Alumni Watch 2: Pre-Christmas check in!

Dec 12, 20244 min read

Our second alumni watch of the season checks in on the progress of our former players over in America, as well as a couple closer to Suffolk. In this issue, we’ll check in on:

Ethan Price (Washington State University)
Ben Michaels (University of Buffalo)
Susie Rafiu (Columbia University)
Esther Little & Christabel Osarobo (Gonzaga University)
Olivia Forster (USC Upstate)
Anya Mckenzie (Tarleton State)
Ella Pearson (Newberry College)
Yazmin Edwards & Millie Pearson (Eastern Arizona College)
Sam Newman & Veron Eze (Hemel Storm)
Cameron Taylor-Willis (Essex Rebels)
Maya Price (Caledonia Gladiators)

Ethan Price continues his strong start to his senior season in Washington State, averaging 10.4 points to go along with 5.5 rebounds. Still shooting 50% from the field and over 37% from three, the sharpshooting big shone with 16 points and a season high 6 assist over Fresno State, and also started in what would have been an emotional matchup against his former Eastern Washington Eagles. WSU are 8-2 on the season following a 5 point win over Boise State.

University of Buffalo freshman Ben Michaels has continued his strong start to NCAA life. With two starts to his name, and averaging just short of 25 minutes a game, Ben is shooting 53.4% from the field on his way to 9 points per game, paired with 3.9 rebounds. Scoring in double digits on four occasions, including his opening three NCAA games, Ben has been an inside and outside force, with his start against Notre Dame showcasing his three point prowess with 4 made threes, 6 rebounds, a block and two steals. Ben’s Bulls are 5-5 to start the season, having just paid a losing visit to Woj’s St Bonaventure last weekend.

Staying in New York, Columbia University’s Susie Rafiu’s Lions are 7-4 as they seek a third consecutive conference title. Rafiu has started all 11 games, shooting nearly 51% from the floor in a career high 23.3 minutes per game. In fact, her 6.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists all represent career highs for the Junior forward. With visits to Duke and Villanova, Susie has been seeing some of the finest NCAA establishments up close and personal. The Villanova game in November saw Rafiu rain in 16 points with 5 rebounds (4 offensive), though her team’s fourth quarter fightback would fall just one point short.

In Gonzaga, Christabel Osarobo has enjoyed a sustained spell in the rotation alongside Esther Little. The 5’11” guard has hit double figures in minutes on five occasions, and has amassed a total of 16 points, splashing threes in four games so far this season. Esther has played 26 minutes per game, including five starts. Averaging just short of five rebounds a game, Esther has had a significant impact for the Bulldogs, with a 5 point, 5 rebound effort at New Mexico in November. At 4-6, it has been an inconsistent start for a Zags side that lost many of their starters this offseason.

Anya McKenzie’s Tarleton State season has got up and running, with a series of features off the bench. The highlight being a highly effective 10 minute, 6 point, 7 rebound burst against LeTourneau this past weekend. Over at USC Upstate, Olivia Forster has also made an impact, grabbing an increased minutes load over the last 5 games, with a high of 19 minutes (3 points, 2 assists) against Kansas State.

In D2, Newberry College’s Ella Pearson has seen an uptick in minutes heading in to her senior year, with 25 minutes a game representing a career high. Though her shooting touch is yet to match the highs of last year, Ella has career highs in points, rebounds and assists so far in her senior season. 9 points and 6 rebounds against Barton in the season opener represents her best outing so far this year.

The other former Ipswich pair, at Eastern Arizona (NJCAA), of Yazmin Edwards and Millie Pearson have started 8-3 on the year. Millie has picked up 2.5 points and 3.1 rebounds a game in her 16 minutes, with a standout 6 points and 6 rebounds against Colorado NCC. For her part, Yaz is averaging 4.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in her time on court. A huge 22 points on 11-16 shooting to go along with 5 steals against Jessup University on November 29th the highlight.

Back in the UK, Hemel Storm duo Sam Newman and Veron Eze have been big contributors to an unbeaten start to the season. Hemel sit atop NBL D1 with a 9-0 record, with Sam averaging 12.4 points and 7.7 assists per game. The veteran point guard is joined for a second year by former Ipswich guard Veron. Veron has seen an increased role in his second season with 12.9 points and 5.3 rebounds in increased minutes. In the women’s Super League Basketball, Cameron Taylor-Willis of the Essex Rebels is averaging 3 points and 3.4 rebounds as Essex sit with a 2-2 record in the early running. Unfortunately Great Britain and Caledonia Gladiator star Maya Price will be missing from action with an injury for the near future. We wish her well in her recovery!