The imports or recruits set to star at the pre-season NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast
Gold Coast’s glitter strip will play host to some of the world’s best basketball players over the coming seven days — including a potential No.1 pick in next year’s NBA draft. Check out our guide to the tournament.
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A French phenomenon being tipped as the No.1 pick in next year’s NBA draft, Steph Curry’s former teammate, seasoned campaigners chasing redemption and a cast of rising stars aiming to reach the top.
Gold Coast’s glitter strip will play host to the world’s best basketball players over the coming seven days as the NBL’s pre-season Blitz comes to town.
From France’s Alex Sarr at Perth to ex-Golden State Warrior Ian Clark at Melbourne United and former Boomer and 76er Jonah Bolden at the Sydney Kings, there is talent at every turn.
It’s pre-season, but teams have been told to treat the tournament with the utmost seriousness in preparation for the season proper on September 28.
The Blitz will also be a vital chance for players to impress, with a record 40 NBA scouts representing 25 teams attending the event.
Code Sports takes a look at all 10 teams and the new imports or recruits set to make their mark at the Blitz from September 16 to 22.
SYDNEY KINGS:
Alex Toohey:
He’s been described as the ‘next big thing in Australian basketball’ but instead of taking up a US College offer, Alex Toohey will play in the NBL.
Toohey turned his back on a stint at Gonzaga to sign with the Sydney Kings as part of the Next Stars program.
The Canberra-born forward has been playing in Australia’s NBL1 competition, averaging 17.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 28 minutes per game.
Toohey has already made a debut with his senior national team in FIBA competition in February 2021.
The 19-year-old joined the Boomers again for their FIBA World Cup qualifiers in August, November and February, a rarity for a player at just 19.
Toohey is hoping to use the Kings – and the NBL’s Next Stars program - as a platform to the NBA.
Special mention: Jonah Bolden - He hasn’t played competitive basketball in three years, but the former Philadelphia 76er and bitcoin business owner is determined to make his second-coming to basketball with the Kings a success.
ADELAIDE 36ERS:
Jacob Wiley:
Well-travelled Wiley’s daughter Layla was born in Australia during his NBL19 stay in Adelaide and, after four years of stints in Europe, Japan and South America, he’s excited to return to his home away from home.
“I’ve got roots in Adelaide, I have been following the team since I left,” the California native said.
“I was watching most of the games, I kept up with the game, I was always watching on YouTube and the NBL website, I was keeping tabs on the club.
“The fans can expect a more mature, more experienced player.
“I have global experience to bring back and leadership, I won a championship (in Puerto Rico) and I want to bring that culture back to Adelaide.”
MELBOURNE UNITED:
Ian Clark:
He’s a beloved figure in Sydney after helping break the Sydney Kings’ NBL title drought but NBA champion Ian Clark has found a new home at Melbourne United.
Clark played a big role in the Kings’ run to the NBL22 championship and appeared in 10 games for Adelaide 36ers last campaign as a mid-season arrival.
The ex-championship-winning Golden State Warrior will give United another experienced back-court option.
Clark’s move to Melbourne has added more fuel to the burgeoning rivalry with his former club. One Kings connection joked: “It would be like Luke Skywalker joining the dark side”.
SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX:
Rhys Vague:
The four-time NBL champion is back and he is ready to thrive for the South East Melbourne under the coaching of former Boomers mentor Mike Kelly.
Vague, who has spent the past three seasons in Japan with the Kagawa Five Arrows, believes the Phoenix are primed for success.
“Being coached by Mike is always awesome,” Vague, who won last year’s FIBA Asia Cup under Kelly, said.
“I like the way he goes about his business, I like that he develops relationships with the players, not just on the court but off the court, he cares.
“Once I heard that my agency saw what was there in the NBL and then it aligned with the Phoenix — I am just stoked to be on-board.”
ILLAWARRA HAWKS:
Justin Robinson:
Robinson is ready to redeem himself after a knee injury ended his maiden NBL season with Illawarra after just one game.
The American import guard sat out the season after suffering a meniscus tear in his right knee in the Hawks season opener against the Kings.
Now Robinson has recovered and he is determined to prove that he is still Illawarra’s go-to guy in offence.
PERTH WILDCATS:
Alex Sarr:
The seven-footer out of France has rocketed up the NBA draft board following two blockbuster pre-season performances for Perth against the G-League Ignite in Las Vegas.
Sarr had several NBA General Managers declaring he had “entered the conversation for the No.1 pick”, after dropping 26 points and adding 10 rebounds and six blocks in a 127-112 Perth win.
He also had 17 points, seven rebounds and six blocks in the first game. Watch for Sarr to continue his dominance at the Blitz.
Special mention: Ben Henshall - The Perth born and raised guard is on track to achieve something “special”, according to Wildcats coach John Rillie.
Henshall, 19, has excelled in the pre-season with a host of impressive performances. The Centre of Excellence graduate combined 26 points against the NBA’s G-League Ignite team in Las Vegas last weekend.
Henshall rounded out Perth’s US tour with 17 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals against Overtime Elite.
TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS:
Jordon Crawford:
The 5’6 point guard will provide explosive scoring, leadership and the ability to create for his teammates.
Crawford has recently completed his season with Buyukcekmece in Turkey, where he led the Basketbol Super Ligi in scoring, averaging 19.6 points per game, and leas his team with an average of 5.6 assists per game.
The 32-year-old graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2013 and has spent his 9-year professional career playing across the USA G-League, Germany, Turkey and France.
NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS:
Mangok Mathiang:
There may be no other player with a bigger point to prove this NBL season than Breakers recruit Mangok Mathiang.
The former Charlotte Hornet, who played four NBA games in 2017-18, was cut from South Sudan’s squad for this year’s World Cup.
The Sudanese went on to win three of their five games – and qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Mathiang is coming off a season with Illawarra where he averaged 7.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and one block in 25 games.
BRISBANE BULLETS:
Rocco Zikarsky:
One of the brightest talents in Australian basketball – seven-foot-three teen Rocco Zikarsky – will begin his professional career with the Brisbane Bullets as an NBL Next Star.
The hype is high after Zikarsky dominated in his pre-season NBL debut, dropping 23 points, eight rebounds and six blocks in a 75-48 win over California Baptist University.
At just 17, he has the potential to join the ranks of Australia’s great big men – an illustrious group that includes new Bullets teammate Aron Baynes as well as NBA champions in Luc Longley and Andrew Bogut.
CAIRNS TAIPANS:
Taran Armstrong:
The Tasmanian point guard has chosen the NBL and Cairns over US College as a pathway to next year’s NBA draft.
Armstrong was touted as a top recruit when he entered the NCAA transfer portal earlier this year, but the 21-year-old opted to sign with the Taipans on a two-year contract, ahead of declaring for the NBA Draft.
He previously excelled at California Baptist University, where he has made a name for himself as the best passer in the college system.
Originally published as The imports or recruits set to star at the pre-season NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast
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