Next Stars: The teenage talent on NBL radars
A record seven Next Stars are set to suit up in NBL24, all with NBA draft hopes. So how can the league top it next season? They could start with Australia’s answer to Steph Curry.
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An Aussie guard with shades of Steph Curry, the ‘Kiwi Jokic’ and an African giant whose cousin plays for the Sydney Kings have emerged as potential targets for the NBL’s Next Stars program.
The league has been flooded this season with a record seven Next Stars hoping to make the step to the NBA.
So who’s got next?
While well-known Aussie names like Dash Daniels — brother of New Orleans Pelican Dyson — Johnny Furphy and Luke Fennell impressed out of the Canberra-based Basketball Centre of Excellence and NBA Global Academy programs, there were several young guns from all over the world who emerged as potential Next Stars of the future.
Among those was undersized guard RJ Greer, whose offensive game was reminiscent of a certain NBA legend in Steph Curry.
His father is former pro Ricardo Greer but mum Misty is a Tasmanian native, giving Ricardo Jr an Australian passport.
New Zealand big boy Julius Halaifonua is a reliable jumpshot away as travelling a similar trajectory to reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
South Sudan’s 216cm monster in the middle Khaman Maluach — the cousin of Sydney King Makuach Maluach — Brazil’s all-round wing Samis Calderon and interior defensive beast Ulrich Chomche, out of Cameroon, were three internationals who stood out at the tournament.
Next Stars supremo Liam Santamaria was in the US to see the talent on show at the academy games.
“We’re looking at guys who might be Next Stars for next season, or might even be for the year after,” Santamaria said.
“In some cases we’re tracking development over two-three years and we want to be in their conversations and in their headspace as they’re thinking about what they’re going to do in the future.
“Talking to these players, their parents and people who are representing them, many are very much considering the NBL and the Next Stars program as a potential path for them in the future.”
Here’s a look at some of the talents on the NBL’s radar:
RJ Greer, 17 (Australia/USA) – NBA Academy Select
Only returned to the court in June after missing seven months of basketball after surgeries to repair chronic issues in both feet, but hadn’t missed a beat. A lights out shooter who sees himself as American/Aussie, owing to his Australian-born mum. You never really want to compare a guy to a future hall-of-famer but his offensive game appears to be modelled on Steph Curry — he’s got a pure stroke with a really quick release and a high motor that allows him to move off the ball constantly in search of an open look. He can both catch and shoot, or drill them off the bounce and is great attacking off the dribble and finishing in the paint. Slightly undersized for a two guard at 193cm and 79kg, there are some questions over whether he has the defensive tools to win significant playing time in the NBL. League watchers have been tracking his progress, given the obvious weaponry and familial links.
Khaman Madit Maluach, 16 (South Sudan) – NBA Academy Africa
Impressive big man who has links to Australia in the form of Sydney King Makuach Maluach, making him a prime candidate for the Next Stars program. Not yet 17 but already has NBA-level physical tools, having grown to 216cm. Offensive skill set continues to develop and he showed an ability to face up, shoot the jumper and put the ball on the floor and create. Size makes him an intimidating rim protector at the defensive end.
Samis Calderon, 18 (Brazil) – NBA Latin Academy
Played for Brazil at the U19 World Cup in Hungary just prior to the Academy games, so struggled to produce his best. An NBA-level two-way athlete whose skills are quickly catching up to his God-given gifts — he stands 201cm and has a wingspan of 218cm. His comparison is someone in the vein of New Zealand Breakers’ Next Stars graduate Rayan Rupert (197cm, 221cm wingspan), who was drafted by Portland Trailblazers. A defensive wing with long arms who is best offensively when putting on the floor and attacking in transition, turning his defence into offence.
Ulrich Chomche, 17 (Cameroon) – NBA Academy Africa
A difference maker at the defensive end who is still developing an ability to score, but showed an ability to hit the three ball in Atlanta. Possesses great instinct and timing as a 211cm shotblocker and is a big load as an interior defender who is more than capable of handling smaller players on the perimeter. There’s a feeling he could be the first player to come straight out of an NBA Academy and declare for the draft but he’s being tracked closely by the NBL.
Julius Halaifonua, 17 (NZ) – NBA GA
Big, strong 214cm unit who is developing his offensive game. Played at the January U20 National Championships in Geelong with the NBA GA team where he had a 17-point, 8-11 shooting game against the eventual champions WA and highly-rated big Alex Condon. Has taken another leap, improving his moves in the low block, ability to catch and operate out of pick n roll situations. He’s not super athletic and not overly long, but has great awareness and uses his body well defensively. Think a Kiwi Nikola Jokic as a comparison in that he’s a big, strong boy who has a really nice touch around the basket, the key difference being Halaifonua needs to develop an ability to shoot from the perimeter.
Luke Fennell, 17 (Australia) – NBA GA
Another out of the Australian basketball development pathway, Fennell led Vic Metro to gold at the U18 Nationals in Brisbane and took another leap in Atlanta. A tall point guard at 197cm who is a nightmare to defend, he’s great in the pick n roll, can get to the rim and finish and has sneaky athleticism. Is already an elite scorer, but flashed his skills as a playmaker at the tournament, setting up his teammates for easy buckets and getting the bigs involved with drop-off passes underneath the hoop. His play generated plenty of buzz among college coaches who attended the academy games.
Johnny Furphy, 18 (Australia) – CoE
Was the breakout player of the tournament whose name was on every college scout’s lips by the end of it. The NBL figures to have plenty of competition for the huge 203cm late-blooming wing who reclassified to 2024 NBA draft class. Has a great feel for the game as a big wing who moves well, can shoot it and attack the rim off the bounce. The Victorian always seems to make the right play, he doesn’t sit on the ball and he makes quick decisions. It helps that he’s an explosive athlete and, after a huge day one at the academy games, he backed it up by partnering with new Perth Wildcat Ben Henshall to lead the Centre of Excellence to the championship. Interestingly, it was a 6’8” Aussie wing who dominated the tournament last year in Alex Toohey — who is now a Next Star with the Sydney Kings.
Dash Daniels, 15 (Australia) – CoE
One of the best basketball prospects for his age in the world, Dash already stands 190cm but is still just 15 years old. That means the gun point guard was not just playing but being productive and effective against opponents three, four and five years his senior at the academy games. Doesn’t turn 16 until December this year and has great family pedigree with 198cm dad Ricky and 201cm brother Dyson, who tore up NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Dash is there’s no ceiling on how good he can be. NBL would love him to choose the Next Stars path and his experience against far more developed players could mean he’d have an instant role, when the time is right.
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Originally published as Next Stars: The teenage talent on NBL radars
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