Kerry Boagni

Boagni was born in Los Angeles, California. He attended Serra High School in Gardena, California, where he played basketball. A star forward, Boagni averaged 24 points and 17 rebounds per game and shot 61% from the floor. He was named to the 1982 Sporting News' Top 10 prep list, the USA Men's U.S. Olympic Festival Roster, and made more than a half dozen All-America teams. Boagni played in the 1982 McDonald's All-American Boys Game, along with future NBA stars Dell Curry and Kenny Walker.[2]

A highly regarded recruit, Boagni selected the University of Kansas to pursue his basketball career. In his freshman year, he was the team's No. 2 scorer (14 points per game), scored in double figures 23 times, and was named to the Big Eight Conference all-freshman team. After playing 10 games for Kansas in his sophomore year,[3] Boagni transferred to California State University, Fullerton and excelled. The Utah Jazz subsequently picked Boagni with the 105th overall draft pick in the 1986 NBA draft.[4]

Boagni landed in New Zealand in 1988 where he began a successful NBL career with the Wellington Saints. Boagni and fellow American Kenny McFadden became club legends[5] as they helped the Saints win the 1988 championship and both earned All-Star Five honors. Boagni played five seasons for the Saints, departing the club for the Hawke's Bay Hawks in 1993. Between 1993 and 1998, Boagni played for the Hawks, had a second stint with the Saints, and had one season with the North Harbour Kings. In 267 career NBL games, Boagni recorded 6,929 points (ranked second all-time) and 1,870 rebounds (ranked ninth all-time).[6][7] Then in 1999, he helped the North Otago Penguins win the Conference Basketball League championship.[8][9]

Boagni's ex-partner, Jane McMeeken, was a former captain of the New Zealand women's national basketball team.[10] His daughter, Tessa, has played in the Women's Basketball Championship, the top women's basketball competition in New Zealand.[11][12]

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