High school star Roman Siulepa praises NBL, snubs US college chances

He’s sinking baskets from everywhere, dominanting the paint and has the ability to spread the floor and shoot from deep. Check out teen sensation Roman Siulepa’s stunning shot chart.

The face of the Australian Schools Championships, athletic Brisbane State High School wing Roman Siulepa, has declared he wants to follow in the footsteps of players like Josh Giddey and play in the NBL as a pathway to the NBA.

Siulepa continued his standout form on Tuesday, dropping a game-high 28 points and adding eight rebounds and five assists in Brisbane State High’s dominant 103-53 victory over Newington College.

The gifted 16-year-old had 20 points at halftime, and despite only adding eight points in the second half, he was still the game’s best performer.

The kid can play: Roman Siulepa’s shot chart shows how he is unstoppable in the paint and 2-4 from the three-point line.

Siulepa still has two years left at high school, but he is already thinking about his next career move after spending three months at the NBA Global Academy in Canberra this year.

He revealed his preference is to stay home instead of attending US College and he is keen on an NBL stint before one day joining the NBA.

“Yeah of course (I want to play in the NBA), but for now I want to make the NBL,” Siulepa told News Corp.

“The league has recently got a bit better for exposing not only Australian talent, but people globally.

Aussie star Josh Giddey played in the NBL before deciding to head to the NBA. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

“I think it is a good pathway. Obviously, there is college, but for me personally it is just to stay at home, get my roots near my family and go from there.”

Siulepa credits his stint at the NBA Global Academy in Canberra for helping him become a more polished player.

Standing at 196cm and with all the physical traits of an older player, he possesses the package to dominate games.

This has been on show in Siulepa’s games at the Australian Schools Championships.

He is deadly in transition with his speed and size while he has the strength to finish at the rim with devastation.

Siulepa believes the NBA Global Academy has also improved his passing and vision.

“I like to break out in transition and find guys first,” he said.

“If the lane opens up, I like to get on the rim and get a dunk, but recently I’ve been trying to extend my game and be a bit more aggressive defensively and get a feel for the game on both ends.

Brisbane State High basketballer Roman Siulepa in action at Australian Basketball Schools Championships. Picture: Nelson Kahler

“It (The NBA Global Academy) was really good with all the coaching and the boys there.

“Now coming from that Institute, I have a better feel for the game and my all-round play has got a lot better.”

Led by Siulepa, Brisbane State High School look like the team to beat in the men’s Championship Division alongside competition heavyweights Lake Ginninderra College.

The Queenslanders maintained their unbeaten run with another powerful display against Newington College.

Brisbane State High had five players score in double figures, including Elijah Kamu (18 points), Caleb Isaac (18 points), Mason Amos (16 points) and Kailan Sales (10 points).

Siulepa knows the side is talented, but he insists it’s the team’s selflessness that makes them successful.

“This team is like 10 (players) deep, so you’ve got a good foundation,” he said.

“We can all find each other and rely on each other, so it’s good to have players who can also play a bit of defence and offence.

“It’s great to have a team that can back me up. I can rely on them, and they can rely on me.”