The top players to watch for GPS Basketball season 2022 revealed
New recruits, accomplished young stars and up and coming athletes – see who made our list for the top players to watch in GPS Basketball this year.
South East
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We’re just days away from tip-off to the new GPS basketball season and as some of the state’s most promising young talents hit the court, see who the top players to watch are.
As teams look to compete for the first premiership since 2020 after Covid-19 lockdowns resulted in not enough games being played last year, schools are filled with already accomplished stars, up and coming athletes set to make a jump and new recruits.
With this year’s competition to start on Saturday, The Courier-Mail have revealed the top 25 players to catch on the court.
See who made the list.
TOP TALENTS TO WATCH THIS GPS BASKETBALL SEASON
ANGLICAN CHURCH GRAMMAR SCHOOL (CHURCHIE)
Kurt Siwek – Centre
A dominant big man who has already made his mark at the nationals level, winning a title in 2021 and helping Queensland South back to the grand final last week. One of the younger talents in the competition but one of the most promising up and comers.
Quinn Lambert – Forward
A senior who will look to lead from the front this season, the Southern Districts Spartans player is an athlete who can make an impact on both ends and will be a big piece for new coach Andrew Summerfield this year.
Jacob Miles-Wrency – Forward
Coming off an impressive season with the Spartans at under-18s level, Miles-Wrency will be another big contributor, alongside the likes of Lambert and Siwek as Churchie look to return to the top of the competition.
BRISBANE BOYS’ COLLEGE
Emerson Juhasz – Forward
An exciting young athlete who recently returned from helping take Queensland South to the national under-16 grand final. A versatile player who can play multiple positions and score in bunches when he finds his rhythm.
Daniel Graham – Forward
Like Juhasz, Graham returned from representing Queensland South at the national under-16 championships. The Brisbane Capitals junior is a smart and versatile forward who can defend and make big shots.
BRISBANE GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Lebron Brooks – Guard
A dynamic point guard, who at such a young age already has significant experience at the higher levels, helping lead Queensland South to a national championship this year, the Northside Wizards to a state title and also playing NBL1 for the Wizards.
Lachlan Curtin – Forward
An athletic forward, who is the ultimate team guy and competitor, Curtin will form a dynamic combination with Lebron Brooks as they look to cover the loss of big man Rocco Zikarsky from last season.
BRISBANE STATE HIGH SCHOOL
Abass Bodija – Forward/Centre
An exciting young big man, who not only has the size to cause problems for any opposition but also has outstanding athleticism and ability to make plays above the rim. As captain of the State High outfit in 2022, Bodija will be looking to build on his NBL1 experience with South West Metro.
Elijah Kamu – Forward/Centre
A hardworking and tough power forward, Elijah Kamu was another talent who played on the Queensland South under-18 national championship side. One of the most physical players in the competition, Kamu will also be one of the spiritual leaders for State High on the back of getting minutes for NBL1 league leaders, the Gold Coast Rollers.
Caleb Isaac – Guard
A true point guard, who was impressive for the Brisbane Capitals last SQJBC season, Isaac has the ability to make plays for others and himself, get to the rim but also hit shots from the perimeter.
IPSWICH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Fletcher Doyle – Guard/Forward
A versatile small forward, who can play multiple positions on the court, but at the three spot can score, create and rebound well. Doyle will be key for Ipswich Grammar’s GPS campaign.
Sidney Keith – Guard
A sharpshooter at the two-guard position and in the words of Ipswich Grammar coach Jason Ralph “when he is running hot he can break the game open”.
ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE, GREGORY TERRACE
Nazar Angallo – Guard
Angallo has starred for Terrace for several seasons now and will lead an otherwise young team for coach Matthew Hamilton-Smith this season. An athletic guard, who can attack the basket, will form a damaging backcourt with the Trego twins starting this weekend.
Phoenix Trego – Guard
Returning to Australia after representing New Zealand at the FIBA Asia and World Cups, Phoenix Trego is a sharpshooter, who will be among the best perimeter shooters in the GPS competition.
Hunter Trego – Guard
A point guard, who can create for himself and others, Hunter Trego, like his brother is coming off a past month where he represented New Zealand at the FIBA Asia and World Cups. The experience will be invaluable for Trego as he steps up for Terrace this GPS season.
Logan Siolo – Guard
Another one of the young stars who helped Queensland South to a silver medal at the under-16 national championships, Logan Siolo is a no-nonsense guard, who impacts games with his activity, hustle and defence.
ST JOSEPH’S NUDGEE COLLEGE
Nate Scott – Guard
A left-handed shooter, who shot the lights out at last year’s CBSQ tournament to help Nudgee to a quarterfinals appearance and will be a key contributor for the team once again this season.
Joaquin Tulloch – Guard
The Northside Wizards product is a dynamic guard who will look to form a backcourt combination with Nate Scott for Nudgee to compete this season.
Tyson Warren – Forward
A young athlete, still in Year 10, who his coaches say have a heap of potential. Warren can play inside and out and the Brisbane Capitals junior will be a key contributor for Nudgee.
TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Samuel Geu – Forward
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.
Rahul Captain – Forward
Another player, who will be asked to contribute more for Toowoomba this year, Captain is an impressive inside and outside scorer and a talent coach Kabe Cicolini says is a “great leader”.
THE SOUTHPORT SCHOOL
Jaylen Pitman – Guard
One of the state’s top young prospects, Pitman makes the move from Cairns to join TSS, who went undefeated last year, and will form an impressive backcourt with Ben Tweedy. Pitman is a talented athlete who can score at will from the guard position.
Ben Tweedy – Guard
The son of one of the Queensland state league’s best ever coaches in Neil Tweedy, Ben is another talent from the north to join Anthony Petrie’s squad at TSS. Like Pitman, a talented guard, who can score and also get hot from the perimeter.
Indy Cotton – Guard
Cotton will be one of the younger players in the GPS competition but if the past three months is anything to go by, the youngster won’t be afraid of anyone. Cotton has established himself as one of the country’s top prospects after leading Queensland South to an under-16s national championship final last week.
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