Yanni Wetzell

Yannick Clemens Thomas Wetzell (born 8 July 1996)[1] is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the South East Melbourne Phoenix 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.

Yanni Wetzell
No. 10 – South East Melbourne Phoenix
PositionPower forward / Center
LeagueNBL
Personal information
Born (1996-07-08) 8 July 1996
Auckland, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealander
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–presentSouth East Melbourne Phoenix
Career highlights and awards

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–present)

On July 28, 2020, Wetzell signed his first professional contract with South East Melbourne Phoenix of the National Basketball League.[9] On August 16, 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 August 19, but rejoined the Phoenix on October 14 after experiencing passport complications with his move to Europe.[11][12]

National team career

In 2017, Wetzell was named to the New Zealand Select Team that played in a tournament in China.[13] He has also competed for the New Zealand U19 Team, also known as the Tall Blacks.[14]

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  Bold  Career high

NCAA Division I
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Vanderbilt
Redshirt
2018–19 Vanderbilt 321018.5.496.265.7633.8.3.7.65.9
2019–20 San Diego State 323227.8.592.318.6426.51.3.8.611.6
Career 644223.2.559.286.6885.2.8.7.68.8

NCAA Division II
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2015–16 St. Mary's 292925.1.530.500.6325.6.9.3.311.7
2016–17 St. Mary's 303031.3.501.409.6676.81.5.8.615.5
Career 595928.3.514.420.6546.21.2.6.413.6

Personal life

Wetzell is the son of Jenny and Clem Wetzell, who traveled to see him play 12 games at San Diego State.[15]

References
  1. "Yannick Wetzell". NBL.com.au. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  2. Zeigler, Mark (May 4, 2019). "SDSU basketball lands 6-10 grad transfer from New Zealand, via Vanderbilt". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  3. "Basketball: Yanni Wetzell continues rapid rise". New Zealand Herald. May 12, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  4. Sisk, David (May 10, 2017). "Yanni Wetzell commits to Vanderbilt". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  5. "San Diego State Hoops Adds Yanni Wetzell". San Diego State Aztecs. May 8, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  6. Sparks, Adam (May 10, 2017). "Vanderbilt lands 6-foot-10 transfer Yanni Wetzell". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  7. "Wetzell, Mitchell Join Flynn, Dutcher as Aztecs Collect More Post-Season Kudos". Times of San Diego. March 26, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  8. "Mountain West Announces 2019–20 Men's Basketball All-Conference Team" (Press release). Mountain West Conference. March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  9. "Phoenix Sign College Star Yanni Wetzell". Sportando. July 28, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  10. "Yanni Wetzell Exercises European Out". NBL.com.au. August 16, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  11. "Yanni Wetzell joins MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg". Sportando. August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  12. "Yanni Wetzell re-signs with South East Melbourne Phoenix". ESPN. October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  13. "NEW ZEALAND SELECT TEAM NAMED TO TRAVEL TO CHINA". Basketball New Zealand. May 16, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  14. "FROM ACES TO AZTECS – YANNI WETZELL'S BASKETBALL JOURNEY". Basketball New Zealand. February 21, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  15. Zeigler, Mark (February 7, 2020). "From Auckland to Laramie: Yanni Wetzell's parents traverse the Mountain West". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
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