Next gen: Five things from the AIS national performance camp

Josh Giddey is just the beginning. Australian basketball has never been more flush with young talent. Scout Michael Houben on what he saw at the AIS National Performance Camp.

Josh Giddey is just the beginning. Australian basketball has never been more flush with young talent.

And it was on show at last week’s National Performance Camp at the AIS, which hosted 52 of the best young athletes in the country.

The Centre of Excellence’s record of producing some of the finest basketball talent in the world is unparalleled.

Basketball scout and The Pick and Roll writer Michael Houben was in Canberra for its duration.

Here’s five things he noticed.

Rocco Zikarsky is the next big thing in Aussie basketball. Picture: NCA NewsWire

1. Rocco Zikarsky’s potential is sky high

It’s no revelation the 7’2” Zikarsky is a physical presence, but his stature isn’t truly appreciated until you see him in the flesh. Not only is Zikarsky tall, but the sheer length, hand size and co-ordination make him a special prospect. It’s no wonder Basketball Australia is set to hand the 16-year-old his Boomers debut in this month’s FIBA World Cup qualifiers in Melbourne.

100 AUSSIE BASKETBALL JUNIORS TO WATCH IN 2023

Roman Siulepa dunks at the Australian Basketball Schools Championship

2. Roman Siulepa is one to watch

After a mesmerising Queensland state championships, Siulepa stood out as the best athlete at camp, wreaking havoc with his speed, strength and relentless motor. He has NBA upside.

With a basketball legend as his mum, Brogan was destined to be a hooper.

Che Brogan is set to follow in the footsteps of his famous Opals mother.

3. Brogan was a surprise packet

The best guard may have been Che Brogan, the son of Opals Olympic silver medallist Michelle Brogan. The 6’5” guard showcased a hard-nosed competitiveness and flair to create off the dribble.

4. The Centre of Excellence coaching remains top class

Our future Boomers are in great hands at the Centre of Excellence with head coach Robbie McKinlay and assistant Ash Arnott’s skill work and focus on Boomer values at the forefront.

5. Boomers’ next gen is ready to explode

It’s clear the 2006 and 2007-born talent pool is a deep one. NBA Global Academy guns Dash Daniels, Luke Fennell and Mading Kuany were all absent from camp but it wasn’t noticeable, thanks to the incredible talent on show.

TEEN GIANT SET FOR BOOMERS AS DJ PLANS TO PLAY AMID NBL FINALS

—Matt Logue and Michael Randall

Seven-foot teen-sensation Rocco Zikarsky is set to make his senior Boomers’ debut next month in a FIBA window that could wreak havoc on NBL teams in the middle of playoff campaigns.

Zikarsky, 16, is tipped to be the bolter in Australia’s squad for its final two World Cup qualifiers against Bahrain and Kazakhstan on February 23 and 26.

The 215cm NBA Global Academy product and FIBA Under 16s Asian Championship gold medallist has already caught the eye of talent watchers all over the world with his sheer size and ability.

The Queenslander will be the youngest player named in a Boomers’ squad missing a host of NBL stars due to playoff commitments.

Seven-foot teen Rocco Zikarsky is set to make his Boomers debut. Picture: NCA NewsWire

The NBL will pause its finals from February 20-28 for the FIBA window and News Corp understands the league has floated playing games one and two of the semi finals before the break and, if a decisive-third game is required, it would happen after February 28.

Title favourites the Sydney Kings have one player in sharpshooter Dejan Vasiljevic who has put his hand up to play for the Boomers — and the club cannot stop him, under FIBA rules.

At this point, Vasiljevic is the only NBL playoff-bound Australian representative to make himself available for the two-game ‘Boomers in the ‘Burbs’ series, to be played at Wantirna’s State Basketball Centre.

Any player involved in NBL finals would need to weigh up representing their country versus the risk of an injury that could potentially derail their domestic campaigns.

The rest of the Boomers’ squad will be made up of players out of the NBL playoff picture, including Brisbane’s Nathan Sobey, Adelaide’s Mitch McCarron and Illawarra’s Sam Froling, along with Aussies abroad and young guns.

DJ Vasiljevic is committed to club and country.

Bronze-medal winning Boomer Nick Kay will captain the team and Basketball Australia boss Matt Scriven believes the former Perth Wildcats, who is currently playing in Japan, is the perfect choice as skipper to mentor next generation players like Zikarsky and Alex Toohey.

Scriven remembers the two-time NBL champion playing a vital leadership role when the Boomers, last February, took a young team to Japan for World Cup qualifiers.

“Nick spent time taking that whole group through the Boomers culture and did sessions with them,” Scriven said.

“So, guys like David Okwera, Sean MacDonald, Emmet Naar were all exposed to the expectation around the Boomers’ culture.

“That is the benefit of having a broader focus around the Boomers and the Australian men’s program.

“What we’ve tried to create is all around the Boomers brand, regardless of the players involved.

“The Boomers culture now really transcends beyond the Olympic and World Cup level into the whole squad.”

WHY NBA SCOUTS CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THE AUSSIE LEAGUE

—Michael Randall and Matt Logue

NBA scouts have flocked to Australia in the past week, keen to get their eyes on the NBL’s burgeoning talent pool.

On the back of lottery picks LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey, Australia has become a fertile proving ground — and US teams have taken notice.

Indiana’s recruiting boss Ryan Carr was one of more than 10 scouts to hit our shores last week and he says it’s a trip that should be on every NBA club’s radar.

“It won’t be long until every NBA team has connections over here, just with the way that the NBL is growing and the improvement in the way players are getting better,” Carr, the Pacers’ vice president of player personnel, said.

