Fred Williams, Jerron Jamerson and Freddy Webb headline players to watch in the Darwin Men’s Championship Season
A host of NBL1 stars, Arafura gold medallists and a former NBA centre will descend on Marrara for the premier men’s basketball competition. Check out our top 20 list.
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Local basketball returns to Marrara this Friday night with the Ansett v Eagles match kicking off the Darwin Basketball League’s Men’s Championship Season.
And the competition will be awash with plenty of imports and interstate arrivals, with some chasing a spot on the Darwin Salties roster for the 2023 NBL1 North season.
It come as the NT Government conducts talks with the NBL about Darwin possibly securing a league licence.
So who will be some of the best players to watch?
The NT News has compiled a list of 20 ballers who are sure to turn heads with their aerial feats or shooting skills.
Twenty players to watch in the Men’s Championship Season
Fred Williams (Ansett)
Few know the Darwin Basketball Association courts better than Williams who has won titles with both Razzle and Ansett since arriving in the Territory in 2019.
The American’s first year was a true rollercoaster, winning an Arafura Games gold medal, named the 2019 men’s competition MVP and winning a premiership for Razzle.
The following year he joined Ansett and helped lead a young but talented side to finals, contributing an average of 23.14 points per game.
It was a season which netted him his chance at NBL1 West level, playing for Mandurah Magic.
Was still a dominant force for Ansett when they won the Darwin Basketball League Blitz earlier this year, scoring 171 points from seven matches for an average of 24.43 points.
Returns to Marrara after a season with Southern Districts Spartans in 2022.
Freddy Webb (Ansett)
Territory-born Webb has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past few years.
Regarded as one of the best young talents to come out of the NT in recent times, Webb made his mark at NBL1 side, the Mackay Meteors, winning a title in 2021.
His last season in the Territory in 2020 – his first season back following a heavy hip injury – Webb showed his class and potential for scoring with Ansett, landing 19.05 average points while making 54 out of 150 three-point attempts.
Jerron Jamerson (Tracy Village Jets)
The inspirational Darwin Salties skipper was one of the big three during the franchise’s debut NBL1 North season, alongside assist ace and Adelaide 36er Tad Dufelmeier and Melbourne United’s Makuach Maluach.
The former Razzle Storm 2019 title-winning forward was in the Salties’ top five for average points (19.58), rebounds (8.05), assists (four), blocks and steals.
After playing in a losing grand final in 2020 with Tracy Village, the lively Jamerson will be gunning for more silverware.
Ben Wright (Ansett)
The 22-year-old was a solid contributor to the Salties in their debut season, impressing coach Matt Flinn with his work ethic and determination.
The Rockhampton product was a defensive asset at Marrara, landing in the top five for blocks during the NBL1 North season.
He produced his most impactful match against the Southern Districts Spartans with 14 points and four rebounds.
Also played with the Rockhampton Rockets in NBL1 North in 2021.
Ambros Eugster (Eagles)
The 26-year-old Territory product and Eagles junior returned to the club in 2020 for a title win over Tracy.
His return to Darwin basketball completed the squad which would go on to win 19 games in a row on the way to the championship.
Eugster was also a Salties squad member in 2022, who had two seven-point matches in June during the NBL1 North season.
Lafonzo Smith (Eagles)
The highly rated, 206cm centre and forward from Waynesboro, Mississippi arrives in Darwin via a season with the Goldfields Giants in Western Australia’s NBL1 West conference.
The 28-year-old, who also played for the Seattle Mountaineers in the American Basketball Association, was in the Giants’ top five for rebounds (seven) and blocks from the 2022 season.
He had a season-high 23 points with eight boards against the South West Slammers in July.
Nate Jawai (Ellas Titans)
The former NBA centre had an injury-interrupted season with the Darwin Salties, battling a calf issue after joining the new franchise early in the NBL1 North campaign.
The ex-Cairns Taipan showed flashes of brilliance in nine games for the Salties, whether pulling in some handy boards or providing sweet assists.
Excelled in particular against Townsville Heat with 14 points and eight rebounds
Deba George (Ellas Titans)
A long term friend of Jawai, George was a strong contributor for the Cairns Marlins in NBL1 North in 2022, in the club’s top five for average points (14) and assists.
The 37-year-old absolutely blitzed the Rockhampton Rockets with 30 points and five boards in June.
George, who played four seasons and 33 matches for the Cairns Taipans, was let go in February, 2012 amid controversial circumstances.
Has been a key contributer for Ellas Titans in recent years.
Clayton Jewell (Ellas Titans)
Another Territory product who made the Darwin Salties’ roster for its debut season, he never got more than seven minutes total on court during a match.
However, the 18-year-old, seen as a future star of Top End basketball, was given relatively large exposure against USC Rip City where he shot two points and pulled down three boards in July.
