Free agents, veterans and rising stars feature in talents who should catch the eyes of the NBL, WNBL
The NBL1 North is stacked full of talent so we put together a list of players who should be on the radar of NBL/WNBL clubs. SEE THE LIST
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The inaugural NBL1 North season has proven the Queensland state league has some of the best talent in the country.
With Australian Boomers and Opals hitting the court as well as current and former NBL and WNBL players and some of the country’s rising stars – basketball fans across the state have been treated to one of the most exciting seasons yet.
And with clubs in both the NBL and WNBL still finalising their rosters, we have put together NewsCorp’s list of talents who should be on the radars of national league teams.
The list includes free agents, veterans who deserve another chance as well as young talents who could star in the future.
Players who have already signed contracts in Europe were not included.
See the full list below.
BRISBANE CAPITALS
Nick Stoddart
A tricky left-handed guard who is a handful on the offensive end, has previously spent time with the Brisbane Bullets development academy but is stepping up and having his best senior season this year. Stoddart is averaging 19.7 points per game for the Capitals.
Geordan Papacostas
One of the best young bigs in the country, Papacostas is having a bigger impact than most would have expected in his rookie senior season, averaging nine points and five rebounds per game at just 17-years-old. A talent who should definitely be on the radar of NBL teams for the future.
Brooke Blair
A sharpshooting veteran of the Queensland state league, Blair could be a valuable addition to WNBL teams if given an opportunity because of her touch from the outside. Blair is averaging just under 15 points per game this season and has also represented the New Zealand Tall Ferns.
Meg Essex
A talented big who was having a breakout season for the Capitals before going down with a serious injury. Essex would have been on the radar of WNBL clubs after her impressive start to the NBL1 North competition, where she averaged 18.2 points and seven rebounds per game.
Audrey Fuller
One of the quickest players in the competition, Audrey Fuller is another in a long list of young stars in the NBL1 North competition. Averages eight points per game but has had some big games, including 21 points against South West Metro and at 18-years-old has a lot of improvement to come.
CAIRNS MARLINS/DOLPHINS
Ky Stattman
A lengthy and athletic guard, Ky Stattman has represented Queensland North throughout his junior career and recently won a National Under-20 Championship with Queensland. The 18-year-old has had five games scoring in double figures this season.
Sarah Heard
The standout for the Cairns Dolphins all season, forward Sarah Heard has put up big numbers for a 20-year-old in the NBL1 North despite her team’s struggles. Averages more than 16 points and six rebounds per game and has had some huge performances, including a 25-point, 17-rebound game against Ipswich.
GOLD COAST ROLLERS
Preston Le Gassick
Despite being in his rookie season in the state league, Preston Le Gassick has established himself as arguably one of the most exciting talents to watch in the NBL1 North. The 18-year-old lighting-fast guard is shooting almost 60 per cent for the season while averaging almost nine points per game.
Cameron Goldfinch
A talented and athletic guard, who has previously spent time with the Brisbane Bullets as a development player but has since had his struggles with injury. Despite those struggles, Goldfinch is only 22 and when he’s firing can be a top talent in the NBL1 North.
Casey Samuels
Samuels has returned to basketball after a brief stint in Aussie rules and is starring for the Gold Coast Rollers, averaging 18.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Having spent years in the WNBL previously with several teams, including the Sydney Uni Flames, Canberra Capitals and Townsville Fire, the sharpshooting forward could add to a WNBL club.
Lilly Rotunno
A star young guard who had an impressive start to the season, forming a dynamic backcourt with former Opal Lauren Mansfield for the Gold Coast Rollers. A player who has already been identified as a future national player, Rotunno was averaging 10 points, 4.57 assists, three assists before going down with a leg injury.
Jessica Petrie
Another one of the competition’s up and coming superstars, Jessica Petrie is also one of the latest talents to join the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence. At just 16-years-old, the daughter of two former national league players, has impressed in her rookie senior season and would a future prospect on the radar of WNBL teams.
IPSWICH FORCE
Abby Bishop
A WNBA champion, an Olympian and a former WNBL MVP, Abby Bishop has the biggest resume in the NBL1 North women’s competition. Coming off an impressive season in Europe, the star big is undecided on her plan beyond the NBL1 North season and would surely be taking some calls from WNBL clubs.
Catherine McGregor
A young guard who can light it up from the perimeter, Catherine MacGregor can be one of the best shooters in the competition on her day. The 19-year-old, who helped Queensland win a bronze at the recent National Under-20 Championships, has had some massive games for the Force this year, including a 32-point game against Cairns and 26 points against Rockhampton.
