National champions, premiership winners headline AIC Basketball’s top players to watch in 2022
As some of Queensland’s best young athletes prepare to hit the court for the AIC Basketball season, we have revealed the top players to watch. SEE WHO MADE IT
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National champions, NBL1 young stars and players who wear school pride on their chest – the 2022 AIC Basketball season is full of exciting up and coming talents.
And with the season to tip-off on Saturday, The Courier-Mail have revealed the top talents to watch on the court this season.
With other competitions like GPS already underway, the AIC is the next to follow and we are in for one of the biggest seasons yet with squads featuring new additions, experienced leaders and youngsters set to step up this year.
See our top talents to watch this AIC Basketball season below.
AIC BASKETBALL TOP TALENTS TO WATCH 2022
IONA COLLEGE
ZANE MACRAE – SHOOTING GUARD
Another one of the competition’s sharpshooters, Macrae will need to be in form for Iona this season to help his team record some victories this upcoming AIC campaign.
COWEN FITINE – POINT GUARD
A point guard who will run the show this season for Iona and will look to create for himself as well as his teammates and help Macrae and Van Veen find easy scoring opportunities.
JACK VAN VEEN – FORWARD
A forward who provides a powerful Iona College team with much-needed inside presence and helps form a talented trio with teammates Zane Macrae and Cowen Fitine.
MARIST COLLEGE ASHGROVE
DYLAN COOPER – FORWARD/CENTRE
The head of defence for Ashgrove, Cooper has spent a lot of the off-season working on his offensive craft around the basket and when he gets good touches down low he is a big body to move. His strength and presence in protecting the keyway will be key in helping Marist keep opponents to a low score.
AIDEN GIBBONS
Aiden Gibbons is in his fourth season with the firsts and the team will need to lean on his experience and leadership as the season moves forward. His ability to score inside and outside and get the ball to the right places will be vital in keeping the Ashgrove scoreboard ticking over.
BRENT HUMPHRIES – GUARD/FORWARD
Seasoned firsts campaigner Brent Humphries is a bouncy sharpshooter. His athleticism and shot creation is on another tier and he will be itching to push the pace and move the ball with Gibbons.
PADUA COLLEGE
JAI CREED/TOM MORGAN
Both players are powerhouses at both the offensive and defensive ends. Look for both players to be prominent on the scoresheet as well as team players. Lockdown defensive players with a tenacity for scoring.
ST EDMUND’S COLLEGE
NATHAN MAY – FORWARD
May has experience at the First V level after being part of the premiership winning team in 2020. He is a very skilled and versatile talent at his height, who can score at all three levels and defend across the floor. May will be looking for a big season after a tough year dealing with injury in 2021.
BRODIE BETTIENS – GUARD/FORWARD
One of the new young players (Year 10) in the team, who has cemented his role in the starting line-up and is growing in confidence every game. Bettiens has great size, strength and athleticism and is beginning to play with great poise and control for someone his age. He is also an impressive defender, using his size and speed to guard multiple positions on the court.
ST LAURENCE’S COLLEGE
ROBERT THATCHER – GUARD
A respected leader on and off the court within the firsts squad, Thatcher is a team-first player and has a significant role as floor general in order for Laurie’s to have success in the 2022 AIC Season. This is the guard’s second season representing the First V.
DAVID LOMUDE – CENTRE/FORWARD
A big man who leads by example in all sports he plays for the college. Lomude is in his second year representing the First V. His strong presence in the keyway on offence and defence will provide a strong platform for success for Laurie’s 2022 AIC Season.
ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE
ELI AVCI – POWER FORWARD
A 196cm versatile big man who can play the post but becomes very difficult to guard when he steps out to shoot from the perimeter. Avci plays above his height and is one of the best rebounders in the AIC competition. His shear power inside and physical presence will be the key for St Patrick’s season.
HUNTER ADAMS – SHOOTING GUARD
A player with great size for a guard, Adams is a very quick and dynamic athlete. His speed allows him to create shots for himself on drives, in transition, or by gaining separation on the perimeter. With a quick release, he is an effective shooter from mid-range to beyond the three-point line, hitting shots off the dribble and coming off screens.
ANDREW SUNGLAO – POINT GUARD
A pure point guard, Sunglao is a controlling influence on the court with his vision and passing. A person who knows how to run a team and raises the level of play of his teammates. Sunglao has impressive handles with a deadly crossover making him very tough to contain one-on-one.
ANGUS KEARNEY – GUARD
When he is hot, Kearney is almost unstoppable. He’ll score from beyond the arc, through mid-range jump shots and floaters in the lane. Kearney will burn defenders up the court with shear speed in transition. Although in Year 9, Kearney is already one of the best guards in the AIC competition.
ST PETER’S LUTHERAN COLLEGE
COOPER RAWLINGS – CENTRE
A big unit who will start at centre and can play several positions across the game. Rawlings can change the game in many ways, both offensively and defensively.
KYE VAN BEEST – GUARD/FORWARD
Swingman Kye Van Beest is looking forward to the challenge of a big role this season. After winning a premiership with 10A last year, his strength, size and agility will make him a tough match-up for any opponent this season.
HUGH DOLLE – FORWARD
Queensland top age group swimmer and St Peters boys’ basketball captain, Hugh Dolle is ready for another big season. Dolle brings experience and excellent leadership to the St Peters team.
VILLANOVA COLLEGE
AMARCO DOYLE
A new addition this year for the Villanova Wildcats program and adds some much needed size and power after the departure of Harrison Rouhliadeff, who graduated last year. Doyle, a member of the Queensland South under-18 national championship team, is a versatile forward who can play both inside and outside and also protect the basket for Villanova this season.
JOEY WILSON
A combo guard with a shooting and scoring ability which can change a game, Joey Wilson will form what is probably the best back-court in the AIC competition, alongside Mason Honeyman. Wilson was also a part of the Queensland South national championship team and will look to step up for the Wildcats in 2022.
MASON HONEYMAN
Another dynamic guard on the rise and the son of Queensland basketball legend, Aaron Honeyman. Mason will be looking for a big season after spending time on the sidelines with injury last year. An unselfish player with speed to burn who cannot only create for himself but his teammates and is also a menace on the defensive end.
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