Marco Alexander

Marco Alexander (born 14 August 1991) is a New Zealand former basketball player who played six seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL).

Marco Alexander
Personal information
Born (1991-08-14) 14 August 1991
Skopje, Macedonia
NationalityNew Zealand
Listed height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Listed weight80 kg (176 lb)
Career information
High schoolRangitoto College
(Auckland, New Zealand)
Playing career2011–2016
PositionShooting guard / Point guard
Career history
2011Waikato Pistons
2012Harbour Heat
2013Waikato Pistons
2014–2015Hawke's Bay Hawks
2014–2015Melbourne United
2016Super City Rangers

Early life and junior career

Alexander was born in Skopje, Macedonia, to Macedonian parents, Victor and Stefi.[1] He began playing basketball at age 7 and continued to play upon arriving in New Zealand at age 12.[2] His parents left for New Zealand during the 2001 war in the former Yugoslavia, with Alexander and his younger brother Borjan arriving two years later.[1] Growing up in Auckland, Alexander played basketball, soccer, volleyball, water polo and athletics.[1]

Alexander attended Rangitoto College between 2005 and 2009 and played for the school's basketball team.[2] He graduated as the school's all-time scoring leader.[2] While at high school, he played for North Harbour Basketball Association throughout the age groups and won four national titles and was named to three all-tournament teams.[2] He also made the New Zealand under 18 team and the New Zealand Breakers academy squad.[2]

In 2009 at the Under 19 National Championships, Alexander helped Harbour finish in third place.[3] In 2010 at the Under 21 National Championships,[4] he led Harbour to the title while earning Tournament MVP honours.[5][6] At the Under 21 National Championships in 2011, he helped Waikato finish in third place while earning all-tournament team honours.[7] In 2013 at the Under 23 National Championships,[8] he led North Harbour to the title while earning all-tournament team honours.[9][10]

Alexander also played in the CBL Zone 1 competition, suiting up for the Breakers Academy in 2009,[11] Northside in 2010,[12] and the Harbour Heat Reserves in 2012.[13]

NBL career

Alexander made his debut in the New Zealand NBL in 2011 for the Waikato Pistons.[2][14] He went on to play for the Harbour Heat in 2012,[2] before returning to the Pistons in 2013.[15] In 2014, he played the Hawke's Bay Hawks.[2][16]

Following his first season with the Hawks, Alexander had a trial with the New Zealand Breakers in the lead up to the 2014–15 Australian NBL season.[2] After missing out on a roster spot, he moved to Australia and joined Melbourne United as a development player.[17] He suited up for Melbourne in three games between 12 October and 2 November, making his first and only appearance on the court in the Australian NBL on 19 October against the Breakers.[18] In December 2014, he underwent season-ending hip surgery on both hips.[2]

Alexander re-joined the Hawks in 2015,[19] before playing his final season in the New Zealand NBL in 2016 with the Super City Rangers.[20] In 81 career games in the New Zealand NBL, Alexander averaged 8.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game.[21]

National team

In August 2011, Alexander travelled to China for the Summer Universiade to compete with the New Zealand University National Team in the basketball tournament.[22] In seven games, he averaged 15.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game.[23]

In July 2013, Alexander was named in a Tall Blacks trial squad in the lead up to their China tour.[24][25]

In June 2017, Alexander travelled to France with the New Zealand 3x3 National Team to compete in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup.[26]

References
  1. Singh, Anendra (17 April 2014). "Basketball: Marco Alexander warms to new role as point guard". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  2. "Who Is Marco Alexander?". melbunitedfanweekly.com. 16 December 2014. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015.
  3. "BBNZ Under 19 Nationals: Men finish 2nd". WWABi. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  4. "2010 BBNZ U21 National Championship Tournament" (PDF). basketball.org.nz. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2015.
  5. "2010 Results Annual". Basketball New Zealand. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  6. "NZ U21 Nationals Harbour Men 1st & Women 2nd". Harbour Basketball Association. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  7. "2011 BBNZ U21 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS". basketball.org.nz. 22 May 2011. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013.
  8. "2013 U23 National Championship Tournament" (PDF). basketball.org.nz. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2015.
  9. "2013 Results Annual". basketball.org.nz. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016.
  10. White, Peter (26 August 2013). "Basketball: Fotu finish is a highlight at NZ tourney". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  11. "CBL Zone 1 2009". WWABi. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  12. "SuperCity Basketball Championships". WWABi. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  13. "Waitakere West winning the 2012 Senior Intercity Competition". WWABi. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  14. Anderson, Ian (16 December 2010). "Forward backs out as star stays on". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 May 2020. ...while picking up promising youngsters Marco Alexander...
  15. Anderson, Ian (29 January 2013). "Waikato Pistons back in the action". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 May 2020. ...former Pistons guard Marco Alexander...
  16. Anderson, Niall (13 January 2014). "2014 NBL Offseason Update (North Island)". nzhoops.co.nz. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014.
  17. Anderson, Niall (17 September 2014). "Alexander Signed By Melbourne". nzhoops.co.nz. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015.
  18. "Player statistics for Marco Alexander – ANBL". SportsTG.com. Archived from the original on 17 May 2020.
  19. Anderson, Niall (3 February 2015). "Changes Coming For Hawks". nzhoops.co.nz. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015.
  20. "Rangers snare Ruscoe and Alexander". laceylowdown.com. 14 February 2016. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016.
  21. "Player statistics for Marco Alexander – NZNBL". SportsTG.com. Archived from the original on 17 May 2020.
  22. "Kiwi University Team Lose To Russians At World University Games". basketball.org.nz. 15 August 2011. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015.
  23. "Marco Alexander Player Profile". RealGM.com. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  24. Hinton, Marc (9 July 2013). "Notable absentees among Tall Blacks trialists". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 17 May 2020. Newcomers include guards Brad Anderson, Brooke Ruscoe, Dion Prewster and Marco Alexander...
  25. "Fresh Faces in Tall Blacks Trial". laceylowdown.com. 9 July 2013. Archived from the original on 17 May 2020.
  26. "Harbour players head to 3x3 World Cup in France". Harbour Basketball. 14 June 2017. Archived from the original on 17 May 2020.
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