Legends lead first part of QLD’s best state league players since 1990

The first part of our list of the top 30 Queensland state league basketball players since 1990 is here and if this is how good the talent is already imagine what the rest will look like. SEE WHO MADE THE LIST HERE.

FORMER and current stars of the National Basketball League, imports who have made it big in Europe and players who made their name collecting championship rings – the first part of our top 30 Queensland state league players since 1990 has everything.

Quest Community News received more than 50 submissions from fans of Queensland basketball as well as former players voting for their favourite talents from the past 30 years and we have finally come up with a list.

The panel of experts to finalise the rankings included myself along with Townsville Heat NBL1 North coach Rod Anderson, former Sunshine Coast player and general manager of the National Championship side in 1997, Bill Hooper, and Basketball Queensland general manager of game development Warwick Cann.

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In coming up with the rankings, we took into account several factors including championships, individual accolades and longevity in the league as well as the overall career of the individual.

The list will be released in three parts starting today and finishing on Friday.

Here are the first players 30-21 on the list:

Peni Nasalo in action for Rockhampton last season. Picture: Stewart McLean

30. PENI NASALO

One of those players you need in a winning team, Peni Nasalo’s career spanning almost two decades in the Queensland state league resulted in winning five championship rings along the way. Nasalo could play multiple positions but spent most of his time as a true point guard, running teams, getting the right people the ball and playing his role to perfection. In doing that, he helped the South West Metro Pirates claim the maiden title in 2003 before joining cross-town rivals the Southern Districts Spartans for his second banner in 2006. He then made the big switch to central Queensland powerhouse, the Rockhampton Rockets, where he won three more championships in 2010, 2013 and 2014. He retired after the 2015 season but returned for the Rockets in 2018 and played last season as well.

Illawarra Hawks star Todd Blanchfield has starred in the QBL when he has played. Picture: AAP/Hamish Blair

29. TODD BLANCHFIELD

Now a star in the NBL with the Illawarra Hawks, Todd Blanchfield also made a huge mark in the QBL during his time playing for the Townsville Heat as well as the Mackay Meteors. Known for his athleticism as well as his scoring and ability to guard almost every position, ‘Vinnie’ as he is known may not have the a championship to his name but was dominant in 2018 on his way to winning the league’s Most Valuable Player award while with Mackay, adding to his award list after also claiming the QBL Under-23 player award four times while with Townsville and Mackay. During his MVP season, Blanchfield averaged 20.5 points, 10 rebounds and four assists per game and had a season high of 39 points. Blanchfield has gone on to become one of the premier small forwards in the NBL, having won most improved in 2015 and also won a gold medal with the Boomers at the FIBA Asia Cup in 2017.

Former Townsville Heat star Josh Wilcher. Picture: Evan Morgan

28. JOSH WILCHER

His arrival in the QBL sparked a revival of the Townsville Heat once again becoming a league powerhouse. Wilcher joined the Heat in 2016 when the team won a minor premiership and started with 10 straight wins and then was one of the standout performers in the 2017 season, averaging more than 21 points, 4.8 rebounds and six assists. But he really stamped himself as one of the best guards to play in Queensland in recent years when he led the Heat to an upset victory over Mackay in the 2017 grand final series, winning MVP of the series that helped Townsville break a 17-year championship drought. He then went on to improve upon his return in 2018 as the Heat claimed back-to-back titles with victory over North Queensland rivals, the Cairns Marlins in the grand final series. He also had his best individual season last year, averaging 22 points, five assists and five rebounds as Townsville lost in the semi-final against Gold Coast.

Ryan McDade in a jump ball for the Rockhampton Rockets in 2010.

27. RYAN MCDADE

A hardworking, no nonsense big man, former Rockhampton Rockets US import Ryan McDade will go down as one of the club’s best ever players. McDade came in and helped lead the Rockets past the Townsville Heat to win the QABL championship but even bigger than that, the Northern Arizona alum dominated in what was the last National Championship tournament, winning grand final MVP as Rockhampton beat the Hobart Chargers to claim the national title. McDade played another year in the league with the Rockets in 2010 but anyone who wins National Championships MVP deserves a spot in this list.

Brad Davidson had a long career in the NBL after two stellar seasons with the Sunshine Coast.

