Crosscourt column: NBL clubs keeping close tabs on U20 National Basketball Championships
Perth’s loyal fanbase is mounting a case for Tai Webster’s to be named NBL24’s Most Improved Player — but they’ve got the wrong Wildcats, Michael Randall and Matt Logue write.
The Red Army can be relentless when it seizes on anything Wildcats-related.
The latest campaign out of Perth in some sections is for star Kiwi guard Tai Webster to win the league’s Most Improved Player award.
But, objectively, Webster was already a bonafide star and, while he’s making a significant impact for a winning club, to label him the league’s MIP would discredit the fine basketball he’s already produced.
The 28-year-old broke out in NBL21 with the Covid-displaced New Zealand Breakers as he put up 17.2 points (11th in the league), 5 assists (7th), 5 rebounds (5th among guards), 1.2 steals (8th) and shot an elite 38 per cent from deep on over five attempts per game. Of those who took more than five three per game that season, only DJ Vasiljevic, Cam Gliddon, Chris Goulding and Nathan Sobey shot a better clip.
Following stints in Lithuania and Turkey, he landed in Perth mid-last season, appearing in nine games before he was ruled out for the remainder with a hamstring injury, ending with averages of 7-2.5-3.
This campaign, after a slow start, he has warmed into it nicely for the soaring second-placed Wildcats, playing a great foil for superstar Bryce Cotton in averaging 9-3-2.7, but is shooting just 27 per cent from deep.
Fear not, though, Red Army, you do have a prime candidate for the MIP award to get behind.
Hyrum Harris has proved Perth’s secret weapon, his move into the starting line-up after a dismal 2-5 start to the season has directly correlated with the Wildcats surge up the ladder — they’re 14-3 with the Kiwi swingman in the first five.
The Wildcats are 102 points better off in his time on the floor and he’s set career highs across the board.
I am seeing momentum build about Tai Webster winning MIP (Most Improved).
— Super Coach Pleb (@SuperCoachPleb) January 20, 2024
He's in good form (3 games) But is he MIP?
Below are the recent winners, and how they improved to win the award.
Under that is some current players comparisons to their last season. #NBLpic.twitter.com/wcTsyvRhhP
There’s also a fan push for Isaac Humphries, but he’s an already elite big man who has NBA and Boomers experience, coming back from a knee injury. He’s undoubtedly better this season after working his way back from debilitating injuries, but the 15.6 points and 6.7 rebounds come with the knowledge the big man put up 13-7 and a league-leading 2.6 blocks during NBL21.
Crosscourt reckons the league should look at introducing a Comeback Player of the Year gong for those guys who have, through injury, role, lack of form or any other reason, rejuvenated their game after a down season — Webster and Humphries would be right up there, with the likes of Sydney’s Jonah Bolden, Melbourne United’s Ariel Hukporti, Trey Kell in Adelaide, Tassie’s monster in the middle Will Magnay and bench scoring machine Kouat Noi in Sydney.
As far as Most Improved goes, it feels a wide open race, with a number of players either breaking out or significantly topping their previous impact and production.
Outside of Harris, Jack McVeigh has increased nearly every major statistical category and is shooting an elite 51.1 per cent from the field, the jump from 47 per cent last campaign and a reduced number of three-point attempts indicating he’s worked hard to take better shots closer to the cup. He also leads the entire NBL in +/- at +172 — he’s, by far, the most important JackJumper.
Finally healthy, Brisbane big man Tyrell Harrison has won the starting job and responded by improving his production across the board in a Bullets team on the cusp of a playoff berth, while teammate Sam McDaniel has been a huge factor in the club’s turnaround, bringing elite wing defence from Tasmania and adding a scoring string to his bow, the 9.1ppg nearly double his previous career-high of 5ppg.
The improvement in Kings’ pair Jordi Hunter and Jaylin Galloway has been a bright spot in a sputtering season in the Hoops Capital.
Melbourne United’s rising young gun Luke Travers might also be in contention, given his youth, exponential growth and marked jump in statistics as he builds toward making the leap to the NBA.
Lat Mayen has had multiple roles thrown at him in Cairns and dealt with that frustration by taking a huge step, both statistically and in his understanding of the game.
Ben Ayre’s nearly doubled his scoring average at South East Melbourne as one of the Phoenix’s last-men standing in a season wrecked by injury.
Adelaide’s Kyrin Galloway, brother of Jaylin, could be charging a late run after finally being unleashed by interim coach Scott Ninnis. Recent games of 23-7 and 13-6, coupled with elite rim protection have finally shown what the 24-year-old is capable of.
If he continues to produce and the 36ers keep putting the heat on the play-in, he will have to be considered.
CROSSCOURT’S POTENTIAL NBL MIP CANDIDATES
Hyrum Harris (Per)
Jack McVeigh (Tas)
Sam McDaniel (Tas)
Tyrell Harrison (Bne)
Jordi Hunter (Syd)
Jaylin Galloway (Syd)
Lat Mayen (Cns)
Ben Ayre (SEM)
Kyrin Galloway (Ade)
CROSSCOURT’S NBL COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES
Tai Webster (Per)
Isaac Humphries (Ade)
Jonah Bolden (Syd)
Ariel Hukporti (MU)
Trey Kell (Ade)
Will Magnay (Tas)
Kouat Noi (Syd)
NBL FINALS CHAOS TO CAUSE BOOMERS HEADACHES
The unpredictable nature of the NBL’s race home to the playoffs is creating chaos for Australian Boomers selectors, just weeks out from two Asia Cup qualifiers.
