Kalani Purcell
Melbourne Boomers
PositionForward
LeagueWNBL
Personal information
Born (1995-01-13) 13 January 1995 (age 29)
Ōtāhuhu, New Zealand
NationalitySamoan/Dutch, New Zealand
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight196 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High schoolJohn Paul College
(Brisbane, Queensland)
College
WNBA draft2017: undrafted
Playing career2017–present
Career history
2017–presentMelbourne Boomers
Career highlights and awards
  • 2x WCC First Team (2016, 2017)
  • WCC Defensive Player of the Year (2017)
  • WCC Newcomer of the Year (2016)
Medals
Representing  New Zealand
Women's Basketball
Commonwealth Games
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Gold Coast Team competition
FIBA Oceania Championship
Silver medal – second place 2013 Australia / New Zealand Team
Silver medal – second place 2015 Australia / New Zealand Team

Kalani Purcell (born 13 January 1995) is a New Zealand professional basketball player.

College

Purcell began her college career at Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas for the Blue Dragons.[1] After two seasons with Hutchinson, Purcell became the most decorated player in Blue Dragons history, earning her a transfer to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah for the Cougars.[2] During her time at BYU, Purcell received several awards in the West Coast Conference of NCAA Division I.

Statistics

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2013–14 Hutchinson 36 5 26.3 .522 .421 .593 10.3 3.7 3.6 1.4 3.2 13.7
2014–15 Hutchinson 34 34 31.0 .561 .174 .733 11.9 5.1 3.5 1.2 3.0 18.1
2015–16 Brigham Young 33 33 35.6 .451 .237 .678 12.6 4.7 2.0 0.7 4.3 12.0
2016–17 Brigham Young 32 32 36.8 .469 .286 .622 10.5 4.9 2.2 1.3 4.9 12.7
Career 135 104 32.2 .504 .270 .658 11.3 4.5 2.8 1.1 3.8 14.1

Career

WNBL

Purcell has signed a two-year deal with the Melbourne Boomers in the Women's National Basketball League. There, she will play alongside the likes of Liz Cambage and Jenna O'Hea, under coach Guy Molloy.[3]

In June 2019, Purcell signed on for her third year with the Melbourne Boomers for the 2019–20 season.[4]

National team

Youth level

Purcell made her international debut for the New Zealand under-17 team at the 2009 FIBA Oceania Under-16 Championship in Brisbane, Queensland, at just the age of 14.[5]

Senior level

Purcell made her senior international debut with the Tall Ferns at the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship. She has taken home the silver medal on two occasions. Purcell played for the Tall Ferns at the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Nantes, France. After losses to France and Cuba, New Zealand failed to qualify.

Personal life

Purcell, hailing from Hamilton, New Zealand, is the youngest of seven children to Ingrid and Brian Purcell. Two of her older sisters, Charmian and Natalie, have also represented the Tall Ferns and are both Olympians.[6]

Purcell and her partner, NBL player Tyrell Harrison, are expecting their first child in 2023.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ "Kalani Purcell #32 F Hutchinson Community College – Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference". kjccc.org.
  2. ^ "BYU women's basketball: Purcell has found success, happiness and love in Provo". sltrib.com.
  3. ^ "Deakin Melbourne Boomers Land Key Tall Ferns Forward". wnbl.com.au.
  4. ^ "KALANI PURCELL". instagram.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Kalani Purcell's profile - 2009 FIBA Oceania U16 Championship for Women - ARCHIVE.FIBA.COM". archive.fiba.com.
  6. ^ "New Tall Fern following in sisters' footsteps". stuff.co.nz.
  7. ^ Hinton, Marc (20 April 2023). "Tyrell Harrison standing tall for Franklin Bulls through impressive start to NBL". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  8. ^ Tailor, Leena (18 May 2023). "Basketball stars Tyrell and Kelani's baby joy". nowtolove.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
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