QLD GPS Basketball 2023: Top 37 talents to watch this season
We’re just weeks away from a highly anticipated GPS Basketball season and before the competition tips-off see the players you can’t miss in action this year. SEE WHO MADE IT
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The GPS Basketball season is always one of the most anticipated competitions each year and 2023 is no different as teams look to add to the premiership banners they hang in the rafters at their respective home courts.
With the season to tip-off on July 15, Toowoomba Grammar, Brisbane State High School and The Southport School will be looking to fight off other contenders as they come in as defending champions.
But before the players hit the court, see who some of the talents you can’t miss in action this season.
ANGLICAN CHURCH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
JAKE MILES-WRENCY
The captain of the First V at Churchie, who is also a national program member and player in the Queensland under-18 state team, who won a bronze at nationals in April. Jake returns to the floor after a horrific leg injury took away his 2022 campaign. An athletic wing, who will provide great transition play, elite defending and a downtown threat – Jake is poised for a big season.
OSKAR OLECHNOWICZ
A Year 11 workhouse, Oskar is an inside and outside threat whose strong play and slashing ability mixes with his toughness and he will provide Churchie with a scoring and rebounding presence each and every game.
CALEB CRONN
Senior leader Caleb Cronn is coming off a 25 point per game season in 2022 as the Churchie MVP. Caleb is a deadly outside shooter who can create, drive and find teammates and is ready to take the mantle as the best lead guard in the GPS.
ED STOREN
A shooting and slashing threat with great length, Ed had a great 2022 campaign as a wing scorer that will keep teams honest as well as get on the run in transition.
KURT SIWEK
A national junior program big man with great perimeter touch and a great basketball IQ, Kurt will be a beast on both ends of the floor in 2023. After a strong 2022 season, Kurt is set to take up the challenge of being the dominant inside force in the GPS.
BRISBANE BOYS COLLEGE
DANIEL GRAHAM, LEE VAN DER WESTHUIZEN, EMERSON JUHASZ and CHARLIE WINKS
The perimeter trio of Daniel Graham, Lee Van der Westhuizen and Emerson Juhasz will be sure to stretch defences this season. A player to watch develop this year is young Charlie Winks, who was selected to the Queensland under-16s state team.
“This group is very cohesive and plays a well disciplined game through now, long time BBB
First V Coach, Mike Ayanbadejo, who passionately leads and mentors our young men,” BBC basketball director David Bennett said.
“Success and weekly development in the BBI GBL under-23s, sees this group storm into the men’s final, preparing them competitively for what awaits in the fire of GPS competition.”
BRISBANE GRAMMAR SCHOOL
LEBRON BROOKS
Lebron Brooks is a dynamic guard in transition with a unique ability to trigger and finish fast breaks. He additionally is the head of the defensive snake for a BGS outfit that will make hay at that end of the floor.
MAX BALTHES
Max Balthes flashes a deep half court offensive skill set with an ability to shoot the ball from deep and create off the dribble. This is his 4th year in the BGS 1st V outfit, the most capped member of the group.
LACHLAN CURTIN
Curtin is the workhorse for the BGS outfit, his effort on the boards combined with his athleticism around the basket, make him an underrated x-factor. A leader on the court with his play and off the court with his positivity and effort.
ROHAN BARLOW
Rohan Barlow provides BGS with a rim running threat and a tremendous defender and rebounder around the basket. Relatively new to the game, Barlow has made massive strides in his performance since arriving at BGS in 2022 and is primed for a big season of 1st V Basketball.
BRISBANE STATE HIGH SCHOOL
KAILAN SALES
A versatile “do everything” type of player, according to coach Kris Robinson. Sales is a piece returning from last season’s squad and just made Queensland Schools team. The Northside Wizards junior is a senior at State High, who will lead the team as captain.
SULU TEOFILO, RAJ GILL and CJ AMOS
The trio are all Year 11 students, who are following in the footsteps of older brothers who played for the First V at State High in the past. CJ Amos is one of the most talented guards in the competition, with the ability to score from anywhere on the court and also cause problems on the defensive end. Raj is a bouncy big who just made the Queensland Schools and Sulu is a centre whose size and athleticism is going to surprise some teams.
ELIJAH TUUPO
An exciting prospect in his first year with State High, Elijah is a Year 8 talent coming into the team with great potential as a mobile and versatile guard/forward who can play at both ends of the floor. Elijah is a member of Queensland under-16 state team along with State High teammate Jayden Cecil.
