Kayden Malseed, Aiden McKenney: The biggest stars of Darwin basketball in 2022
A Darwin Salties recruit has revealed the moment that inspired her to achieve a dream of representing the NT. We’ve ranked every player from the Darwin Basketball League.
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Darwin Salties recruit and new mum Claire-Maree Hunt admits she had a tear in her eye when the squad hit the floor for the first time last season.
Pregnant with son Xavier as the lady Salties took on Red City Road last April at Marrara, the Lightning star had missed her chance to be part of the inaugural NBL1 North playing squad.
“I must admit the opening night ... (when) the crowd was cheering, there was a tear in my eye,” Hunt said.
“(Pregnancy) came at a pretty tricky time, it all happened very early on in the Salties recruiting process.
“I was so happy but at the same time I wanted to be a part of the playing group.
“I think it only motivated me more for this year.”
While Hunt is still searching for the endurance levels she had before giving birth on June 7, her form has definitely hit the heights required.
She comes into the Darwin Championship Season semi-final against the 14-1 Tracy Village Jets with a 47-point and 20-board game against Uni Rebels last round.
Hunt is also first in the competition for average points, and total match points and three points made, free throw and three point percentage.
And the Lightning are the only team to have beaten the Jets this year, with Hunt scoring 39 points that game.
“Obviously going into any finals you’ve very excited but we’re also a bit nervous because we know how strong the competition is,” Hunt said.
“Several Salties players are in the top four teams.”
Hunt is playing with the “pure excitement” of knowing she’s about to achieve a dream at the Croc Pot in just a few weeks.
“I’m so fortunate ... it’s something I wish I had as a junior. It’s just amazing to feel the community get behind us,” she said.
She would train regularly with Darwin Salties coach Rod Tremlett post-season.
“I didn’t really know what to expect coming back from having a baby,” she said.
“It was only two weeks after he was born I was back out on the court having some light shooting.
“I think that shows how much I love the game. It’s paid off.”
And she will hit the court with the added experience of helping Tremlett last season as an assistant, describing the sideline experience as a “massive learning curve”.
“Not knowing how much time goes into the preparation, all the scouting, the training programs ... it’s a massive undertaking and something that I can appreciate a lot more,” she said.
She said in-game decision making was sometimes a “bit overwhelming” with events unfolding “so quickly”.
“You have to know the scenario in your head and make a decision based on that,” she said.
“There were definitely a few times where I had to say to Rod, I’m sorry I didn’t give you that or I wasn’t able to provide any insight.”
However, Hunt is aware it will be tough to get court time with the Salties adding Catherine MacGregor (South West Metro Pirates), Sophie Johnston (Gold Coast Rollers), Skye Rees (Mackay Meteorites) and Abbey-Lee Wood (Knox Raiders): “We have such a talented group this year. Having a strong core is going to make everyone better.”
Over 3000 Darwin basketballers ranked
Darwin basketball has grown from strength to strength in the past year, and the performance of players, from Under 10 juniors through to Championship Season seniors, has reflected that growth.
From junior stars, a wheelchair basketballer who has scored more than 300 points to a number of up-and-comers on the radar of the Darwin Salties, the 2022-23 season has been massive for local hoops.
And after crunching the numbers, across all competitions, the best performing players of the local game can be revealed across five key statistical benchmarks: average points per game, total points and total free throw, two-point and three-points made.
See where you rank from more than 3000 Darwin basketballers:
However, it should be known for the sake of comparison, that all Darwin Basketball Association competitions were completed in November apart from the top flight, the Championship Season, which concludes in March.
There were a few clear standouts, though, including Ansett 15-year-old Aiden McKenney who averaged 40 points a game and netted a stunning 606 points in the Under 16 competition.
In one incredible performance, he shot 65 points in a November match against Eagles Black.
“That’s my best scoring game I think … I was in the zone,” McKenney said, who was forced to play point guard after a teammate left for Razzle early in the season.
The Territory product now has his sights on higher honours.
“I want to be definitely on the NBL1 team for Darwin Salties,” he said.
“To be a development player, to train them, that would be one of my biggest goals.
“Basketball is the focus.”
