USC Rip City and Sunshine Coast Phoenix top players for 2022 NBL1 North season
Coaches from all four Sunshine Coast NBL1 North teams have revealed their key aims for the season and which players will be the reasons for their team’s success.
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The Sunshine Coast’s competing NBL1 North teams have started the season strongly with head coaches from all four men’s and women’s teams revealing their season goals and who will drive their success.
With several high-level talents from the NBL, WNBL, Australian Boomers or Opals and overseas players making the move for the 2022 season, coaches and players stretched from Gold Coast to Darwin will be vying for the title.
Find out which USC Rip City and Sunshine Coast Phoenix players are ones to keep an eye on.
USC RIP CITY
MEN (Head coach Nathan Arousi)
Season aim: “I think every year we aim to win a championship and we lost in the semi final last year so we don’t think that’s unrealistic,” Arousi said.
“This league is stronger than it has ever been before and I think without a doubt it’s the strongest state league competition in Australia.
“It’s surpassed every other league now and it’s full of quality NBL talent.”
Squad snapshot: “We’ve got a real mix and well-balanced age demographic in our team,” Arousi said.
“We’ve got three or four veterans that have been around the league and proven themselves across those six-odd years mixed in with some younger guys that sit in their mid-20s and then about six or seven guys that sit in that 18-24-year-old mark.”
Kouat Noi (Guard)
2022 current statline – 30.5 ppg, 2.0 apg, 13.0 rpg
“Kouat has played in the NBL for Cairns and is just a really powerful player,” Arousi said.
“He’s a prolific scorer, reads the game really well and is just a good bloke as well.”
Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (Forward)
2022 current statline – unavailable
“Wani is just coming off the back of a championship with the Sydney Kings and brings plenty of talent and experience with him,” Arousi said.
“He’s an elite level defender that can also get to the rim as a long and strong player.
“He’s only 20-years-old so really excited to see him as an up and coming high level player.”
Verle Williams (Guard)
2022 current statline – 22.5 ppg, 3.5 apg, 4.5 rpg
“Verle is a 24-year-old player that is super speedy on both sides of the ball,” Arousi said.
“He really is a pest on defence and very damaging and creative on offence so he’s another that has come into the group this season and shown how he can be effective.”
WOMEN (Head coach Jamie Glover)
Season aim: “Our aim is to play finals and I think we definitely have put together a decent side to play finals,” he said.
“I think it’s a tough league and I think the NBL1 North competition is one of the top two state leagues in Australia.
“It’s certainly become a lot more professional over the last two years and the calibre of players is fantastic meaning everyone has to lift their game.”
Squad snapshot: “For us it’s a pretty young squad but we also have some high level experience in it as well,” Glover said.
“We’ve also got a lot of juniors that are really pushing our core through as over the last few years we’ve really tried to bring them through and now have a lot more of them involved in our NBL and QSL programs.”
Maddison Rocci (Guard)
2022 current statline – 28.3 ppg, 6.0 apg, 8.3 rpg
“Maddi is going to Japan with the Australian Opals and I’ve known her for a long time and actually coached her a few years ago,” Glover said.
“She made the Opals squad at the back end of last year after winning the MVP of the QSL and her maturity has just gone above and beyond in the last few years.
“You can see what it’s done for her to play and be a part of that elite level and she’s been very handy for us.”
Ashley Harris (Centre)
2022 current statline – 19.6 ppg, 1.0 apg, 8.0 rpg
“Ash is our centre who has played in Sweden most recently but also in America and in the UK league as well,” Glover said.
“She’s been good for us as she gets up and down pretty well and has a nice left hand shot so just hoping to keep her on the court a bit more and out of foul trouble.”
Carlie Smith (Forward)
2022 current statline – 12.6 ppg, 1.6 apg, 14.6 rpg
“Carlie was our MVP last year so she has been solid again,” he said.
“She’s a good rebounder, very athletic and is well suited to her role.”
