Dion Prewster

Dion Prewster
No. 15 – Wellington Saints
PositionShooting guard / small forward
LeagueNZNBL
Personal information
Born (1990-01-10) 10 January 1990 (age 34)
Santa Ana, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican / New Zealand
Listed height195 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Listed weight96 kg (212 lb)
Career information
High school
CollegeSan Jacinto College (2008–2010)
Stephen F. Austin (2010–2011)
NBA draft2012: undrafted
Playing career2011–2022
Coaching career2023–present
Career history
As player:
2011Wellington Saints
2011–2012New Zealand Breakers
2012Southland Sharks
2013Hawke's Bay Hawks
2014–2016Wellington Saints
2015–2017Sydney Kings
2017Nelson Giants
2017–2018Paderborn Baskets
2018–2019Hawke's Bay Hawks
2021Wellington Saints
2021–2022Melbourne United
2022Sandringham Sabres
2024–presentWellington Saints
As coach:
2023–2024Shimane Susanoo Magic (assistant)
Career highlights and awards

Dion Anthony Prewster (born 10 January 1990) is an American-born New Zealand basketball player for the Wellington Saints of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He played college basketball for San Jacinto College and Stephen F. Austin State University. He served as an assistant coach of the Shimane Susanoo Magic in the Japanese B.League during the 2023–24 season.

Early life

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Prewster was born in Santa Ana, California, to an African-American father and a Samoan mother. He was raised by his mother in American Samoa and spent time in Hawaii before moving to Wellington when he was seven.[1] He grew up in the suburb of Johnsonville[2] and attended Wellington College, before moving to the United States for his senior year of high school. He enrolled at Iowa City High School in Iowa City, Iowa, where he led his team to the Class 4A state championship in 2007–08.[3]

College career

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As a freshman at San Jacinto College in 2008–09, Prewster averaged 8.9 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game in helping the basketball team to a 25–5 record and the ETJCC South Division title. As a sophomore in 2009–10, he earned first-team All-ETJCC and All-Region XIV honors after averaging 14.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 blocks per game.[3]

On 6 May 2010, Prewster transferred to Stephen F. Austin State University.[4] As a junior for SFA in 2010–11, he averaged 5.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 29 games with three starts.[5]

On 20 April 2011, Prewster transferred again, this time to Truman State University.[6]

Professional career

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In 2011, Prewster debuted in the New Zealand NBL for the Wellington Saints.[7] He was a member of the Saints' championship-winning team in his first year.[8]

For the 2011–12 season, Prewster decided against returning to the United States and instead signed with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian NBL.[9] He appeared in 12 games for the Breakers in 2011–12,[10] and in April 2012, he was a member of the Breakers' championship-winning squad.

For the 2012 New Zealand NBL season, Prewster joined the Southland Sharks.[11] In 12 games, he averaged 8.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.[7] The following year, he played for the Hawke's Bay Hawks and averaged 13.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 16 games.[7] He returned to the Wellington Saints in 2014[12] and averaged 8.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 20 games,[7] while winning his second New Zealand NBL championship. With the Saints in 2015, he averaged a career-high 14.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 20 games.[7]

On 24 August 2015, Prewster signed with the Sydney Kings for the 2015–16 NBL season.[13][14] On 7 November 2015, he scored a season-high 12 points against the Adelaide 36ers.[15] He appeared in 28 games for the Kings, averaging 3.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

Prewster returned to the Wellington Saints for a third season in 2016.[16] In the Saints' regular season finale on 29 May, Prewster scored 40 points in 21 minutes off the bench in a 120–72 win over the Hawke's Bay Hawks.[17][18] He subsequently earned Player of the Week honors for Round 12.[19] The Saints went on to win the championship, with Prewster winning his third title.

Prewster returned to the Sydney Kings for the 2016–17 NBL season,[20] and in 14 games averaged 1.1 points.

For the 2017 New Zealand NBL season, Prewster joined the Nelson Giants.[21][22][23]

In November 2017, Prewster signed with Paderborn Baskets of the German ProA.[24] In 21 games, he averaged 7.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.[25]

In April 2018, Prewster joined the Hawke's Bay Hawks for the 2018 New Zealand NBL season.[26] In October 2018, he re-signed with the Hawks for the 2019 season.[27]

In February 2020, Prewster signed with the Wellington Saints for the 2020 New Zealand NBL season, returning to the franchise for a third stint.[28] However, the Saints withdrew from the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[29] In November 2020, he re-signed with the Saints for the 2021 season.[30] For the season, he was named league MVP, Most Outstanding Guard, Most Outstanding NZ Guard, Defensive Player of the Year and All-Star Five.[31][32][33] The Saints' semi-final against the Auckland Huskies on 22 July 2021, Prewster recorded 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 99–73 win.[34]

On 20 July 2021, Prewster signed with Melbourne United for the 2021–22 NBL season.[35]

In February 2022, Prewster signed with the Sandringham Sabres for the 2022 NBL1 South season.[36]

On 23 May 2024, Prewster signed with the Wellington Saints for the rest of the 2024 New Zealand NBL season.[37]