Who will be the next LaMelo Ball or Josh Giddey to make it big out of the NBL?

“The number of good players per capita, coming from down here, makes it absolutely worthwhile to be in touch and make sure we know what’s going on as the younger guys develop.

“Since the NBL instituted the Next Stars program, it’s attracted really good talent, and there are several of those guys who are playing in the NBA.

“The coaching here is very organised and it’s a team-oriented league, which is so beneficial in preparing these younger players for the transition to come and play at the NBA level.”

Previous Next Stars like Terrance Ferguson (2016-17, Adelaide) and Brian Bowen (2018-19, Sydney) opened NBA eyes to the NBL, but Carr says NBA lottery picks LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey have taken things up a notch.

“Terrance and Brian, they were good players, Brian even played with us for a couple years, but I think Melo ratcheted it up and then Josh Giddey came along, so you have two lottery picks and it legitimises the league,” he said.

There are huge NBA raps on New Zealand’s young French Next Star Rayan Rupert. Picture: Getty Images

“It gives the league something to go to players and say ‘hey, these past couple years, we’ve had two lottery picks’ so I do think that probably helped the NBL with their recruitment.”

None of the scouts Crosscourt spoke with were able to speak about individual players, due to the NBA’s strict rules around recruiting.

But the Down Under talent pool features young prospects including likely first-round draft pick Rayan Rupert in New Zealand, 20-year-old Melbourne forward David Okwera, teammate and former NBA man Rayjon Tucker, as well as older bigs Xavier Cooks (Sydney) and Keanu Pinder (Cairns) who have taken leaps.

BOGUT’S HUGE GIDDEY DECLARATION

—Matt Logue

Basketball’s best shooting coach — Chip Engelland — has helped Josh Giddey shatter second-year syndrome to become Australia’s leading NBA player.

It’s a big statement to make given Giddey is still a sophomore, but it’s exactly what he has achieved, according to Aussie hoops great Andrew Bogut.

Bogut has been locked on the Giddey bandwagon all season, naming the rising Boomers guard the NBA’s Australian player of the week five times on his podcast, Rogues Bogues.

“In my opinion Josh Giddey is the best Australian Basketball player in the world as of today,” Bogut said via Twitter.

“Josh just continues to get better, and I’m really excited about his growth.”

🔥 @joshgiddey & the @okcthunder hold off the Nuggets for a 101-99 win #ThunderUp

📊 18 PTS | 9 REB | 3 AST pic.twitter.com/xVI71rhrJG

— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) January 23, 2023

Bogut’s high praise for Giddey isn’t a coincidence when you look at the guard’s marked statistical improvement this season.

He shot just 26.3 per cent from beyond the arc in his rookie campaign – a number that has increased to 32.6 this season.

Giddey has also improved his field goal percentage (41.9 to 48.4 per cent) and free throw percentage (70.9 to 79.7).

He recently had the best week statistically of his career, both for scoring and his overall line when he averaged 22.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.25 assists per game.

Respected voices like Bogut have been blown away by Giddey’s continued brilliance, which has helped a rebuilding OKC Thunder side climb within reach of the playoffs.

The Thunder are currently just two wins outside the play-in tournament, sitting in eleventh position in the Western Conference.

Giddey credits his growth, especially on the offensive end, to working alongside legendary shooting coach Chip Engelland.

Josh Giddey has excelled for the OKC Thunder so far this NBA season. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

Engelland, an assistant coach at the Thunder, spent 17 years with the San Antonio Spurs working with the likes of Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker and Dejounte Murray.

Now Giddey is benefiting from the veteran coach’s expertise.

“I’ve taken full advantage of it, and I’ve been in the gym working with Chip every day,” Giddey told News Corp.

“He is always in my ear talking to me and texting me when he is not in the road with us.

“A lot of it is confidence. He (Chip) didn’t try and change too much, and the shot is feeling good.

“Hopefully, I’m heading in the right direction, and Chip has played a big part in that.

“He has been awesome for me.

“For the Thunder to have that kind of care and passion for me to get better, to bring in someone like that (Chip), really meant a lot.”

Basketball Pod Ep 89 -   @andrewbogut and @HoopConsultants name @joshgiddey the Aussie Player of the Week for the fifth time!
 
Listen to the ep here 👇https://t.co/XpXShdVaib
 #LetsGetRogue#RogueBogues#NBA#OKC#JoshGiddeypic.twitter.com/oAPKbryo3Q

— Rogue Bogues (@RogueBogues) January 20, 2023

Giddey’s success on the NBA stage is making plenty of people in Australia smile, including Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman.

Vickerman played NBL alongside Josh’s dad Warrick at the now defunct Melbourne Tigers in the early 90s.

The United mentor couldn’t be prouder to see Giddey junior follow in his father’s footsteps, but create his own path in the NBA.

“Wazza was an exceptional passer and defender, but now Josh with that size, vision and understanding of quick reads of what people are going to do, I just love watching him play and pass,” said Vickerman, who also recently contacted Warrick to tell him to: “enjoy being an NBA dad”.

“If you are a lover of people sharing the basketball, you are a lover of Josh Giddey.

“To see him step into the three now with the confidence that he has, takes him to a whole other level.”

Vickerman believes Giddey’s level could even see him become an All-Star in future years, helping him join Ben Simmons as the only Australians to feature in the NBA’s marquee match.

“If Josh continues the way he is going I hope to see him in that All-Star game,” he said.

Josh Giddey’s OKC Thunder host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday from 12pm (AEDT)