Outstanding youth basketballer Hayden Jones left Nelson on Wednesday to further his international career.
The 2.0 metre guard will be a key figure in the New Zealand side at the U19 World Basketball Championships in Switzerland later this month, and then he will head straight to Wisconsin to begin his university scholarship.
That move was announced last July, and the 18-year-old has been biding his time since.
“I am pretty patient, I enjoyed being here with the Nelson Giants. It is a little bit sad to be leaving, but also exciting,” confirms Hayden, after his last appearance with the NBL side on Friday night.
Coach Mike Fitchett injected him into the game after just six minutes, which was earlier than usual.
“It was good of Fitch to give me early court time in my final match,” says Hayden, who has brought more physicality to his all-court game in his third NBL season.
The former Waimea College star responded with 19 points including the go-ahead basket right on half-time, in his 21 minutes on court, as he went out a winner.
The Giants finally wore down the Otago Nuggets 96-82 for just their third victory at home, and given the emotions, Hayden rated it the highlight of a tough season.
Despite the Nuggets slumping to their 12th straight loss, Hayden says they played well and his team had to work hard for its sixth win of the year.
Straight after the match, he was named the Giants Young Player of the Year with the award presented by his father Phill, the side’s assistant coach.
Probably with his Tall Blacks assistant coach hat on, Mike Fitchett says he hopes to see Hayden back in Nelson in a black singlet.
As for when, the one match Tall Black reckons it will be the middle of next year before he gets time out from university to pop back to New Zealand.
Fellow Giants Lachy Crate and Will Blight are also heading off with Hayden today to prepare for the worlds.