Liisa Ups (Guard)
2022 current statline – 6.3 ppg, 0.6 apg, 1.3 rpg
“Liisa is our captain who has been around the club for a few years now,” Glover said.
“She’s a great worker and a good leader on and off the court for us.”
SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX
MEN (Head coach Brad Chalmers)
Season aim: “We’re probably operating week to week more than anything,” Chalmers said.
“I suppose the biggest thing is getting our culture set and playing in a positive manner to help work on our processes.
“From there it’s about us trying to be an identity on both sides of the court and working through those key milestones each match.
“Hopefully by hitting those milestones it gives us the record we need to make the playoffs and we’ll go from there.”
Squad snapshot: “We’re heavily localised but a very experienced group with a lot of veteran guys that have played in NBL1 or QBL or even overseas,” Chalmers said.
“We’ve also got three or four kids that we’ve identified as development and role players in our group so I think we’ve got a pretty good mix.”
Mason Bragg (Guard)
2022 current statline – 17.60 ppg, 6.0 apg, 4.8 rpg
“We recruited Mason to come in and he will be the captain of the group and the voice and leader for the most part of what we do,” Chalmers said.
“Just his experience, having played NBL and won a championship at that level matched with his speed and basketball knowledge is going to be really important for us.”
Nelson Kahler (Forward)
2022 current statline – 14.80 ppg, 1.4 apg, 11.22 rpg
“Nelson is also still a really big focus for us as he plays inside and sort of anchors us on offence and defence inside,” Chalmers said.
“His impact is going to be huge and he’s been playing for the Phoenix for a little while so he will lead and I know is looking forward to that challenge as well.”
Darnell Robateau (Guard)
2022 current statline – 15.66 ppg, 5.33 apg, 7.0 rpg
“Darnell was obviously the club MVP last year so he is no doubt looking to be strong again if not a little bit more this season,” Chalmers said.
“He works really well with his brother Jamaal and both will have key roles within our group again.”
Jonathan Janssen (Forward)
2022 current statline – 15.0 ppg, 2.8 apg, 7.8 rpg
“We’ve been able to grab Jono who is a Noosa boy at heart but has been playing in New Zealand and recently in Luxembourg,” Chalmers said.
“He’s another six foot nine and really solid talent that we’ve been able to add into the mix.”
WOMEN (Head coach Darren Browne)
Season aim: “Our squad had to have a pretty big rebuild this year as we lost a lot of our team from last season meaning we recruited a number of new players into the team,” Browne said.
“As a result of that recruiting I guess we lost a fair bit of the work that we had done last year in establishing some of our foundations and how we play.
“We had a tough start to the season with double header road trips so we’re trying to play a little bit of catch up and get ourselves some sound footing to deal with the season one game at a time.”
Squad snapshot: “We had a core group of veterans last season who are now most of the girls that aren’t playing this year so instead we have got a lot of new younger faces,” Browne said.
“It’s great for the club in a long term sense but obviously they haven't played together before so we’re just trying to build that chemistry and get some of that foundation work in place so that we can perform at a high level.”
Tanaya Beacham (Forward)
2022 current statline – 10.8 ppg, 2.2 apg, 6.8 rpg
“This year we were able to recruit some overseas players as we haven't been able to bring in any overseas players for a number of years for obvious reasons,” Browne said.
“One of those girls is Tanaya from Ohio State University who is straight out of her college career.
“She’s one that we’re hoping to use to her full potential.”
Eryka Sidney (Guard)
2022 current statline – 14.0 ppg, 3.3 apg, 3.6 rpg
“Eryka is our other overseas recruitment from the University of Houston,” Browne said.
“She’s also embarking on her professional career and is one we look forward to having in our set-up.”
“Our core of local players consists of Amy Browne who is the captain and has played for a very long time,” Browne said.
“She’s someone that we lean on to provide the leadership and then Caitlin Clancy and Nat Saunders are also players who bring plenty of experience and talent to blend the team together.”
“No doubt all three of them will provide for us this again this season.”
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