Rangiora’s Hayden Collier is the newest Southland Shark with the 2.1-metre forward signing for the 2025 Sal’s New Zealand Basketball League season.
Collier comes to the Sharks after seven years in North America where he spent his final two years of high school in Wyoming followed by a five-year span at University of Regina in Canada.
Sharks’ Head Coach Jonathan Yim is delighted to have been able to secure Collier’s services and was immediately impressed with his skillset.
“Hayden comes to us as a hard worker with a great approach to the game, and I believe his best basketball is ahead of him. What separates Hayden from other prospects is his unique and versatile skill set.”
“He has a smooth shooting stroke that makes him a threat from the perimeter, but he’s also an athletic finisher around the rim who can play above the defence. On top of that, he has a deft passing touch, allowing him to make smart reads and keep the ball moving within the offense. His ability to space the floor, attack closeouts, and create opportunities for his teammates gives him an edge offensively, and he has the tools to develop into a strong two-way player,” Yim said.
“Hayden’s game is going to fit in well with the way we want to play this season, and I am excited to watch his development. I believe that the environment will push him to keep getting better, and with the foundation he already possesses, he’s in a great position to maximise his potential,” he said.
Collier knew straight away that the Sharks was the right place to launch his New Zealand basketball career.
“What stuck out to me the most in the whole process was the first phone call with Jonathan. He told me about the goals he has for the team and how he expects to achieve them. Invercargill is also a place I haven’t really been to in NZ so also using it as an opportunity to get out and see NZ a little more” Collier said.
“I’m excited to play for Jonathan, for this point in my basketball career I think a coach with his experience would be able to help develop in many ways on the court.”
Since returning from the United States last October, Collier has put all his focus into preparing for his first Sal’s NBL campaign.
“This off season I was focused on the weight room, trying to get bigger, faster and more explosive and just getting as many reps on the court as possible. I just want to learn as much as I can from the players and coaches around me and further my basketball skills,” Collier said.
The Sharks launch their 2025 campaign on Friday 14 March in Dunedin, with their home opener at ILT Stadium Southland on Saturday 29 March. Season tickets are now on sale for existing members with public sales opening this Friday from sharksbasketball.flicket.co.nz or from ILT Stadium reception.
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