The best performing players of Darwin basketball
Average points per game
Men
1. Aiden McKenney (Ansett) 40.4 Under 16 Division One
2. Kayden Malseed (Razzle/Cannons) 38.1 Championship Season
3. Jerron Jamerson (Tracy Village Jets) 34.33 Championship Season
4. Elijah Sample (Ellas Titans) 28.33 Championship Season
5. Deba George (Ellas Titans) 28.1 Championship Season
6. Brian Ramsamy (Uni Rebels) 27.62 Under 18 Division Two
7. Josh Chery (Ansett) 25.92 Championship Season
8. Mixon Laurel (Uni Rebels) 25.78 Junior League Men Championship
9. Nicholas Mn (Ellas Titans Blue) 24.89 Under 14 Division Two
10. Jeremee Davis (PaRBA) 24.08 Championship Season
Women
1. Taneesa Hampton (Uni Rebels) 26.86 Under 16 Division One
2. Claire Maree O’Bryan Hunt (Lightning) 26 points Championship Season
3. Erin Bollmann (Ellas Titans) 24.71 points Championship Season
4. Amy List (Ellas Titans) 22.47 Under 18 Under 18s
5. Takiyah Wright (Uni Rebels Red) 22 Under 12 Division Two
6. Aaliyah Mukhlis (Uni Rebels) 21.75 Under 18
7. Shamah Gabriel-Yak (Tracy Village Jets) 21.71 Under 14 Division One
8. Zariah Chisholm (Ellas Titans White) 21.67 Under 12 Division One
9. Taneesa Hampton (Uni Rebels) 20.83 Championship Season
10. Taneesa Hampton (Uni Rebels 19.64 Division One
Total match points for the season
Men
1. Aiden McKenney (Ansett) 606 Under 16 Division One
2. Kayden Malseed (Razzle/Cannons) 381 Championship Season
3. Brian Ramsamy 359 (Uni Rebels) Under 18 Division Two
4. Jacob Long (Darwin Dingoes) 337 Division One
5. Matt Hunt 322 (Darwin Dingoes Ochre) Wheelchair Competitive
Axello Regalta (Uni Rebels Red) 322 Under 16 Division Two
6. Jacob Doyle (Haileybury Rendall School) 316 Under 12 Division Three
7. Josh Chery (Ansett) 311 Championship Season
8. Jason Ramsamy (Uni Rebels) 307 Junior League Men Championship
9. Nathan Fraser (North Coast Kooks) 304 Division 5B
10. Jeremee Davis (289) PaRBA Championship Season
Women
1. Taneesa Hampton (Uni Rebels) 376 Under 16 Division One
2. Shamah Gabriel-Yak (Tracy Village Jets) 369 Under 14 Division One
3. Amy List (Ellas Titans) 337 Under 18
4. Zariah Chisholm (Ellas Titans White) 325 Under 12 Division One
5. Elsie Banson (Eagles) 311 Under 12 Division Two
6. Aaliyah Mukhlis (Uni Rebels) 271 Under 16 Division One
7. Aliyah Mukhlis (Uni Rebels) 261 Under 18
8. Jayla Thorne (Tracy Village Jets) 244 Under 16 Division One
9. Zali Streeter (Ellas Titans Blue) 231 Under 12 Division One
10. Heidi McConachy (Razzle/Storm) 228 Under 14 Division One
Total free throws made
Men
1. Kayden Malseed (Razzle/Storm) 98 Championship Season
2. Aiden McKenney (Ansett) 80 Under 16 Division One
3. Josh Chery (Ansett) 66 Championship Season
4. Jeremee Davis (PaRBA) 65 Championship Season
5. Elijah Sample (Ellas Titans) 60 Championship Season
6. Dan Babb (PaRBA) 54 Championship Season
7. Fabian Johnson (Uni Rebels) 47 Championship Season
8. Lafonzo Smith (Eagles) 43 Championship Season
9. Chris Elder (Eagles) 41 Championship Season
10. Darnell Pinner-Clark (Eagles) 39 Under 18 Division One
Women
1. Shamah Gabriel-Yak (Tracy Village Jets) 57 Under 14 Division One
2. Zali Streeter (Ellas Titans Blue) 43 Under 12 Division One
3. Taneesa Hampton (Uni Rebels) 40 Under 16 Division One
Heidi McConachy (Razzle/Storm) 40 Under 14 Division One
