NBL1 season 2022 preview and players to watch including Sam Simons, Alex Starling, Jack Purchase
The NBL1 basketball season tip-off is two weeks away, with SA’s clubs aiming for state and national success in 2022. See the season preview and must-watch players.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
NBL1 Central season is right around the corner and while last season’s champions look ready for another finals push, a number of competitive sides have bolstered their troops.
Forestville looks to be the club to beat on paper, the Eagles retaining and recruiting well to add to both senior teams, with more big names set to be announced in the coming days.
Star player Sam Simons has signed on with the women’s side, joining younger sister Jess, while Adam Doyle (Eltham) and Jack Purchase (Perth Wildcats) join the men’s team to accompany re-signing players in Greg Mays, Malith Machar and Brandon Brine.
New Forestville women’s coach Daniel Stafford said his side was well-prepared for the season’s start.
“I’ve been getting a feel for the team and how they click, becoming familiar with the girls and helping them to understand my philosophy and how the game is played,” Stafford said.
“We’re thrilled to have Sam back – she’s not only massive for the team but for the whole club as well and her sister Jess goes all right too.
“We’re expecting really good things from both of them.”
Reigning men’s champion North Adelaide has lost star player and captain Tobias Dowdell to Central District, along with Jack McVeigh to North Gold Coast, Verle Williams (Gold Coast) have also left.
Coach Dean Nyberg said defending the championship would be a challenge.
“A lot of the key components for us have moved on after last season, so it’s a pretty different landscape for us,” Nyberg said.
“It’s been a long off-season but finally things are starting to come together but I think everyone knows we’re chasing Forestville, just like everyone else.”
The champion Southern Tigers women’s team has also lost a key player – MVP Teige Morrell leaving for Joondalup.
Captain Jemma Thacker said the club was looking forward to seeing Mollie McKendrick – arriving from Eastern Mavericks – take on a big role.
“Mollie has played with us before, she’s a different kind of player to Teige but we think she can fill her shoes well,” Thacker said.
Other clubs looking at a strong finals push are Norwood and South Adelaide.
The Flames have maintained a strong men’s side despite the departure of CJ Turnage and the women’s side has received a big boost with the arrival of Forestville’s Brooke Basham.
The Panthers signed Adelaide 36ers legend Scott Ninnis as men’s coach for 2022 and have retained stars Alex Starling and Olivia Levicki.
Central District will also be one to watch, with former 36ers assistant Tracy York taking over as men’s coach, and North Adelaide’s Tobias Dowdell also joining.
A national championship will also take place this season, with the winners of every NBL1 competition across the country heading to Melbourne for a final tournament in September.
SEE EVERY CLUB’S INS AND OUTS FOR SEASON 2022
PLAYERS TO WATCH
A slew of stars have remained or joined NBL1 Central for season 2022, making for what should be one of the most competitive years yet.
Ahead of round one tipping off on April 9, we’ve picked the top 10 to keep an eye on throughout the season.
SAM SIMONS (Forestville)
The 21-year-old guard was at her best last season, averaging 21 points, five assists and eight rebounds as she helped to take the Eagles to the finals.
Simons is a solidified star of the competition and, with experience for Australia and the Adelaide Lightning under her belt, has also become a standout leader at Forestville.
JACK PURCHASE (Forestville)
One of the competition’s new arrivals, Purchase will look to bring experience from his time in the NBL with Perth to the fore for Forestville.
The talented forward is more-than capable on both ends of the floor and it should be interesting to see how he adapts to new surroundings.
If Purchase can hit the ground running, the Eagles will be dangerous.
ALEX WILSON (Norwood)
Wilson is coming off career-best form, the Flames star averaging 23 points, six assists and 10 rebounds last season.
The skilled guard brings multiple offensive tools to her Norwood side, as well as veteran leadership as the club aims to take the next step and win a title.
With Basham also joining the fold with Wilson, the Flames will be hard for opposition to handle.
OLIVIA LEVICKI (South Adelaide)
2021 scoring champion Levicki re-signed with the Panthers in the off-season and will yet again be on every opposition team’s radar.
Levicki put up strong averages of 25 points and nearly 15 rebounds a game last season, while shooting over 50 per cent from the field.
ALEX STARLING (South Adelaide)
A walking double-double, Starling’s commitment to the Panthers to coincide with the appointment of Scott Ninnis was big news for the club in the off-season.
Starling put up 16 points, 13 rebounds and three assists in season 2021 and remains one of the biggest star veterans in NBL1 Central.
If Ninnis can get even more out of the big forward, the Panthers will be a team to look out for.
MOLLIE MCKENDRICK (Southern Tigers)
While the Tigers have multiple stars in their women’s team, including Morgan Yaeger and Jemma Thacker, the signing of McKendrick from Eastern Mavericks was an exciting one.
The guard returns to Southern, having already experienced success with the club in the past.
With averages of 17 points and 11 rebounds for 2021, McKendrick will slide into the departing Teige Morrell’s role nicely.
KOOP MCCALLOP (Eastern Mavericks)
McCallop’s departure from Southern came as a surprise after multiple years at the club, but there will be no sympathies from the Mavericks, who have acquired a skilled scorer and strong defender.
Filling the big man role nicely, McCallop will provide great presence for Eastern on both ends as the club looks to challenge for finals.
TERRY WINN (North Adelaide)
Import arrival Terry Winn is an interesting prospect for the Rockets, with the ability to play as both a power forward and swingman.
With Dowdell leaving for Central District, the Rockets have signed Winn to maintain their depth.
There are worse places for an import to start than under coach Dean Nyberg.
Look for the championship-winning coach to get the best out of Winn as he acclimates to the competition.
RENAI FEJO (Woodville)
Sister of Lightning guard Jasmine, Renai’s introduction to the NBL1 Central competition brought a lot of excitement to Woodville – arch rival of Jasmine’s West Adelaide.
The talented guard comes across from Victoria and brings the ability to control an offence and pick defences apart with passes or attacks to the rim.
NATE SHEPPARD (West Adelaide)
The Bearcats would be thrilled with the signing of Sheppard, a guard hailing from Malone University in the USA.
A dominant scorer, Sheppard can put the ball in the basket with the best of them and possesses the versatility to not only drive and finish with power but also shoot the ball from distance.
Join the conversation
REPLAYS: SANFL Girls Intrastate Carnival, Day 2
One club remains undefeated heading into the final day of the SANFL Girls Intrastate Carnival after another show of strength. Watch the replays and catch more action LIVE from 10.30am Thursday.
Read more
Revealed: Top SACA Premier Cricket players to watch in 2024/2025
From new recruits to rising stars and champions of the competition – we’ve picked the men’s and women’s players to watch this SACA Premier Cricket season. See who made the cut.
Read more