IPSWICH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
JUSTIN VENTIC
Justin brings a lot of composure to our team and handles the ball well. Justin has a great feel for the game and is best when he finds the right balance between getting others involved, but staying aggressive.
MIKEL TOKIYAWA
Mikel is a tough defender and keeps improving on the offensive end. Mikel will fill a larger role this year.
HARRISON MCAULIFFE
Harry is set for a big senior year. Expected to be our leading rebounding, he will be aiming for a double double each week.
ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE, GREGORY TERRACE
ARCHIE MARSHALL
A tenacious defender and spark plug for the team off the bench. The team feeds off the intensity he brings to both trainings and games. He will spend his time of the court being aggressive offensively while also giving everything he has on the defensive end of the court.
ETHAN SUN
An experienced and versatile player who is comfortable defending any position on the court. Ethan does an excellent job of getting out in transition while also being a perimeter threat. He will be asked several times throughout the season to step up and carry a load for the team.
JACOB SHAW
A third year player for the 1st V, Jacob will spend most of his time on the court matched-up with the best perimeter player on the opposition. He is a consistent threat on offensive with the ability to knock down shots from the perimeter as well as finish through contact at the basket.
HUNTER TREGO
A silky player that is in the conversation for best point guard in the competition. He reads the game and shares the ball beautifully while still being a deadly scoring threat himself. Can create his own shot at any time. Hunter is not afraid of big moments and will not be rattled by opposition defensive schemes.
PHOENIX TREGO
Phoenix is an extremely talented player at both ends of the court. He will be targeted by most opposition defences after averaging over 18 points per game last year. Phoenix, the team’s vice-captain, can fill it up in a hurry and potentially will be one of the most damaging scorers in the competition.
PAUL PAPACOSTAS
Paul is a relentless player on both ends of the court. Often asked to play above his size, the Terrace captain has no issues defending bigger players before using his speed and perimeter skills at the other end to his advantage. Paul is looking to build on his significant 2022 season, where he averaged 18.5 points and 14.3 rebounds.
ST JOSEPH’S NUDGEE COLLEGE
JOAQUIN TULLOCH
The captain of the team has loads of experience to provide and is the floor
general for Nudgee. He excels in his speed and fearlessness along with providing fierce
energy on the defensive end.
TYSON WARREN
A returning player who has improved drastically and is now one of the best
one-on-one players in the GPS as he towers over his opponents. Furthermore, he is a
problem on the boards and is a tenacious defender.
RYLAN CARLISLE
Another returning player who has a lot to prove after being the six-man for the
team last year. Rylan has improved his strength which allows him to bully smaller guards
and allows him to make a living at the free-throw line.
ISAIAH JORGENSON
Although he is the youngest member of the team he plays well beyond his
years as he is a three-level scorer with impressive physical attributes for his age and will be a
problem for any GPS team in the future.
THE SOUTHPORT SCHOOL
BEN TWEEDY
Point Guard with high IQ. Fierce competitor and leaves it all on the court. Playing passionate basketball and leading the scoring in this year’s QSL Men’s competition for Gold Coast Rollers (22.71). Ready for a standout GPS season in his final year.
JACKSON MCCABE
A centre, who was a New South Wales Country representative at this year’s National Under-18 Championships. Jackson is an exceptional high school athlete and expect plenty of above the rim plays this year in red, white, blue colours. He is also currently playing with the Gold Coast Rollers men’s QSL team.
CAYDEN BROWN
A talented Year 11 wing player, who has come through the TSS basketball ranks as a prep school basketball player to senior school open team member. Has worked hard within the program to develop his game and a strong defender, can knock down the three-point shot and play multiple positions on the floor
TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR SCHOOL
SAMUEL GEU
One of the competition’s best athletes, Geu is a long and rangy forward with a developing shooting touch but his main strength is his rim protection. Geu helped lead Toowoomba to the joint GPS premiership last year with a game-winning field goal in the team’s last game and will look to do the same this season.
TAWANA NGORIMA
A crafty point guard who was also part of last year’s drought-breaking premiership team and will look to lead the team from his position. Tawana is a player who can attack the paint and create for himself and his teammates and will also get up the floor defensively.
JAMES NUGENT
A versatile and talented forward, who can play multiple positions on the court, James Nugent can crossover as a point forward and create off the dribble and forms a damaging partnership with Samuel Geu.
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