The superstar young talents lighting up the inaugural NBL1 North season
The inaugural season of the NBL1 North is stacked full of exciting talents as we put together a list of the top young players from around the league. SEE WHO MADE IT
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The future stars of Queensland and even Australian basketball are on show in the inaugural season of the NBL1 North with young talents lighting up the competition.
With very few imports being able to play this season, it has allowed clubs to showcase their local talent and the young guns aren’t disappointing.
And with each game being livestreamed as part of the NBL1, it is the perfect chance for these exciting prospects to showcase what they can do on the big stage.
See our list of the top young guns, aged 20 or under, in the NBL1 North competition below.
TOP YOUNG TALENTS IN NBL1 NORTH
GEORDAN PAPACOSTAS – Forward/Centre (Brisbane Capitals)
A young big man, who has already impressed on the national level with the Queensland South team, and has a bright future in the game. The St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace student didn’t take long to make an impact in the NBL1 North, recording 18 points and eight rebounds in his debut in Round 1.
AUDREY FULLER – Guard (Brisbane Capitals)
An athletic guard who can impact a game on both ends of the floor and is a major part of this young Capitals side, which is looking to build on their impressive QSL season last year. Was part of the recent bronze medal-winning Queensland women’s team at the National Under-20 Championships.
KY STATTMAN – Guard/Forward (Cairns Marlins)
A Cairns product, Stattman is an athletic talent that can play multiple positions on the floor. Has the ability to hit big shots from the perimeter as well as get to the basket and play above the rim. Won a gold medal with Queensland at the recent National Under-20 Championships.
SARAH HEARD – Centre (Cairns Dolphins)
Heard is a young big who has been one of the shining lights for an otherwise tough start for the Dolphins in the NBL1 North women’s competition. The youngster is averaging more than 22 points per game to go along with nine rebounds per contest.
PRESTON LE GASSICK – Guard (Gold Coast Rollers)
You couldn’t tell this was Le Gassick’s first season in the top-tier state league competition by the way he’s playing. The dynamic guard has been an absolute sparkplug off the bench for the undefeated Gold Coast Rollers, changing the momentum in their opening win against Ipswich and playing a key role in a dominant victory over Cairns.
LILY ROTUNNO – Guard (Gold Coast Rollers)
Rotunno is just one of the many young stars featured in the Gold Coast women’s program. A talented combo guard, who is already in junior national programs, can cause problems for opponents on both the defensive and offensive ends of the floor and is sure to improve even more under the tutelage of teammate and WNBL veteran Lauren Mansfield.
LLOYD MCVEIGH – Forward (Gold Coast Rollers)
The brother of Adelaide 36ers star Jack McVeigh, Lloyd is starting to make a name for himself, making his debut at the top-tier level with the Rollers this year. McVeigh, an athletic and scoring forward, comes into the season with confidence after winning a national championship gold medal in the under-20s.
JESSICA PETRIE – Forward (Gold Coast Rollers)
Another young talent with strong family ties, Jessica Petrie is getting her shot to make an impact at the senior level. The mobile forward who can shoot the ball from beyond the arc as well as do damage inside the paint is the daughter of former WNBL player Sarah Petrie and NBL veteran Anthony Petrie.
SKYE MASON – Forward/Centre (Gold Coast Rollers)
The last of Gold Coast’s young brigade, Skye Mason is a big who not only outworks others but has a great basketball IQ for a player her age. Was also part of the recent Queensland South under-18s team.
CATHERINE MACGREGOR – Guard (Ipswich Force)
One of the competition’s best shooters, Catherine Macgregor is a talent to watch and showed that in Round 2 with a 32-point performance against the Cairns Dolphins. A player who can catch fire quickly, Macgregor also won a bronze medal with the Queensland under-20 women’s team at the National Championships.
BOSTON MAZLIN – Guard (Logan Thunder)
A combo guard who is able to make a big impact on both ends of the floor, Boston Mazlin is getting his opportunity with the Logan Thunder this year and grabbing it with both hands. Mazlin played a key role in the recent gold medal for Queensland at the under-10 nationals and with his shooting and ability to defend, has helped Logan to an undefeated start.
INDIAH BOWYER – Guard/Forward (Logan Thunder)
After making the switch from the North Gold Coast Seahawks to join the Logan Thunder, Bowyer is another exciting young set to play a major role for the title contenders. A versatile athlete who can play multiple positions on the floor, Bowyer was also part of the Queensland under-20 women’s team to recently win a bronze medal.
TANE KIRISOME – Guard (Logan Thunder)
A young guard who has already played at the international level after representing the New Zealand Tall Blacks at the recent FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers against Australia. Kirisome also recently helped lead Logan to an under-21s gold medal and is a player who can make plays off the bench for the Thunder.
