Second Manhattan alumni to play in Maltese league this season
Hibernians have been a revitalised side this season in the BOV Men’s Division One, and it seems they have continued to state their case with a winter signing of US guard Nick Brennen.
The former Manhattan player, now the second Jaspers alumni to play in the Maltese league this season after Starlites’ Christian Hinckson, was confirmed a new Hibs player by his agency Dreamcatch Management on Sunday for the rest of the campaign.
“DCM is thrilled to announce the newest addition to the Hibernians Basketball Club Malta – the sensational 6’5 sharpshooter Nick Brennen!” a statement read.
While Brennen and Hinckson have never been part of the same team, with Hinckson last playing for the Jaspers in the 2019-20 season during which Brennen was plying his trade in Pennsylvania at Harcum College, the pair will have similar attributes to show after Manhattan coaching.
Starlites’ Hinckson has so far been one of the main cogs for the title-holders after five games played, with an average of 11 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 28.6% from three and 81.3% from the freethrow line.
Last season, 6’5 guard Brennen had 27 starts for Manhattan and averaged over 30 minutes a game for the side. He averaged 9.2 points, 3.2 Rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, shooting 38% from three-point range. His highest tally came against Quinnipiac University – former home to Malta international Aaron Falzon – when he scored 18 points last January.
The Irvington native joins the team after Hibs’ Calvin Whipple suffered a mid-game injury against Depiro in December and since then, the US import player has not been part of the squad, hinting that his time with the Paolite club could be over.
Now, this has also been confirmed by the club with Brenner coming in to help the likes of Ivan Demcesen and Mason Hix as Hibs continue to show their strength.
The Paolites have been in a different shape than previous seasons with the return of coach Mario Tabone and the boost coming from the newly introduced Malta Basketball Association local-foreigner rule. They now sit in fourth place with four wins and two defeats within what has been so far a fiery league campaign.
With the league campaign set to resume on January 7 after a short winter break, Brennen will have the coming week to thrust himself into Tabone’s gameplan before making his debut against coach Harry Savaya and the Valletta Fighters.
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