4. Kayla Ilett (Uni Rebels) 39 Under 14 Division One
5. Ruby Preston (Razzle) 36 Under 16 Division Two
6. Daisha Daly (Tracy Village Jets) 31 Under 16 Division Two
7. Jamie-Lee Peris (Tracy Village Jets) 29 Championship Season
Sarah Clee Division (Lightning) 29 Division Two
8. Amelia Short (Ellas Titans) 28 Championship Season
9. Zara Pearson (Ansett) 27 Championship Season
10. Cecily Rankin (Ansett) 26 Championship Season
Total two points made
Men
1. Aiden McKenney (Ansett) 248 Under 16 Division One
2. Axello Regalta (Uni Rebels Red) 153 Under 16 Division Two
3. Jacob Doyle (Haileybury Rendall School) 151 Under 12 Division Three
4. Matt Hunt (Darwin Dingoes Ochre) 140 Wheelchair Competitive
5. Zachary Tepper (Uni Rebels Red) 131 Under 10 Division One
6. Jason Ramsamy (Uni Rebels) 128 Junior League Men Championship
7. Hudson Scott (Uni Rebels Red) 124 Under 10 Division One
8. Jaxx Lavers (Eagles) 120 Under 10 Division One
9. Reed Lomboy (Eagles High Flyers) 115 Under 14 Division Five
Austin Loughman (Lightning) 115 Under 10 Division Three
10. Levin Maher 113 (Eagles) Under 12 Division One
Women
1. Amy List (Ellas Titans) 164 Under 18
2. Zariah Chisholm (Ellas Titans White) 154 Under 12 Division One
3. Taneesa Hampton (Uni Rebels) 150 Under 16 Division One
4. Elsie Banson (Eagles) 149 Under 12 Division Two
5. Shamah Gabriel-Yak (Tracy Village Jets) 138 Under 14 Division One
6. Aaliyah Mukhlis (Uni Rebels) 123 Under 16 Division One
7. Aaliyah Mukhlis (Uni Rebels) 115 Under 18
8. Demi Reardon (Ansett) 107 Under 10 Division Two
9. Zariah Chisholm (Ellas Titans White) 98 Under 14 Division Two
10. Ocean Bonson (Lightning) 90 Under 10 Division Two
Total three points made
Men
1. Deba George (Ellas Titans) 55 Championship Season
2. Ben Streeter (Ellas Titans) 53 Division One
3. Brian Ramsamy (Uni Rebels) 47 Under 18 Division Two
4. Thomas Wood (Sharkz Squad) 46 Division 3B
Jacob Long (Darwin Dingoes) 46 Division One
William Burton (Tracy Village Jets) 46 Division One
5. Owen Mani (Tracy Village Jets) 44 Division 5A
6. Callum Lock (Palmerston Pumas) 42 Division 3B
Mitchell Northey (Lightning Strike) 42 Division 5B
Dylan Rizzotto (Acacia Hills Heat) 42 Division 4B
7. Jonathon Pace-Teunon (Lightning) 41 Division 5A
Kayden Malseed (Razzle/Cannons) 41 Championship Season
8. Callum Lock 40 (Palmerston Power) 40 Division Two
9. Dylan Rizzotto 35 (Acacia Hills Heat) Division 5B
Allen Trono 35 (Palmerston Power) Division 3B
10. Emanuel Siriotis 33 (Ellas Titans) Division 3B
Women
1. Tiayana Sing (Eagles) 38 Division One
2. Michelle Espinoza (Lightning) 36 Division Three
3. Claire Maree O’Bryan Hunt (Lightning) 31 Championship Season
4. Kaylani Duggan-Cole (Tracy Villaget Jets) 29 Under 16 Division One
5. Lucy Smyth (Ansett Blue) 28 Under 18
6. Kaylani Duggan-Cole (Tracy Village Jets) 27 Division One
7. Erin Bollmann (Ellas Titans) 25 Championship Season
8. Caroline Debusch (Darwin Dingoes Black) 23 Division Three
9. Zara Pearson (Ansett) 21 Championship Season Ansett
10. Talia Corrie (Darwin Dingoes Black) 20 Division Three
Kahlee Stanislaus (Lightning) 20 Division One
Mia Tuluauau (Uni Rebels Red) 20 Division 4A
Whitney Althouse (Eagles Orange) 20 Division 4A
Talia Corrie (Darwin Dingoes Black) 20 Division Division Three
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