LOGAN THUNDER
Jeremy Kendle
An NBL journeyman already, Jeremy Kendle has been back to his best for the Logan Thunder this season, averaging 21.4 points, 9.2 assists and six rebounds per game to help lead the side to the top of the ladder. After stints with the Adelaide 36ers and New Zealand Breakers last year, Kendle could earn another opportunity with the NBL reverting back to three imports.
Boston Mazlin
A young guard, who played a significant role in Queensland’s recent National Under-20 Championship in Mackay, Boston Mazlin has also been a huge part of Logan’s successful season so far. The 19-year-old would be an ideal pick up as a development player after an impressive season where he averages 12.7 points per game, including 25 points with seven threes in his last match against Southern Districts.
Mikhaela Cann
A player who has already won a WNBL championship with the Townsville Fire, Mikhaela Cann is one of the best point guards in the NBL1 North competition leading a title contender in the Logan Thunder. Having last played WNBL in 2019, Cann would be a great pick up for any side in the national competition.
Chevannah Paalvast
A hard-nosed and tough forward, Paalvast is coming off a season with the Bendigo Spirit in last year’s WNBL hub and is having another impressive year with the Logan Thunder. The New Zealand Tall Fern, who has also played for the Townsville Fire and Canberra Capitals, would be a valuable pick up in the WNBL.
Carla Drennan
A 20-year-old combo guard and Western Australian product who has had a breakout season with the Logan Thunder this year. Averaging 10 points per game, including a season-high 25 against the Sunshine Coast Phoenix, Drennan is on the radar to be picked up as a development player in the WNBL.
Dani Bayes
Another one of the young stars to help Queensland under-20s to a recent national championship bronze medal, where she led the tournament in three-point percentage, Danielle Bayes is one of the best shooters in the NBL1 North. At just 18 and looking to go to college, Bayes could be on WNBL radars in years to come.
Indiah Bowyer
A versatile and athletic guard/forward who can play multiple positions on the court, Indiah Bowyer was a starter in the Queensland under-10s side to win a bronze medal and has also been a part of national junior squads. The 18-year-old has scored in double figures five times for the Thunder can is sure to catch the eyes of WNBL clubs in the future.
MACKAY METEORETTES
Paris Santacaterina
At just 17-years-old, Paris Santacaterina is one of the youngest talents on the list but has earned it, playing a significant role at the guard position for Mackay, who sit in the top four. Regularly playing above 20 minutes, Santacaterina has had some impressive performances, including 21 points against Rockhampton.
NORTHSIDE WIZARDS
Logan Kyle
The 20-year-old versatile guard has been a good pick up for the Northside Wizards, averaging 11.4 points per game. Despite some inconsistency, Kyle has shown signs of just how good he can be, winning the NBL1 North men’s player of the week earlier in the season and recording some standout games, including a season-high 33 points against Southern Districts.
Aiden Krause
A Mackay product, Aiden Krause was pursued by several clubs for this NBL1 North season and there’s a reason why. The 20-year-old guard has shown he can be a big contributor at this level averaging almost 13 points per game, including 24 points in his last game against RedCity.
REDCITY ROAR
Darryl McDowell-White
Yet to be given a shot at the NBL level despite his athleticism and talent, the 24-year-old Darryl McDowell-White still qualifies to be an NBL development player and has been on the radar for seasons. Despite carrying a heavy workload, McDowell-White is averaging 14.3 points, 4.9 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game for the Roar.
Kobe McDowell-White
The younger brother of Darryl and New Zealand Breakers guard William McDowell-White, Kobe has been impressive for RedCity this year. At just the age of 17, the guard is averaging 17 points, four assists and 4.5 rebounds per game in the star-studded competition, including a high of 29 points against the Gold Coast Rollers. With those types of numbers, you would assume he would be snapped up quickly by an NBL club.
Kian Dennis
A former Brisbane Bullets development player and member of the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, Kian Dennis has made giant steps forward with RedCity this year. The dynamic athlete has made significant improvements to his jumpshot on his way to averages of almost 20 points per game and shooting at almost 50 per cent from the field.
ROCKHAMPTON ROCKETS
Kendall Stephens
A sharpshooter who was a late addition for the Rockhampton Rockets but helped the side earn its first victory over Cairns with a clutch three-pointer. Stephens spent the past two seasons with the South East Melbourne Phoenix and is now an NBL free agent.
