hub group say police have issued move-on notices prohibiting access to the WA site. A group of climate activists and filmmakers say their phones have been seized during ...
Read more »
As individuals, we have unique experiences that affect our mental health and wellbeing, but what about the collective experiences that influence each generation? The mental health of Australians has been ...
Read more »
Syed Ghazaly wants to see the Geraldton abattoir reopen early next year to process 1,000 sheep a day. (ABC Mid West Wheatbelt: Chris Lewis) The new owners of a mothballed ...
Read more »
Carlton coach Michael Voss says he and his players understand there are heightened expectations on them, but insists the Blues are ready to develop individually and in their game plan. ...
Read more »
The Bulldogs’ off-season signing frenzy is set to continue with the club reportedly set to land Cronnor Tracey in a swap deal. The Sydney Morning Herald reports Tracey is expected ...
Read more »
Consumers and impacted businesses are being urged to have their say on the Optus outage, with the federal government laying out the terms of reference for its review into the ...
Read more »
It has been revealed a released immigration detainee is unable to be contacted by authorities. Border Force has referred the matter to the Federal Police as authorities are attempting to ...
Read more »