He also excelled at the Under 20 national championships, averaging 18.4 points and 10.4 boards a game — including a 23-point match in a 48-118 belting from Queensland.
Previously played for Tracy Village Jets before making the jump to a young Ellas Titans squad.
Shaquille Hohipa-Wilson (PaRBA United)
The Top End product only played three games for the Salties in 2022, with a seven-point match against Townsville Heat his best performance.
The New Zealand-born, 29-year-old forward re-joined Palmerston from Razzle Storm in 2020.
He averaged 20 points from his five games during the DBL Blitz back in April, going at 40 per cent beyond the paint.
Jeremee JP Davis (PaRBA United)
The 191cm shooting guard has been a professional baller for several years, including stints in Europe, Latin America and the now defunct NBA D League.
The 32-year-old Georgia product, a former assistant coach at Albany State University, also guided the Japara Renegades in the Launceston Basketball Association.
Daniel Calcatera (Razzle/Cannons)
The 32-year-old point guard returns to Razzle after an earlier stint several years ago.
The former American Premier Basketball League and University of Michigan baller, has enjoyed tenures both in Spain and with the Hawkesbury Jets
Alex Weetra (Tracy Village Jets)
Weetra has long been a leader in this Jets squad bringing his experience to a side full of talented, young players.
And he is still key to their success with his uncanny ability to find the next scorer across the court.
Another standout in the DBL Blitz with an average of six assists per game while also averaging seven points, keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
Weetra will again be pivotal to Jets’ chances in the 2022-23 season and his young squad mates will be looking for every opportunity to get the ball from him.
Chris Elder (Eagles)
Elder is one of the big name returns to the Darwin championship for the Eagles, the team he captained to a championship in 2020.
He’s a big game player, making a massive statement in the grand final with 35 of his side’s 94 points to see off Tracy Village.
It was a true captain’s game, underlining a season full of highs and completing a 19-game winning streak with a championship ring.
In 2022, he signed on for the Hume City Broncos where he was at his dynamic best once again, racking up the points to finish the season with an average of 20.33 per game.
Tom Godwin (PaRBA United)
A hard-nosed player who doesn’t back down from the competition, Godwin has long been one of the standouts for the Palmerston-based squad.
Showed he is still capable of bringing his best during the DBL Blitz earlier this year, where he shone in a team which didn’t taste victory as much as it would have liked.
Netted an average of 21.5 points per game over four matches and also was strong from outside of the paint, landing 15 out of his 33 three-point attempts.
Luca Tutty (Lightning)
One of the powerhouses of the DBL Blitz in early 2022, boasting an undeniable talent.
Set an average of 23 points from five matches in the tournament and was a key part in Lightning’s drive.
The young talent has long been noted for his skills and work ethic and his side’s chances in 2022-23 will largely depend on his efforts.
It’s a lot to put on one man’s shoulders but Tutty has proven in recent years that he is up for the challenge, using his tall frame to agitate his foes and sometimes move outside the paint to score a three.
Kane Toohey (Ansett)
The young gun has kept busy since the last championship season playing in the DBL Blitz, Junior League and Division 1 competitions.
And he’s been a standout in each, getting points on the board and proving to be an absolute menace around the court.
In 2020, he was the junior making his first real steps to the top level, and now in 2022, it’s his chance to take centre stage.
Expect some big things from Toohey in tandem with fellow club junior and standout Anthony Rowse.
Will Burton (Tracy Village Jets)
Who can forget the highlight reel Burton produced in the 2020 season, slinging three pointers left, right and centre in a young but incredibly talented Tracy Village unit.
He scored 63 three-pointers from 183 attempts while averaging 16.58 points per game, only behind Jerron Jamerson for the Jets.
The young Jets made it all the way to the grand final where they ultimately fell just short to an almost invincible Eagles unit.
But that season was the making of this team.
The following year, the then 18-year-old got the chance to play for Mildura Heat in the Big V competition, where he made an instant impression at Division 2 level.
He returned to Jets later in 2021, and has since been one of their most consistent, pulling in an average of 19 points per game during the DBL Blitz.
Mixon Laurel (Uni Rebels)
There have been some changes in the Rebels camp over the off-season, but Laurel will still be the player to keep an eye on when they hit the floor.
He has become one of the leaders of the side in recent years and is expected to have a real impact on the offensive end.
He starred in the local 2022 Junior League Men Championship season with an average score of 28.17 points per game and will be gunning to bring that form to the Men’s Championship.
Daniel Babb (PaRBA United)
Another Saltie sticking around in Darwin to stake his claim for a return to the squad in the 2023 season.
A key bench player for the Salties’ first season, getting minutes in almost every game while picking up the odd assist and rebound.
He will add that same edge to a PaRBA United team full of competitive players looking to press their case for a championship.
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