Jayden Bezzant
Whai
PositionShooting guard / point guard
LeagueNZNBL
Personal information
Born (1996-01-09) 9 January 1996
Hamilton, New Zealand
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeNorthwest Nazarene (2016–2020)
NBA draft2020: undrafted
Playing career2020–present
Career history
2020–2021Manawatu Jets
2022–2023Franklin Bulls
2022–2023New Zealand Breakers
2024–Whai
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-GNAC (2020)

Jayden Tuatahi Bezzant (born 9 January 1996) is a New Zealand basketball player for Whai of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He played college basketball in the United States for the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks between 2016 and 2020 before beginning his career in the New Zealand NBL. He debuted for the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) during the 2022–23 season and debuted for the New Zealand Tall Blacks in 2022.

Early life

Bezzant was born in Hamilton, New Zealand.[1][2] He spent time living in Tauranga[3] before returning to Hamilton where he attended St John's College, the high school his father played for in 1992.[4] Bezzant played for Waikato Basketball[4] and Tauranga City Basketball.[5]

In January 2014, Bezzant moved to the United States to attend Westwind Preparatory Academy in Phoenix, Arizona.[4]

College career

Bezzant initially joined the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, an NCAA Division I school in Edinburg, Texas, but after redshirting the 2015–16 season, a coaching change saw him lose his spot on the team[6] and he subsequently transferred to Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho, in 2016.[7]

Bezzant debuted for the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) in the NCAA Division II in the 2016–17 season. He began playing shooting guard despite having grown up playing point guard.[6] In 25 games, he made 19 starts and averaged 9.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game.[8]

In 26 games in 2017–18, Bezzant made 25 starts and averaged 14.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game.[8]

Bezzant moved to a permanent reserve role for the Nighthawks during the 2018–19 season.[6] On 2 February 2019, he scored 30 points, with 25 coming after halftime, in a 92–89 overtime win over MSU Billings.[9] In 26 games, he made eight starts and averaged 13.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.[10] He was named All-GNAC Honorable Mention.[11]

Following the 2018–19 season, Bezzant left the Nighthawks program to return to New Zealand after he received a professional contract opportunity. During the off-season, he was encouraged by the coaching staff to reconsider and finish his degree. He eventually decided to come back to Northwest Nazarene but was ineligible to play in the first semester of the 2019–20 season due to poor grades the previous spring. To earn eligibility again, he took 21 credits in the fall semester.[12]

In his season debut on 2 January 2020, Bezzant hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 10 seconds left in a 74–71 win over Simon Fraser.[12][13] He made the switch to point guard from shooting guard for his final season.[12] In 19 games in 2019–20, he made 18 starts and averaged 14.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.[10] He was named first-team All-GNAC.[14]

Professional career

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bezzant had signed with the Franklin Bulls of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) for the 2020 season.[15][16]

In June 2020, Bezzant was acquired in a draft by the Manawatu Jets for the New Zealand NBL Showdown in Auckland.[17] He started every game for the Jets and helped the team reach the final, where they lost 79–77 to the Otago Nuggets.[18] He impressed throughout the Showdown with his ability to score and create chances for his team-mates, demonstrating calmness and confidence in high-pressure situations. He averaged 17.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists, in just over 30 minutes a game.[18]

In November 2020, Bezzant re-signed with the Jets for the 2021 New Zealand NBL season.[18] He averaged 15.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.[19]

In January 2022, Bezzant signed with the Franklin Bulls for the 2022 New Zealand NBL season.[19] He missed games during the season with national 3x3 duties.[20] In the season finale on 7 August, he scored 31 points in a 104–99 overtime loss to the Otago Nuggets.[21]

In December 2022, Bezzant joined the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) as a Covid replacement player.[22] He played his one and only game for the Breakers on 26 December, recording one rebound in seven minutes against the Tasmania JackJumpers.[23] He remained with the Breakers for the rest of the 2022–23 season.[24]

In March 2023, Bezzant re-signed with the Bulls for the 2023 New Zealand NBL season.[25] His numbers declined in 2023 as his role shifted to one off the bench.[26] He played all 20 games and averaged 6.8 points and 2.7 assists per game.[27] Following the season, he played 3x3 basketball in China.[27]

In December 2023, Bezzant signed with Whai, a new franchise entering the New Zealand NBL for the first time in 2024.[28]

National team career

Bezzant debuted for New Zealand with the Junior Tall Blacks at the 2014 FIBA Oceania Under-18 Championship.[29][30][31][32]

