Kiwi big-man Sam Mennenga has signed a two-year deal with the New Zealand Breakers, sources told ESPN.
Following the 2023-24 NBL season, there was mutual interest from both Mennenga and the Breakers to strike a deal, sources said, despite the 22-year-old having one year remaining on his contract with the Cairns Taipans.
In order to make the signing possible, the Breakers bought out the final year of Mennenga's Taipans contract, sources said, opening the door for the Auckland-native to sign with his hometown team.
Mennenga -- a 6'9 forward with a mature physical profile and the ability to stretch the floor -- averaged 6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in his rookie NBL season in Cairns, starting 12 games and shooting 34.8 percent from beyond the three-point line.
He is currently playing offseason basketball with AS Karditsas in the Greek Basket League.
Mennenga is the latest product of Auckland's Westlake Boys High School to join the Breakers, following in the footsteps of Tom Abercrombie, Kirk Penney, Rob Loe, Tai Webster, and Corey Webster.
Prior to starting his professional career, Mennenga had a three-year career at Davidson College, averaging 15.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game as a junior. He was a member of the New Zealand Tall Blacks team at the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup.
With the signing, the Breakers now have Mennenga, Finn Delany, Dane Pineau, Mantas Rubštavičius, and Will McDowell-White (player option) contracted going into the 2024 NBL Free Agency period.