NBL 2021: The Next Stars who can make the jump to the NBA

France, Germany, USA, Russia - the NBL Next Stars program is a veritable league of nations this year - and they all hope to impress enough in Australia to make their mark on NBA clubs.

Matt Logue

@mattlogue7

4 min read

November 28, 2021 - 9:29AM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Basketball

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The NBL’s Next Stars program has paved the way for the likes of LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey and Didi Louzada to use the Australian league as a platform to the NBA.

The current crop of Next Stars are loaded with NBA potential, including several highly-rated prospects for next year’s draft.

News Corp basketball writer Matt Logue ranks the Next Stars ahead of the NBL season, selecting the player most likely to feature prominently in the NBA.

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1. Ousmane Dieng (New Zealand Breakers)

Versatile French guard Ousmane Dieng is the best chance to figure highly in next year’s NBA draft. Dieng, one of France’s most promising young stars, is ranked at number 12 in ESPN’s 2022 NBA mock draft.

The 18-year-old last played for the INSEP Academy, which has produced the likes of Tony Parker and Boris Diaw, where he averaged 12.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game in France’s third division which is the premiere breeding ground for young French talent.

At 6’9, Dieng has shown versatility and playmaking skills that allow him to play both guard positions as well as on the wing.

Ousmane Dieng is the most likely player to be picked up in the NBA draft. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

2. Justinian Jessup (Illawarra Hawks)

Sharpshooter Justinian Jessup won’t feature in next year’s draft as he is already part of Golden State’s system, but his chances of playing in the NBA next year remain just as high.

Jessup will return for his second season as an NBL Next Star after being selected with the 51st pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Warriors.

Last season the 23-year-old averaged 13.2 points per game for the Hawks as they made a run to the semi-finals.

Illawarra coach Brian Goorjian is expecting big things from Jessup this season as he looks to secure an NBA position at the Warriors.

“He is one of the league’s best shooters and helps us tremendously on the offensive end of the floor,” Goorjian said.

Justinian Jessup was an offensive threat for the Hawks last season. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

3. Ariel Hukporti (Melbourne United)

The 19-year-old German big man will enter his fourth season as a professional with Melbourne United following stints in Germany and Lithuania.

Hukporti could have entered the 2021 NBA draft, but decided he wasn’t quite ready and would spend another year honing his skills.

He says it’s not a matter of if, but when, he makes the jump to the NBA, with most key draft boards projecting him as a second-round pick at 49.

Hukporti is surrounded by world-class veterans at United, including Matthew Dellavedova and Chris Goulding, so he has a chance to climb up the draft board with a strong season in the NBL.

Ariel Hukporti is Melbourne United’s new signings. Picture: Michael Klein

4. Mojave King (Adelaide 36ers)

New Zealand-born shooting guard Mojave King received limited chances to shine during his first season as a Next Star at Cairns, but he’ll be hoping this changes after signing with Adelaide.

In King’s rookie season at the Taipans, the 19-year-old suited up for 30 games (including nine starts) capped off by a season-high 25-point performance in the final game of NBL21 against Brisbane.

He needs a strong season with Adelaide to climb up the draft board, which currently has him placed as the 79th pick in mock drafts.

Mojave King during the NBL Blitz. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images

5. Makur Maker (Sydney Kings)

The cousin of former Australian NBA player Thon Maker is highly rated despite sitting at 93 in the latest mock draft lists.

Maker, is yet to play at the Blitz due to a knee injury, was one of the most sought-after recruits coming out of high school last year.

ESPN had him ranked as the 16th best prospect in America.

Born in Kenya to South Sudanese parents, Maker grew up in Perth and is an Australian citizen as is his younger brother Matur Maker, who has been playing NBA G League and has just completed a stint with Denver Nuggets in the NBA Summer League.

He participated at this year’s NBA Draft Combine before withdrawing from the draft and turning his attention to improving his stock playing in the NBL.

Makur Maker is the cousin of Thon Maker. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Tom Digbeu. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

6. Tom Digbeu (Brisbane Bullets)

Tom Digbeu is another exciting European youngster to join the Next Stars program and his sights are set on the 2022 NBA Draft.

Digbeu is currently ranked 80th on ESPN’s list of the top 100 prospects entering next year’s NBA Draft. The 19-year-old is the son of former NBA draftee Alain Digbeu and he last played for BC Prienai in the highly regarded Lithuanian basketball league. Digbeu had a breakout performance of 27 points and 11 rebounds against European powerhouse Zalgiris last season.

7. Nikita Mikhailovskii (Tasmania JackJumpers)

Rising Russian guard Nikita Mikhailovskii currently sits at 86 in the mock drafts, but he has his sights set on defying those predictions with a strong NBL season.

Mikhailovskii is a top European prospect for next year’s NBA Draft and will look to grow his stock while playing in the NBL after working out for several NBA teams earlier this year.

The 6’8 guard has played professionally for Russian club Avtodor Saratov in the highly regarded VTB United League since 2017 winning the league’s Young Player of the Year in 2019 and again in 2020.