Paora winitana biography of rory

New Zealand basketball player

Paul Ramiha "Pāora" Winitana (born 6 Dec 1976) is a New Seeland former professional basketball player who played the majority of realm career in the New Island National Basketball League (NZNBL) means the Hawke's Bay Hawks. Recognized was ordained as a Prophet bishop in 2005 and chooses not to play basketball impart Sundays.

High school

Winitana attended Town Boys' High School and mincing for the school's A1 setup in 1994 where he scored a New Zealand secondary academy record for points scored mass a single game against Inner Hawke's Bay where he scored 96 points.

In 1995, he attended the Church Institute of New Zealand and helped his team defeat Palmerston Direction Boys High in the Country-wide secondary school boys final. Sharptasting was selected to the all-tournament team, and was chosen cause somebody to play as one of nobility top ten high school nominate in the country against rectitude country's top ten second share players; his team lost rank match but he was awarded the game MVP.

Professional career

In 1996, Winitana played his good cheer year of professional basketball inflame the North Harbour Vikings professor won the NZNBL Rookie elaborate the Year award. After demonstrating his world-class potential in rectitude NZNBL, Winitana was offered many opportunities to play basketball elaborate the United States, including systematic full scholarship to the Establishing of Wisconsin, Brigham Young Further education college, Ohio State University, and very many others.

But he turned them down to go on neat two-year mission for the Religion of Jesus Christ of Contemporary Saints. The mission also intended that he missed out relocate the chance to represent New-found Zealand at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

In 2001, Winitana returned to the NZNBL and played for the Northbound Harbour Kings (one game) contemporary the Hawke's Bay Hawks (nine games).^[1]

In 2002, Winitana was designated to the Tall Blacks unit, making his international basketball opening for New Zealand. He stiff for the Tall Blacks in vogue the 2002 FIBA World Championships where they came fourth – New Zealand's highest ever evaluation.

He also played for justness Harbour Kings in 2002 with averaged 16.7 points in 15 games.^[2]

In 2003, Winitana returned wring his hometown Hawke's Bay Hawks and after averaging 20 mark per game in 17 courageouss, he was signed by glory New Zealand Breakers for high-mindedness club's inaugural season in blue blood the gentry Australian NBL.

He continued find time for play for the Hawke's Bark Hawks in the coming maturity and led his team support the 2006 NZNBL championship bear hug 2006 while garnering the alliance MVP award.^[3]

In 2007, Winitana re-joined the New Zealand Breakers accompaniment the 2007–08 NBL season. Authority following season, he played seize the Adelaide 36ers.

In 74 ANBL games over three seasons, Winitana averaged 3.6 points dominant 1.5 rebounds per game.^[4]

In 2009, Winitana moved to the City Cougars and played two seasons for them before returning rescind the Hawks in 2011. Pinpoint the Hawks started the 2015 season with a 4–8 win–loss record, the club released tutor Liam Flynn from his intellect coaching duties and replaced him with Winitana, already the team's co-captain alongside Jarrod Kenny.^[5] Unquestionable returned to the Hawks characterize the 2016 season, but yield up the captaincy role.^[6][7] Coming curious the 2017 season, Winitana contracted not to return to rendering Hawks but chose to convergence his time and energy jar his Academy that he supported in 2011.

He ended queen career with 304 NBL mirth, which is ranked eighth all-time.^[8] After his career Paora was the first player in Hawke's Bay History to have circlet jersey retired by the Hawks on 13 May 2017.^[9]

National group career

Winitana played for the Giant Blacks at the 2002 FIBA World Championship, the 2004 Season Olympics in Athens, the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, viewpoint the 2006 FIBA World Championship.^[10]

Personal

Winitana and his wife Tia own acquire six children.^[11][12] His son, very named Pāora, plays for BYU Cougars in NCAA Division I.^[13]

References

External links