In February 2022, Bezzant played two games for the Tall Blacks during the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers.[29][33] He also played for the New Zealand 3x3 team at the 2022 FIBA 3x3 World Cup,[34] 2022 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup, and 2022 Commonwealth Games.[24] He won a silver medal at the Asia Cup.[24]

Personal life

Bezzant is the son of Brett and Teresa. He has two sisters.[10] His grandmother, Mary Ellen Bezzant, was a sports administrator at St John's College in Hamilton.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Jayden Tuatahi Bezzant". FIBA. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Jayden Bezzant". New Zealand Olympic Team. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "Bezzant signs with Bulls". Franklin Bulls. 3 January 2022. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Dunn, Oliver (30 May 2014). "Bezzant makes impact in US". NZHerald.co.nz. Waikato Herald. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  5. ↑ White, Peter (20 November 2014). "Basketball: Tauranga impress but stall in semis". NZHerald.co.nz. Bay of Plenty Times. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 Craker, Craig (10 January 2019). "Native traditions help Jayden Bezzant feel at home". Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  7. ↑ "College basketball transfer list". ESPN.com. 1 September 2016. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  8. 1 2 Craker, Craig (7 November 2018). "2018-19 Men's Basketball Player Capsules". Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  9. ↑ "LOCAL ROUNDUP: NNU men take share of first in GNAC after another big rally". The Idaho Press. 2 February 2019. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 "Jayden Bezzant". Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  11. ↑ Craker, Craig (5 March 2019). "NNU's Adonis Arms named GNAC player of the year". Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 Craker, Craig (5 March 2020). "Newfound academic dedication has made this a season to remember". Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks. Archived from the original on 23 December 2023.
  13. ↑ Rowan, Samuel (2 January 2020). "Simon Fraser drops a tight game with Northwest Nazarene to open 2020". Simon Fraser Red Leafs. Archived from the original on 23 December 2023.
  14. ↑ "Shadeed, Indeed, Leads Men's Basketball All-Conference". Great Northwest Athletic Conference. 4 March 2020. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  15. ↑ Williams, Peter (19 June 2020). "2020 Manawatu Jets season preview: Sharks duo to provide bite". central.rookieme.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2023.
  16. ↑ "BULLS 2020 SIGNINGS – LEAGUE POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19". Franklin Bulls. Archived from the original on 23 December 2023.
  17. ↑ "SAL'S NBL DRAFT – RECAP". NZNBL. 11 June 2020. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  18. 1 2 3 "Manawatū Jets snare Jayden Bezzant's signature for 2021". Stuff.co.nz. Manawatū Standard. 30 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  19. 1 2 "BULLS ADD BEZZANT TO 2022 ROSTER". Counties Sports Hub. 3 January 2022. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  20. ↑ "BULLS LOSE BEZZANT BUT SIGN IMPORT GUARD". Counties Sports Hub. 30 June 2022. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  21. ↑ "GAME RECAP: OTAGO TAMES THE BULLS IN OVERTIME TO FINISH THIRD ON LADDER". NZNBL. 7 August 2022. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  22. ↑ "Team Update". twitter.com/NZBreakers. 25 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  23. ↑ "Jayden Bezzant". NBL.com.au. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  24. 1 2 3 "Bezzant "Important cog" for Bulls". Franklin Bulls. 7 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  25. ↑ "BULLS BRING BACK KEY GUARD BEZZANT". Counties Sports Hub. 7 March 2023. Archived from the original on 26 November 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  26. ↑ "FREE AGENCY FESTIVITIES: TEAMS ACTIVE DURING CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS". NZNBL. 3 January 2024. Archived from the original on 3 January 2024.
  27. 1 2 "KIWI BALLERS WORLDWIDE – MEN'S & WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL". Basketball New Zealand. 18 December 2023. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  28. ↑ "Exciting News, Whai Fans!". facebook.com/whaibasketball. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  29. 1 2 "Jayden Bezzant". FIBA. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  30. ↑ Timutimu, Rahia (27 November 2014). "Junior Tall Blacks named for Oceania Championships". Te Ao Māori News. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  31. ↑ "Junior Tall Blacks named for Oceania Champs". Basketball New Zealand. 27 November 2014. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  32. ↑ "Heartbreak in Fiji". Basketball New Zealand. 6 December 2014. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  33. ↑ "TALL BLACKS CONFIRM SQUAD OF 14 FOR FIBA WORLD CUP ASIAN QUALIFIERS". Basketball New Zealand. 17 February 2022. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  34. ↑ "New Zealand men go 0-2 on opening day at 3x3 basketball World Cup". Stuff.co.nz. 22 June 2022. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
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