BIO: Wetzell grew up in Auckland, New Zealand where he attended Westlake Boys High School in Auckland. As a senior in high school, he began playing basketball due to a growth spurt. Wetzell helped lead his team to the 2014 final of the Secondary Schools National Championships, losing to Otago Boys High School. Wetzell did not receive any collegiate offers, so he used a international recruiting agency to connect him to Division II St. Mary’s.

FAMILY: Wetzell is the son of Jenny and Clem Wetzell and the younger brother of television journalist and presenter Pippa Wetzell.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Yanni Wetzell made his NBL debut with the South East Melbourne Phoenix at 24 years of age. He scored 24 points in his first game.

After finishing second last with a 9-19 record during their inaugural season, South East Melbourne looked to provide Mitch Creek with additional support. John Roberson (to Spain), Keith Benson (to Lithuania) and Daniel Trist (to New Zealand) departed, while Tai Wesley and Ben Madgen retired. Head coach Simon Mitchell added Cam Gliddon and Reuben Te Rangi (both via Brisbane), imports Ben Moore and Keifer Sykes and development players Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa and Tristan Forsyth. Dane Pineau entered the season battling a back injury, leading the Phoenix to sign Mike Karena as his injury replacement. COVID-19 delayed the start of the season until January 2021, with players also asked to accept salary reductions due to the financial pressure caused by the pandemic.

After completing his college career at San Diego State, Wetzell signed a two-year deal with South East Melbourne in July which included a player option following his first season. He exercised a European out clause the following month to join Riesen Ludwigsburg in Germany, before passport complications caused him to reassess the move and return to the Phoenix in October, with no further out clauses available during NBL21. “It was a very difficult decision for me to leave in the first place,” Wetzell said.

Wetzell’s best overall game came in his NBL debut against Adelaide at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on January 17. Wetzell (24 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block) made 11-of-17 shots as South East Melbourne pushed the 36ers to double overtime before losing 116-108, with Creek (30 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Sykes (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 11 assists) leading the Phoenix, while Daniel Johnson (33 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) led Adelaide.

Wetzell (11.2 points and 6 rebounds across 39 games) immediately took on a major role in South East Melbourne’s frontcourt. Pineau’s back injury kept him out until March before knee and wrist injuries requiring surgery ended his season after only one appearance, leaving Wetzell and Moore to handle the majority of the work inside. Wetzell started all 36 regular-season games and all three playoff games and did not miss a game through injury.

Mid-season, Australian Boomers forward Ryan Broekhoff (7 points and 3.8 rebounds) joined South East Melbourne as an injury replacement for Pineau after spending the previous year recovering from a fractured leg and hoping to return to the NBA. Broekhoff played the final 19 games of the season, with his arrival also pushing Karena out of the regular rotation.

Wetzell’s best scoring game came against Cairns at the Cairns Pop-Up Arena on May 28, where he made 10-of-15 shots and finished with 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 block. South East Melbourne led by as many as 16 points and still held a 12-point advantage with seven minutes remaining before Cairns finished the game on a 23-4 run to win 94-87, with Creek (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Sykes (12 points and 7 assists) providing support, while Majok Deng (22 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block) led the Taipans.

South East Melbourne developed into the highest-scoring team in the NBL, led by Creek (18.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists), who earned All-NBL Second Team honours. Sykes (14.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists), Adnam (12 points and 3.6 assists), Gliddon (10.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals), Moore (10.4 points and 6.5 rebounds), Te Rangi (6.9 points and 3.4 rebounds) and Mauriohooho-Le’Afa (6.1 points) provided the other main contributions alongside Wetzell and Broekhoff. Despite its offensive firepower, South East Melbourne remained second last in the league for rebounding.

South East Melbourne finished the regular season against Brisbane at Nissan Arena on June 8, where Wetzell (6 points and 2 rebounds) played 18 minutes as the Bullets won 94-84. Creek (17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Broekhoff (14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) led the Phoenix, while Lamar Patterson (19 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, and 1 steal) was Brisbane’s leading scorer. South East Melbourne finished fourth with a 19-17 record and reached the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

The Phoenix faced minor premiers Melbourne (28-8) in the semifinals, with all three games moved to Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena and played without crowds because of Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdown. United opened the series with a 96-78 victory behind Jock Landale (26 points and 1 block) and Scotty Hopson (22 points, 3 assists, and 1 steal), while Wetzell (9 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks), Moore (17 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal) and Creek (15 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) led South East Melbourne.

Facing elimination in game two, Wetzell (20 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 steal) made 6-of-9 shots from the field and 8-of-12 free throws as South East Melbourne defeated Melbourne 90-79. Sykes (26 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) and Creek (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists) also delivered big performances, while Hopson (19 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) and Chris Goulding (14 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal) led United as the Phoenix forced a deciding third game.

South East Melbourne jumped out to a 32-15 lead during the second quarter of game three before Melbourne took control. Wetzell (6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal), Te Rangi (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals), Creek (19 points and 9 rebounds) and Sykes (15 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block) led the Phoenix, while Landale (27 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) made 11-of-13 shots from the field and all three of his three-point attempts as United won 84-74.