DANI BAYES – Guard (Logan Thunder)
Another one of the competition’s sharpshooters, Bayes has consistently shown in recent years just how much damage she can do from the perimeter for the Thunder. The guard, who won a bronze medal with the Queensland under-20s women’s side, had some huge games off the bench last year for Logan.
PARIS SANTACATERINA – Guard (Mackay Meteorettes)
After bursting onto the scene at this year’s State Under-18 Championships on the Gold Coast, where she led Mackay to the grand final, Santacaterina has backed it up with some impressive performances in her debut season at the senior level. Those performances included a 20-point game against Rockhampton last week for the exciting guard.
LOGAN KYLE - Guard/Forward (Northside Wizards)
A Townsville product, who has represented his state throughout the junior age groups, Kyle joined Northside for their return to the top-tier competition and has had an immediate impact. The versatile guard/forward, who can catch fire quickly from the perimeter and can make plays off the dribble, is averaging 17 points per game so far this season.
SASKIA GUNNESS - Forward (Northside Wizards)
A mobile forward who will benefit from Northside’s return to the top-tier where she gets the chance to play against elite competition. Gunness has been on the rise in recent years and will get better as the season goes on as one of the Wizards’ top young talents.
KOBE MCDOWELL-WHITE – Guard (RedCity Roar)
One of the top point guards in the country for his age, Kobe McDowell-White is now doing what he’s always done at the junior level in seniors. And he’s doing it alongside his brother, Darryl McDowell-White. Kobe is definitely a talent to watch with his basketball IQ among the best at that position and the ability to make plays on both ends of the floor.
KIAN DENNIS – Forward (RedCity Roar)
A former Brisbane Bullets development player, Kian Dennis is one of the leaders at the RedCity Roar and is a must-see talent with his high-flying plays a common feature among the NBL1’s top plays. A superb athlete, Dennis forms an exciting trio with the McDowell-White brothers at the Roar.
HARRISON ROUHLIADEFF – Forward (Southern Districts Spartans)
A hardworking and fundamentally sound big man, Harry Rouhliadeff just gets the job done. After starting his rookie senior season on the back of a gold medal with Queensland at the under-10 nationals, the youngster and former Villanova College student is making a big impact so far in the opening two games for the Spartans.
ELLA BROW – Guard (Southern Districts Spartans)
A defensive terror who gives the Spartans a massive boost in energy off the bench, Ella Brow is enjoying her role at Southern Districts after moving from the Seahawks. Brow also recently attended a New Zealand Tall Ferns camp in a massive boost for he future chances of representing her country.
CAMERON GORDON – Guard/Forward (South West Metro Pirates)
Arguably the best high flyer in the competition. Basketball fans, if you enjoy players throwing down thunderous dunks, Cameron Gordon is a must-see. The versatile guard/forward, who also won a gold medal with the Queensland under-20s, is one of the manly young and exciting talents to watch at South West.
OSCAR CLUFF – Centre (Sunshine Coast Phoenix)
A towering big man who burst onto the scene over the past 18 months, which even earned him a training spot with the Brisbane Bullets, Cluff is one of the top big man prospects in the competition. Standing at almost seven-foot in the old scale and with mobility to go along with it, Cluff is a key player for the Phoenix this season.
LUCA YATES – Centre (Townsville Heat)
This year has been a massive year for Luca Yates. The Townsville product started the year with a State Championship at the under-18s level, then won a silver with Queensland North at nationals, had an impressive under-10 nationals with the NBA Global Academy and now the talented big man has helped Townsville get off to a 2-0 start in the NBL1 North.
BREE STEPHENS – Forward/Centre (Townsville Flames)
One of Townsville’s two young and talented bigs in the women’s team, Stephens has had an impressive start to the NBL1 North season on the back of playing a key role in the Queensland under-20 women’s bronze medal. A no-nonsense and hardworking player, Stephens is a key player for Shannon Seebohm’s side.
LAUREN ANDREWS – Forward/Centre (Townsville Flames)
The second of the Townsville women’s team’s talented young bigs, Andrews is a player who can stretch the floor and make plays on the offensive end and will form an exciting young combination with Bree Stephens. Also won a bronze medal with the Queensland under-20s.
KAI BLOOM - Guard (University of Sunshine Coast Rip)
An exciting young guard who made an impact with the Rip in his senior debut in the QSL last year, making some highlight plays along the way. Bloom can shoot the three as well as get to the basket with his speed and can also make plays on the defensive end.
Originally published as The superstar young talents lighting up the inaugural NBL1 North season
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