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS
Noah Thomas
One of the competition’s quickest players, athletic guard Noah Thomas made quite the impact after joining Southern Districts following an impressive college career at Drake University. The 23-year-old averages 14 points, 4.9 assists and 5.2 rebounds this season, while also recording a triple-double against the Northside Wizards.
Maddy Willey
One of the best players on the team leading the NBL1 North women’s competition so far, Maddy Willey has starred for the Southern Districts and deserves another shot at the WNBL level. The combo guard, who previously had a stint with the Townsville Fire, averages 14.9 points, 6.1 assists and four rebounds per game for the undefeated Spartans.
SOUTH WEST METRO PIRATES
Amanda Johnson
Even though she has previously played in the WNBL as an import for the Sydney Uni Flames and has also won the QBL MVP award, Amanda Johnson just keeps on producing. One of the candidates for the MVP award this year, Johnson has put up huge numbers all year, averaging 23 points and 14.6 rebounds for the Pirates.
SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX
Jamaal Robateau
Coming off an off-season where he was picked up as an injury replacement for the Brisbane Bullets, Sunshine Coast Phoenix star Jamaal Robateau clearly wants another shot at the top level going by his NBL1 North performances. Robateau averaged 22.3 points, five rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Phoenix, including a season-high 35 against local rivals the USC Rip.
Darnell Robateau
The younger brother of Jamaal, Darnell has also showed he has what it takes to match it with the best players in the NBL1 North competition. The guard, who at 24-years-old still qualifies as a development player, averages 16.2 points, 6.6 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game for the Phoenix while shooting more than 44 per cent from the field.
Nelson Kahler
An athletic big man who is the anchor of the defence for the Sunshine Coast Phoenix, Nelson Kahler could be an asset if given a chance by an NBL team as a screener, hard roller and shotblocker. Kahler was looked at by the Perth Wildcats last season but just missed out on a spot but is having an impressive NBL1 North season averaging 14.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game while shooting at more than 64 per cent from the field.
Oscar Cluff
One part of the twin towers for the Sunshine Coast Phoenix, Oscar Cluff burst onto the scene last year in the QSL, so much so he even earned a call up to spend time with the Brisbane Bullets at the NBL Cup this year. Averaging 11 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, the 20-year-old would be a great project for an NBL club.
TOWNSVILLE HEAT/FLAMES
Luca Yates
Another one of the competition’s young and talented big man, Townsville’s Luca Yates was impressive for the Heat before moving to Canberra to be part of the NBA Global Academy. Yates was part of the State Championship winning Townsville under-18s side as well as the silver medal winning Queensland North team at the National Championships.
Ethan Betts
A local legend in Townsville, Ethan Betts continues to be a leader for the Heat despite only being 23-years-old. Betts, a savvy guard, averages 12 points, 4.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game for Townsville, including a season-high of 28 against Gold Coast and still qualifies to be a development player at the NBL level.
Bree Stephens
Her numbers maybe modest but youngster Bree Stephens has had a massive impact for the third-placed Townsville Flames as the starting big. Contributing with her usual hard work, tough defence, basketball IQ and rebounding, Stephens has shown she can take on more responsibility at the NBL1 level despite being only 18-years-old and would already be part of the Townsville Fire’s WNBL plans.
Chailee Ward
A talented guard who has had a tough season, only playing in a few games after suffering an injury while playing for Queensland at the National Under-10 Championships, Chailee Ward has already been identified as a future WNBL player after her stellar junior career. A junior career, where state championships were the normal for her Townsville team.
UNIVERSITY OF SUNSHINE COAST RIP
Kyle Zunic
Returning to Australia after a successful college career with Winthrop University, Kyle Zunic made an immediate impact for the USC Rip, showing he is an NBL-calibre player. The 22-year-old guard has had some big performances for USC on his way to averages of 14.6 points, 4.8 assists and 6.3 rebounds, which has surely caught the eyes of NBL clubs.
Alex Delaney
Having already played and won championships at the WNBL level, the sharpshooting forward is currently a free agent but is having an impressive season for the USC Rip, averaging 17.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. her year so far has included a season-high of 29 points against Cairns.
Carlie Smith
The 3X3 star is another USC player who already has WNBL experience after playing for the Adelaide Lightning in the WNBL hub last year. But like Delaney, Smith has been one of the shining stars for USC putting up big numbers of 18.2 points and 12.8 rebounds in the NBL1 North competition.
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