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
2021/22
After a season where the Breakers played 29 of 36 games in Australia, things only continued to get worse for New Zealand, with the team unable to play any home games during NBL22. After playing the previous season with a trio of Corey Webster, Tai Webster and William McDowell-White at point guard, the team decided they would build around McDowell-White and move Corey to the bench. The Breakers then allowed Corey Webster (to Egypt) to exit his contract, while Tai Webster (to Lithuania) followed after choosing not to meet the NBL’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

While losing the Webster brothers, the team signed Kiwi Yanni Wetzell (via South East Melbourne) to a three-year deal following his breakout rookie season with the Phoenix. Import players Peyton Siva (via Berlin), Hugo Besson (via France) and Jeremiah Martin (via Cleveland) were also added, while French prodigy Ousmane Dieng (via France) joined under the league’s Next Star program.
“He really fits the way we want to play, with his speed and energy,” said coach Dan Shamir.

The team immediately faced adversity, losing Siva and Thomas Abercrombie to injury and having to absorb a COVID outbreak on the eve of the season. Wetzell was unable to play in New Zealand’s opening game while recovering from COVID-19 before returning against his former team South East Melbourne at John Cain Arena on December 10. Wetzell (18 points and 4 rebounds) made his Breakers debut alongside Besson (26 points and 8 rebounds) and Delany (23 points), while Mitch Creek (36 points) led the Phoenix as New Zealand lost 88-95. Siva also suffered a hamstring injury less than three minutes into the game.

Wetzell (17.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals across 22 games) started every game he played and led the Breakers in both scoring and rebounding, improving significantly from the 11.2 points and 6.1 rebounds he averaged with South East Melbourne the previous season.

Wetzell’s best scoring game came against Brisbane at Nissan Arena on January 9, where he finished with 27 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Besson (12 points and 4 rebounds) and Siva (11 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) provided support, while Lamar Patterson (17 points and 7 rebounds) led Brisbane as New Zealand won 88-83 and ended its 0-6 start to the season.

Wetzell produced one of his best all-around games against Cairns at the Cairns Convention Centre on February 14, finishing with 23 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 6 steals, and 1 block as the Breakers survived after allowing a 26-point lead to be reduced to one. Siva (22 points) and Besson (14 points and 5 assists) supported him, while Majok Deng (21 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Cairns before Scott Machado missed a potential game-winner as New Zealand held on 84-83.

A back complaint then forced Wetzell to miss the March 1 game against Illawarra, with New Zealand also missing McDowell-White, Dieng, Loe and Abercrombie. Wetzell remained sidelined for the following games against Tasmania and Brisbane before returning to the rotation, accounting for three consecutive games missed through injury.

Another of Wetzell’s best games came against Brisbane on March 24, where he finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks as New Zealand built a 15-point lead and led 99-92 in the final seconds of overtime. Abercrombie (21 points) and Randle (12 points and 4 assists) helped the Breakers take control, while Robert Franks (31 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 steals) led Brisbane before Anthony Drmic hit the game-winning three-pointer as New Zealand lost 100-101.

Siva’s injury had earlier led the Breakers to sign Chasson Randle (via Orlando) as an injury replacement player. Once Siva (11.8 points, 4.9 assists, and 2 steals across 23 games) returned, Jeremiah Martin (12.3 points and 3.6 assists across 10 games) and the Breakers agreed to a mutual release, with New Zealand choosing to retain Randle (7.8 points across 17 games) for the remainder of the season. Although the team had planned to play its home games at the back end of the year, continuing COVID-19 restrictions made that impossible and forced the Breakers to base themselves primarily in Tasmania.

Wetzell’s final game came against Sydney on April 12, where he finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season. Delany (18 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) and Besson (16 points and 4 rebounds) provided support, while Jaylen Adams (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) led Sydney as New Zealand lost 70-76.

Three days later, with New Zealand eliminated from playoff contention, the Breakers agreed to release Wetzell (to Spain) from the remainder of his contract so he could join EuroLeague club Baskonia. Development player Sam Timmins was elevated into his roster spot for the remaining two games.
“The opportunity to play in the EuroLeague has been a goal of mine since I was at school,” Wetzell said.

Despite leaving before the final two games, Wetzell was named the Breakers’ club MVP and was also a finalist for the NBL’s Most Improved Player Award, receiving 25 votes. Besson (13.9 points and 3.9 rebounds across 25 games) was New Zealand’s second-leading scorer, while Delany (10 points and 5.6 rebounds across 26 games), Dieng (8.9 points and 3.2 rebounds across 23 games), Abercrombie (7.4 points across 13 games) and McDowell-White (6.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists across 24 games) were the team’s other major contributors.

With Wetzell (to Spain), Besson (to France) and Dieng (to France) unavailable, New Zealand closed the season against Adelaide at MyState Bank Arena on April 24. Randle (14 points) and Rasmus Bach (14 points) led the Breakers, while Sunday Dech (19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals) led Adelaide as New Zealand lost 60-93. It was New Zealand’s tenth consecutive loss as the Breakers finished tenth with a 5-23 record, the worst season in the club’s 19-year history.

Yanni Wetzell played two seasons in the NBL, playing for both the New Zealand Breakers and the South East Melbourne Phoenix. He averaged 13.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 61 NBL games.