Stattmann earns main roster spot

The South East Melbourne Phoenix have wasted no time making a move off the back of Will Cummings' surprise departure, elevating Kody Stattmann to the club's main roster.

Stattmann was signed as a development player in July, but has only played seven minutes across two games so far this season.

He arrived at the club from the Brisbane Bullets, where he lined up on 19 occasions across NBL23, averaging 1.5 points and seven minutes per appearance.

Previous to that, the 23-year-old wing played a full four-year collegiate career with the University of Virginia, where he won a national championship in his freshman year.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">? TEAM NEWS ?<br><br>Kody Stattmann has been elevated to the full roster in place of Will Cummings. <br><br>Reuben Te Rangi (paternity leave) will not travel to Sydney and will be replaced by Anzac Rissetto. <br><br>While Luke Rosendale will replace Craig Moller. <a href="https://t.co/UIjJmXnsHg">pic.twitter.com/UIjJmXnsHg</a></p>&mdash; South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix/status/1733275329018683653?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Stattmann earnt a chance at the Phoenix after impressing at a development player camp in the off-season.

“At the DP camp, Kody’s size and length stood out, and his improved shot-making made it hard to go past,” assistant coach Sam Mackinnon said at the time.

Stattmann and the Phoenix travel to Sydney on Sunday to take on the Kings, with the game live and free on ESPN via Kayo Freebies, 10 Peach and 10 Play.

Reuben Te Rangi won't make the trip (paternity leave), while Craig Moller will be sidelined for the rest of the season due to a knee injury.

Anzac Rissetto will replace Te Rangi, while Luke Rosendale comes in to replace Moller.