Izayah Le’afa will join Sydney for the upcoming NBL season, as the team continues to restructure under new coach Brian Goorjian.
Le’afa, a fluid combo guard with good defensive abilities, played the previous two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers, helping the team qualify for the 2022/23 championship series.
Le’afa’s two-year contract extends a busy free agency offseason for the Kings, who were eliminated from the playoffs last season while chasing a third consecutive championship.
Le’afa joins Keli Leaupepe as one of two new signings as Sydney bids farewell to dual champions Jordan Hunter and Angus Glover.
Goorjian’s roster is beginning to take shape with Shaun Bruce, Kouat Noi, Makuach Maluach, Alex Toohey and Klairus Amir all retained, but the side notably lacks a big man now that Hunter has left.
Ex-NBA star Jonah Bolden, the side’s back-up centre last campaign, has also been linked with a move away from the Kings.
New Zealand international Le’afa was drawn to Sydney by the chance to play under Goorjian, the NBL’s most prolific championship-winning coach.
“Being able to pick the brain and learn from one of the best coaches to ever do it is an incredible opportunity to grow my game and push me out of my comfort zone,” Le’afa said in a press release.
“Not to mention all the pieces we have in place, it really feels like the club is building something special once again in Sydney.”
Meanwhile, the Perth Wildcats have signed NCAA standout Elijah Pepper.
The Australian-born guard was named Big West Conference Player of the Year after leading UC Davis to the conference final in 2024, where they were defeated by Long Beach State.
Casper Ware and Alan Williams, former NBL players, have previously won the same conference MVP title.
During his undergraduate career, Pepper shattered the all-time scoring record at UC Davis, which had stood since the 1970s, and was named to the all-Big West first team twice.
“I’m extremely grateful to be in this position and to be joining such a fantastic business. “I’m excited to get started,” he remarked after joining with Perth.
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