Spoiled for Choice: Why Wetzell Joined the Phoenix

New Phoenix big man Yanni Wetzell says he received offers from multiple NBL teams before deciding on committing to the Heartland.

The San Diego State University graduate was hot property across Australia and New Zealand after he made his intentions to start his professional career clear following the cancellation of the American college season due to the fall-out from COVID-19.

Growing up in Auckland and being a proud Kiwi, most pundits expected Wetzell to sign with the Breakers, a team he’s trained with a number of times over his career and whose training facility is five minutes from his family home.

But the 6’10 rim-rocking big chose South East Melbourne.

Wetzell says the immediate and unwavering interest from the Phoenix coaches and front office staff made his decision clear.

“I had a couple of offers across the NBL,” Wetzell said.

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“As soon as my season ended over at San Diego State, the whole South East Melbourne coaching staff reached out. They expressed interest from day one and we started building a relationship early. I just felt that there was more interest there than other teams across the league.

“On top of that I had a previous relationship with one of the assistants, Judd Flavell, who was originally at the Breakers and moved over there (to the Phoenix).

“I just felt like it was the best place for me to start off my professional career.”

Wetzell also opened up on the heartbreaking end to his college career at the San Diego State Aztecs.

The 24-year-old’s college days started when he joined St. Mary’s in San Antonio through a recruiting website, before landing at Vanderbilt and then the Aztecs.

With a 30-2 record heading into the March Madness Playoffs Tournament, Wetzell was poised to be the starting centre on one of the top ranked teams in the country.

(Wetzell was adored by the Aztec faithful)

Then COVID-19 hit.

“It was pretty devastating, an emotional week to say the least,” Wetzell said.

“We put ourselves in a position to get a number one or two seed entering the March Madness Tournament. It would’ve been my first time having the ability to go to that tournament in five years of college.

“I finally got to that point where we put ourselves in a position to make a deep run, not only just play in the tournament but make it all the way to the Sweet Sixteen and onwards.

“For that to be taken away was definitely heartbreaking but it is what it is and it’s not like I was the only person affected so you’ve got to adapt and move on.”

Wetzell joins the recently re-signed Dane Pineau in the Phoenix frontcourt for NBL21 and will provide a slightly different threat with his perimeter shooting and ability to play above the rim.

Given his basketball career didn’t start until the age of 17, the Kiwi’s relative lack of experience means he has plenty of scope to improve his game and become a real force in the league in years to come.

And he can’t wait to get his NBL career started.

“It’s been quite a unique journey, starting basketball at 17 years old and finishing college at one of the best teams in the country,” Wetzell said.

“It’s been a pretty unique and incredible journey and I’m thankful for a lot of the experiences along the way.”

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Sam Bunn for Phoenix Media (4/8/2020)