26. BRAD DAVIDSON

His time in the Queensland league was short but there’s no doubt Brad Davidson will go down as one of the best guards to play in the state league. The former Suncoast Clipper, who was brought to the club after dropping 60 points against them in a pre-season match in Grafton, won two golden hands awards for steals while in Queensland and went close to averaging a triple double in the 1995 and 1996 seasons. Despite only playing two years, Davidson was a nightmare opponent for other guards and following his time in Queensland, would go on to have a long and successful career in the NBL with many teams including Townsville, Cairns, Hunter Pirates, Adelaide 36ers and more. But perhaps Davidson’s biggest achievement was winning a gold medal with the Boomers at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Rodger Smith playing for the Brisbane Bullets in 1997.

25. RODGER SMITH

A mainstay of the Brisbane Bullets during the 1990s, Rodger Smith also was a dominant force in the Queensland state league, mainly with the Brisbane Capitals where he played the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Known for his lockdown defence, incredible athleticism and fierce competitiveness, Smith helped the Capitals be a championship contender almost every year and is regarded as one of the best defenders to have played in the league. Smith had a successful NBL career stretching more than a decade and was even recently mentioned among the best small forwards to have played for the Brisbane Bullets. He also played one season with the Gold Coast in 1988.

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Shaun Bruce playing for Rockhampton last year.

24. SHAUN BRUCE

Arguably the best player in the QBL over the past five seasons, Shaun Bruce has a long list of achievements during his time in Queensland including four All-QBL Team selections and a Most Valuable Player award while featuring for the Mackay Meteors in 2017. That same year an ankle injury in game one of the grand final series prevented him from adding a championship during a stellar season. After missing 2018 due to playing in the NZNBL, Bruce returned to the QBL last season with the Rockhampton Rockets, leading the team to the semi-finals and averaging 22 points, 4.8 rebounds, 9.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game before having his best season in the NBL with the Sydney Kings.

Former Townsville Suns NBL player Jason Cameron.

23. JASON CAMERON

Jason Cameron, or ‘JC’ as his known, was a man ahead of his time. Before the game changed to focus more on the three-point shot, Cameron was an elite-shooting big man, who played for Mackay before becoming a stalwart of the South West Metro Pirates, helping lead the club to its one and only championship in 2003. After a brief hiatus from the QABL from 2004-2007 when he played SEABL for the Bendigo Braves and won a national title and grand final MVP in 2005, Cameron returned as player-coach for the Pirates for three seasons, even winning Coach of the Year in 2008 when the team finished as minor premiers. The 200cm Mackay product also had a long career in the NBL with the Brisbane Bullets and Townsville Suns/Crocodiles.

Former QBL star Braydon Hobbs playing for Mackay.

22. BRAYDON HOBBS

Despite only playing three seasons, Braydon Hobbs will go down as one of the most talented players to ever play in the Queensland state league. The first in a list of players to come to the QBL from Bellarmine University, Hobbs quickly established himself as a jack of all trades as a lengthy point guard with an incredibly high basketball IQ, who could score, pass, rebound and defend at an elite level. He also led the league in three-point field goal percentage in his first season, shooting it at 44.1 per cent as he took Mackay to a championship. He returned to the QBL in 2013 with the Gladstone Port City Power and had his best individual season, averaging 22.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, six assists and 2.4 steals per game and won the three-point shooting title again with a percentage of 45.69 per cent. He suited up for Mackay again n 2015, leading the Meteors to the championship and winning MVP of the grand final. Since leaving the QBL, Hobbs has enjoyed a successful career in Europe.

Dusty Rychart during his time with the Cairns Taipans.

21. DUSTY RYCHART

A career which was ended abruptly but there’s no doubt Dusty Rychart will go down as one of the best. Rychart played seven seasons in the Queensland state league, mostly with the Brisbane Capitals. Under coach Geoff Tarrant, Rychart helped lead the Capitals back to relevance in the league, playing in several grand finals series and winning multiple minor premierships. He was named to two All-QBL teams in 2013 and 2015, averaging a double-double for most of his career, which also included one season with the Cairns Marlins in 2012. Having played almost a decade in the NBL, Rychart was a star of both leagues, even being a starter with the Brisbane Bullets 2007 championship winning team, considered one of the best teams of all time in Australia.