Cashmere High School product Reuben Booth is joining the Canterbury Rams for the 2024 Sal’s NBL season.  “Talking to him, he’s very determined to have a great year and really wants to pursue his basketball opportunities whether that be Rams or heading overseas to college,” said Head Coach Judd Flavell. “In amongst those conversations, I got the feeling he was really serious. That’s all I was looking for, was if he’d made that kind of commitment to himself.  At Secondary Schools Nationals with Cashmere High School, Booth averaged 11.0 points per game while pulling down 9.5 rebounds pe ..read more

18-year-old guard Jonty Bond has signed an amateur deal with the Canterbury Rams for the 2024 Sal’s NBL season.  Wearing jersey #00, Bond arrives in Christchurch from Nelson. Bond made the Tournament Team at the 2023 AON U17 National Championship representing Nelson, averaging 15.4 points per game en route to winning the competition. “Jonty has been, out of everybody, the kid who had the most to prove,” said Head Coach Judd Flavell. “He has been a top youngster from Nelson, made rep teams, and been very good at that level.”  Bond had a very successful high school career playing for a ..read more

The Canterbury Rams have signed Fresno Pacific University commit Hugo Gonzalez for the 2024 Sal’s NBL season. The 6’4” guard recently capped off a standout high school career, winning the Thompson Trophy competition with St Thomas of Canterbury College, leading the Secondary School Nationals in total points scored, and being selected for the Steven Adams Invitational. “Hugo has made great strides in the preseason with us,” said Head Coach Judd Flavell. “He plays with a high intensity, he’s relentless, and he plays both ends of the floor.” Gonzalez is set to join the Fresno Pacific University S ..read more

22-year-old big Mac Stodart has returned to the Canterbury Rams for the 2024 Sal’s NBL season after four years abroad.  Stodart appeared in 13 games for the Rams during the 2020 Sal’s NBL Showdown after graduating from St. Andrew’s College. He earned a division II scholarship at Concordia University Irvine and transferred to Colorado-Colorado Springs (UCCS) following his redshirt freshman season.  “I’m looking forward to getting Mac into the Rams environment and seeing where we can take him and where he can get to,” said Head Coach Judd Flavell. “It’ll be fun linking back up with Mac ..read more

The Canterbury Rams lock in their third and final import for the 2024 Sal’s NBL season with the signing of KJ Buffen. The 6’8” do-it-all forward spent three seasons at the University of Mississippi before transferring to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). During his senior season at UAB, he averaged a collegiate career-high 10.6 points alongside 6.7 rebounds per game.  “I’m excited by the all-roundedness he brings,” said Head Coach Judd Flavell. “I feel like he’s a guy who can get things down at both ends. He’s very versatile and can slide up and down positions.” Buffen is cur ..read more

The Canterbury Rams have signed 18-year-old big Will Blight for the 2024 Sal’s NBL season. Standing at 6’9”, Blight mans the middle with a great deal of size and is set to be an impactful paint presence in the Rapid League. Originally from Nelson, Blight moved to Christchurch on a Sport Scholarship from the University of Canterbury. “I’m happy with what we’ve seen from Will thus far,” said Head Coach Judd Flavell. “He had a great showing at the Blitz and showed that he’s going to be a presence defensively.” Blight suited up for the U17 Tall Blacks at the Oceania Championship in 2023. His sheer ..read more

This past week saw the Canterbury Rams head west for the Westside Blitz preseason in Greymouth. The team played 3 games across 4 days, ultimately finishing in second place. A special thank you goes out to Kelvin Fisher for organising such an action-packed event.  The Rams’ first opponent of the Blitz was the Sal’s NBL’s newest franchise, the Whai. Kaia Isaac led the way scoring 28 points and dishing out 7 assists, including back-to-back and-one plays in the fourth quarter. Taylor Britt got to the basket at will en route to 23 points and the highlight of the game came in the final few mome ..read more

American shooting guard MJ Walker is set to call Christchurch home for the 2024 Sal’s NBL season after inking a deal with the Canterbury Rams. Walker made a name for himself at the collegiate level, captaining a series of successful Florida State teams while playing alongside NBA players such as Scottie Barnes, Devin Vassell, Terance Mann, and Patrick Williams. Walker reached great heights with the Florida State Seminoles, achieving All-ACC second team honours in 2021 and finishing ninth all-time in programme history for three point makes.  “We’ve got a great roster and MJ is a piece that ..read more

The Canterbury Rams have signed Christ’s College star prospect Ihaka Cate to an amateur contract ahead of the 2024 Sal’s NBL season. Standing at 6’6”, Ihaka is an adept finisher around the basket with an expanding perimeter game. He joins a gifted group of development players and brings an athletic edge to the Rams’ Rapid League roster. “Ihaka has been a real nice surprise as far as what I’ve seen from him this preseason,” said Head Coach Judd Flavell. “We’ve played him in a couple different positions. He’s mobile, he can play out on the perimeter… he’s up the floor defensively.” Cate joined t ..read more

Rising St Thomas of Canterbury star Mana Martin has signed an amateur contract with the Canterbury Rams for the 2024 Sal’s NBL Season. Martin’s versatility and impact on both sides of the ball has been on full display at the high school level for a highly successful St Thomas programme. The 16-year-old swingman won the 2023 Thompson Trophy Finals MVP award after recording a statline of 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists in a win over Christ’s College.  “Mana has a great basketball frame and the way he shoots the ball is for real. It’s probably the most exciting thing he has right now ..read more