A total of 27 young up-and-coming teenage athletes from Auckland have been given a spot in the inaugural Albany New World Tuatara Academy.
Led by coach Sione Maama, the group will train weekly through until Christmas with a number of these players expected to be offered playing contracts for the 2026 Sal’s NBL and Rapid League season.
The athletes will be given an introduction into professional sport, get a full S&C profile, with baseline testing as well as being given high performance coaching by the Tuatara coaches.
A number of the inaugural inductees were signed as amateur players to the club in the 2025 season with Josh Wyllie, Chris Wyllie, Matthew Dalton, Bart Jackowski, Krisnan-Cole Ioane, Noah Rasmussen and Gus Dallow all included.
The remaining players are a combination of players that have just finished high school or are still in school.
A total of nine schools have provided players that have been included in the inaugural group of athletes.
“We’re extremely excited to launch the inaugural Albany New World Tuatara Academy,” Maama said.
“The Auckland region has the highest level and deepest talent pool in the country. Providing a space for Auckland’s premier young talent to learn, grow and be challenged by one another is of the utmost importance to us and a large reason for this academy.
“We also have seen the success of other clubs who have similar setups with their respective academies and believe a direct pathway from high school to the NZNBL is long overdue for Auckland.
“I look forward to leading this project and cannot wait to get to work with these young athletes and coaches.”
2025-26 Albany New World Tuatara Academy Players
Josh Beattie (Mt Albert Grammar)
Lucas Cartwright (Mt Albert Grammar)
JJ Columbus (Sacred Heart)
Jackson Couper (Auckland Grammar)
Gus Dallow (St Peters)
Matthew Dalton (Rosmini)
Ryan Duggan (St Kentigern College)
Noah Duncan (Westlake)
Zach Guy (Westlake)
Brigham Hakaraia (Dilworth)
Krisnan-Cole Ioane (Dilworth)
Bart Jackowski (Rosmini)
Hunter Johns (Rosmini)
Kingston Kailahi (Dilworth)
Cooper Lepou (Rosmini)
Lucas Li (Long Bay College)
Bryan Marsters (St Peters)
Daley Pohio (Westlake)
Lawson Pryor (Auckland Grammar)
Noah Rasmussen (Westlake)
Dayton Simpkin (Mt Albert Grammar)
Soane Tavite (Dilworth)
Ben Wilson (Dilworth)
Harper Wilson (Westlake)
Lincoln Wilson (Westlake)
Chris Wyllie (Rosmini)
Josh Wyllie (Rosmini)