Wetzell Hits Court as Phoenix Start Preseason

The South East Melbourne Phoenix have officially started their preseason ahead of the 2020/21 NBL season, with new recruit Yanni Wetzell hitting the court with the team for the first time on Monday.

Wetzell has spent the last two weeks in hotel quarantine in Sydney, after he returned from Germany to play in NBL21. The New Zealand native was thrilled to finally pull on the Phoenix colours after such a long journey to connect with his new teammates.

“I’m stoked to be back on the court and now it’s just a matter of getting my legs back under me. I’m happy to be around the guys and the coaches…I’m just overall stoked,” Wetzell told Phoenix Media.

“It’s a bunch of great dudes. You could kind of get the gist of things from social media and that, but obviously it’s great now being in person with these guys and seeing old faces like Reuben (Te Rangi) and (assistant coach) Judd (Flavell) is always nice.”

Wetzell has a long-standing relationship with Flavell, while he was with Te Rangi at the New Zealand Breakers.

“Juddy (Flavell) kind of sparked my love for basketball five or six years ago, so it’s come full circle,” Wetzell said.

“That first year I was playing, I was playing with Reuben – I was in the Breakers academy and he was at the organisation. It’s just awesome to be back on the court with those guys.”

The 24-year-old joins South East Melbourne after playing for three different colleges – St Mary’s (freshman and sophomore year), Vanderbilt (junior year) and San Diego State (freshman year).

Wetzell averaged 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds in 27.9 minutes per game in his senior season and the Phoenix are thrilled to have him on board.

“He’s a good one. He’s spent the last four years over in college and done really well,” Flavell said.

“I’m just looking forward to getting him into this environment. He’s going to do well - he’s going to fit into this culture and add to it, and he’s a competitive guy.”

New teammate Mitch Creek also can’t wait to share the court with Wetzell.

“To have Yanni in today is obviously fantastic. Another big guy for us is always a good thing,” Creek said.

Wetzell originally signed with the Phoenix in July before exercising his European out-clause in August to join a German team, before passport complications forced him to reassess his options and return to the Phoenix.

He is on a two-year deal (player option after first) and has no outs for the upcoming season.