National team career

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Prewster captained the Junior Tall Blacks at the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship, where he averaged 10.4 points, 6.6. rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.[38]

In July 2015, Prewster earned his first Tall Blacks squad selection for their European tour, Stanković Cup campaign, and 2015 FIBA Oceania Championship campaign.[2] He made his FIBA Oceania Championship debut on 18 August in Game 2 of their two-game series loss to Australia, appearing in the final 29 seconds of the match.[39]

In February 2020, Prewster played for the Tall Blacks against Guam in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.[40][41]

In 2022, Prewster played for the Tall Blacks in the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.[42] He returned to the Tall Blacks for further qualifiers in 2024.[43]

Coaching career

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In 2022, Prewster joined the support staff of the Shimane Susanoo Magic in the Japanese B.League.[44] The following year, he was elevated to an assistant coach role by head coach Paul Henare.[45]

Personal life

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Off the court, Prewster earned his degree in teaching.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Basketball: Prewster's background no hurdle
  2. ^ a b Dion Prewster's solid NBL season with Saints capped with Tall Blacks selection
  3. ^ a b Dion Prewster Bio
  4. ^ SFA Signs Three
  5. ^ Dion Prewster Stats
  6. ^ TSU Basketball Signs Dion The Wanderer
  7. ^ a b c d e Player statistics for Dion Prewster – NZNBL
  8. ^ Prewster set for second stint with Saints
  9. ^ Breakers Confirm Development Players
  10. ^ Player statistics for Dion Prewster – ANBL
  11. ^ Dion Prewster to play ball in Sharks' pool
  12. ^ Saints sign local Prewster
  13. ^ "KINGS COMPLETE ROSTER WITH KIWI INTERNATIONAL". Archived from the original on 30 August 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  14. ^ Sydney Kings sign Tall Black Dion Prewster for Australian NBL season
  15. ^ "KINGS FALL TO 36ERS IN SYDNEY'S 800TH". Archived from the original on 15 November 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  16. ^ Wellington Saints retain Leon Henry and Dion Prewster for 2016 NBL season
  17. ^ Dion Prewster scores 40 as Wellington Saints thrash Bay Hawks
  18. ^ Saints vs Hawks
  19. ^ PREWSTER EARNS ROUND 12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
  20. ^ "KINGS FINALISE ROSTER". Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  21. ^ Nelson Giants Sign Dion Prewster, Phill Jones To Retire?
  22. ^ Dion Prewster joins Nelson Giants for 2017 National Basketball League
  23. ^ Star signing Dion Prewster wants to make a giant contribution in Nelson
  24. ^ Basketball: Seasoned trio return to bolster Hawks
  25. ^ Dion Anthony Prewster – zweite-basketball-bundesliga.de
  26. ^ Basketball: Seasoned trio return to bolster Hawks
  27. ^ Singh, Anendra (25 October 2018). "Basketball: Hawke's Bay franchise extend Zico Coronel's tenure as coach for another year". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  28. ^ "PLAYER ANNOUNCEMENT". twitter.com/saintswgtn. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  29. ^ Rollo, Phillip (20 May 2020). "'Too high of a risk': Why the champion Saints will not compete in the make-shift NBL". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  30. ^ "DION PREWSTER RE-SIGNS WITH SAINTS FOR 2021". nznbl.basketball. 26 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  31. ^ "DION PREWSTER TOPS THE 2021 SAL'S NBL AWARDS". nznbl.basketball. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  32. ^ "Saints' Dion Prewster wins MVP award as best National Basketball League player". Stuff.co.nz. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  33. ^ Egan, Brendon (22 July 2021). "Wellington Saints' standout Dion Prewster rediscovers his love for basketball". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  34. ^ "SAINTS MARCH PAST HUSKIES FOR GRAND FINAL SPOT". nznbl.basketball. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  35. ^ "Melbourne United Sign NZNBL MVP Dion Prewster". NBL.com.au. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  36. ^ "Sabres add United duo, WNBL stars to rosters". NBL1.com.au. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  37. ^ "Dion Prewster Returns to Mills Albert Saints for 2024 Season". saints.co.nz. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  38. ^ "Dion Prewster". FIBA.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012.
  39. ^ "New Zealand vs Australia". Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  40. ^ "Guam vs New Zealand". fiba.basketball. 23 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  41. ^ Hinton, Marc (23 February 2020). "Tall Blacks cruise past Guam to open up Fiba Asia Cup qualifying with 2-0 record". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 24 February 2020. Sharpshooter Ethan Rusbatch and comeback kid Dion Prewster added a dozen points apiece...
  42. ^ "Dion Prewster". fiba.basketball. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  43. ^ "TALL BLACKS NAME SQUAD FOR ASIA CUP QUALIFIERS IN FEBRUARY". nz.basketball. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  44. ^ "ディオン・アンソニー・プルースター". susanoo-m.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  45. ^ Hinton, Marc (21 February 2024). "From coaching to the real thing, Dion Prewster answers the call for Pero Cameron's Tall Blacks". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
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