The best DBL Men’s Championship youth coming through
From sharp shooters to defensive beasts, Darwin top-tier local basketball competition features a number of talented youngsters. See the full list of future stars here.
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There is a reason why basketball in the NT continues to rise.
Among the top-class players and coaches, it is the young talent coming through that regularly lifts the standard and grows the sport’s popularity.
From athletic giants to flashy skilful gems, the Top End’s DBL Men’s Championship features a number of rising stars capturing the attention of their elders.
Basketball NT high performance manager Rod Tremlett said Territory basketball had some top prospects coming through the ranks.
“There are some really positive and emerging talent from the under-14 age group right through to the under-18 age group at the moment,” Tremlett said.
“I guess one thing probably in both the boys and the girls programs, they are getting an opportunity to be exposed in the senior competition probably at an earlier age than they would be if they are going away down south.
“So that gives them a chance to test their skills against senior players and more experienced players.
“I think that is a bit of a unique opportunity that they get ahead of their counterparts down south.
“It’s a bit of a unique opportunity with Territory basketball and I think it’s one that our better kids do take full advantage of.
“There are certainly accelerated opportunities here in the Territory for those young players of talent.”
Young guns: DBL Men’s Championship competition
Hudson Heinrich (Razzle/Cannons)
Position: Wing two or three
A hard working winger who plays hard defence, gets out and runs and does the little things well.
Davis Gabriel-Yak (Razzle/Cannons)
Position: Wing three or four
The captain of the NT under-18s is excellent defensively who can finish well around the rim.
You will also notice Gabriel-Yak’s athletic ability with the way he can run.
Mixon Laurel (Uni Rebels)
Position: Guard
A fast, shifty player who is a great scorer.
Sam Edwards (Uni Rebels)
Position: Forward
A player with great length that is a strong shooter.
Malakai Tawhi (Uni Rebels)
Position: Guard
A fast player who is a great shooter of the ball.
Daymon Moyd (Ellas Titans)
“A really smart player being so young but having the basketball IQ of maybe a 25-year-old,” Ellas Titans coach Erin Bollmann said.
“He passes really well, shoots the ball really well, he is going to be a good asset for us definitely, coming off the bench.”
Rhys McIntyre (Ellas Titans)
“A hard worker, plays really good defence and runs the floor really well and fits within our system exactly the way we want him to be,” Bollmann said.
Aiden McKenney (Ansett)
“Long lengthy, athletic young fella, a real goer in that he’s really aggressive in all aspects of the game,” Ansett captain Matty Hunt said.
“He runs the lane hard, loves to be up in people’s faces in defence and brings a lot of energy to the court which is great around us older blokes.”
Lachlan O‘Brien (Ansett)
“Lachie’s offence is amazing, one day it’s just going to click and there’s not much he can’t do on that end,” Hunt said.
“He’s still working on his defensive end which is more about maturing into his body, but what he has in his bag on offence is probably second to none for someone of his age.
“He’s just got to put it together against the bigger bodies, which I don’t think he’s going to have too many problems with having trained with the Salties and dominated in the under-18s and juniors.”
Taj Murray (TV Jets)
Position: Two or three
“He has a good vertical leap and is very wiry,” TV Jets captain Alexander Weetra said.
Justin Lobb (PaRBA)
“He played his first league game with us at the end of last season, and we’re really excited to see what he can do,” PaRBA coach Lance Godwin said.
“He and his brother Russell are both young fellas and have been training really well in the pre-season so will probably get some more opportunities and minutes this season.
“They’re both forwards and we’re looking forward to see what they can do for us.”
Darnell Clarke (Eagles)
A solid outside shooter who is good in open court situations.
Young guns: DBL Women’s Championship competition
Dyana Naledawa (Ellas Titans)
Position: Guard
“Although she is a junior, she has trained very, very well,” Ellas Titans coach Emanuel Siriotis said.
“She played great in the pre-season game that we had last week.
“So she is definitely a young gun to watch.”
Amy List (Ellas Titans)
Position: Small forward
“She was in the Salties development group and she has just come back from America,” Siriotis said.
“She did a tournament in America in Chicago which was very successful for her.
“She is a centre, dominant on rebounds, she is very good at scoring inside the key.
“She is definitely a young gun.”
Gabriella Reisinger (Eagles)
Position: Guard
“She can shoot the lights out. She is quick and very athletic in the open court.” Eagle women’s coach Joseph Johnson said.
Tiayana Sing (Eagles)
Position: Guard
The Eagles captain is an intense fierce competitor who has an elite skill set. Sing can scores in a variety of ways.
Kaylani Duggan-Cole (TV Jets)
Position: Shooting guard
A talented three-point shooter who has a great ability to read the game.
Jayla Thorne (TV Jets)
“With Jayla, it’s definitely her run and attack at the basket that we love to see from her and she is obviously a very experienced player for her age,” TV Jets captain Kylie Duggan said.
Taneessa Hampton (Lightning)
“Her strengths are her height and ball handling, she can guard anywhere from point guard up,” Lightning coach Jason Ivinson said.
“She’s one of the tallest players in the comp, but handles the ball like a guard and run the ball, she’s just coming on leaps and bounds.
“We’re working on getting her to the stage where she can be competing for a Salties local spot next year.”
Shamah Gabriel-Yak (TV Jets)
“For Shamah, it’s definitely her speed, she is obviously still developing in her basketball but she is also beyond her years in her game,” Duggan said.
“Her speed is definitely something to watch for.”
Lilly Nicklin (Lightning)
“She is a 14-year-old who went away with the under-16s as a bottom age and started almost every game at nationals,” Ivinson said.
“Her strengths are her outside shooting, and we’re building her so in a few years she will be knocking on the door (for Salties) as well.”
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