Boomers brass have settled on the majority of the squad for games against Korea in Bendigo and Indonesia in Jakarta on February 22 and 25, but are waiting to see which teams make the finals to officially lock in players.
Heading into this weekend’s games, nine teams remain in the mix for six finals positions with three rounds remaining.
As seen in the past, NBL clubs participating in the playoffs don’t like their players representing the national team, only days before the post-season starts.
The competition will pause for over a week from February 19 to 27 to cater for the FIBA break and Australia’s two Asia Cup qualifiers.
The NBL Play-In tournament will start soon after the FIBA break ends.
Clubs celebrate players earning national selection, but it becomes a compromise when it stands between preparations for a championship campaign.
The clubs want to prevent their stars from getting injured, and as shown with Dejan Vasiljevic at the Sydney Kings last season.
Vasiljevic had committed to play in Australia’s two World Cup qualifiers, before he withdrew to focus on the Kings’ push for consecutive NBL championships.
There is a concern that this trend will continue – with finals-bound teams preferring their players not to play for the national team to risk injury.
It’s left the Boomers in a precarious position when it comes to naming its squad for their Asia Cup games.
Code Sports understands Phoenix star Mitch Creek and Dejan Vasiljevic are locks for Australia, but officials need to see which teams make the top six before finalising the squad.
The likes of William McDowell-White, Jaylin Galloway, Jordi Hunter, Sam Froling, Alex Toohey, Jack McVeigh, Rocco Zikarsky, Josh Bannan and Isaac Humphries are all in the mix for selection.
The Boomers games in February may only be Asia Cup qualifiers, but the matches will provide NBL players with a valuable chance to impress coach Brian Goorjian and push for a camp position ahead of this year’s Paris Olympics.
CASHED-UP PHOENIX’S AGGRESSIVE APPROACH
Fuelled by the franchise’s most successful season off the court, the South East Melbourne Phoenix will aggressively approach the free agency period armed with cash to spend on marquee players.
The last-placed Phoenix have battled all season, but record memberships and crowds have put the club’s coffers in a healthy position.
This will allow South East Melbourne to chase big-name players over the off-season, but not before a detailed review of the current roster.
The Phoenix has eight players off-contract – while Code Sports understands some contracted players may not return for NBL25.
PHOENIX CONTRACT LIST
Contracted: Ben Ayre, Mitch Creek, Owen Foxwell, Matt Kenyon, Rhys Vague, Alan Williams
Option: Anzac Rissetto
Out-of-contract: Gary Browne, Gorjok Gak, Craig Moller, Abdel Nader, Austin Rapp (DP), Luke Rosendale (DP), Kody Stattmann (DP), Reuben Te Rangi
RIVALS KEEN ON MCCARRON
Veteran guard Mitch McCarron is off-contract and unlikely to remain in Adelaide after this season, opening the door for rival clubs to express interest.
Crosscourt can reveal teams like Brisbane are keeping a close eye on McCarron as a potential fit for NBL25 and beyond.
The championship-winner has experienced a rollercoaster season in an Adelaide side that has surged from last position to within reach of the top six with three rounds remaining.
McCarron’s numbers in points scored have dropped to a career-low this season and he has been relegated to the bench, but he still offers value in the right team.
It’s why sides like Brisbane, Illawarra and potentially the Phoenix – will look at the 31-year-old.
In the meantime, McCarron is locked in on helping a resurgent Adelaide side continue its surge up the ladder.
The 36ers have won four straight, but must win their remaining four games to push for a top sixth finish. It’s a challenge that starts with a home clash on Friday against a Sydney Kings team that seriously weighed up sacking its coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah until an official stepped in.
UNDER-20 HOOPS STARS HAVE NBL CLUBS CIRCLING
A host of NBL faces have converged this week on the Victorian country town of Ballarat, eager to get their eyes on the best young talent in the country at the U20 National Basketball Championships.
From Perth Wildcats general manager Danny Mills to Melbourne United assistants Jacob Chance and David Barlow, NBL teams are keen to catch the highly-rated talent in action, while hoping to unearth a hidden gem who might one day become and NBL – or NBA – star.
Brisbane’s jack-of-all-trades advanced scout Josh Cheney has made the trip south and is impressed with the talent on show.
“At the end of the day, everyone here can play, so it’s, I guess, just finding that point-of-difference,” Cheney told Kommunity TV, which is livestreaming every game of the U20 tournament.
“Who is going to fit well with our system? Who do we believe is going to be able to buy into those daily habits that we talk about and succeed at a professional level?
“There’s plenty of talent but it’s figuring out who has the drive to make it.”
Cheney’s enjoyed casting his eye over the country’s finest juniors. Brisbane man-child Roman Siulepa is arguably the best athlete at the tournament and it’s the first time he’s seen the 17-year-old in action.
“Just a phenomenal athlete,” Cheney says of Siulepa.
“He can get anywhere he wants on the court and looks like he’s got an NBL-ready body.”
Cheney watched Tassie guard Kye Savage – who both the Bullets and Tasmania have attempted to lure as a development player – sink NSW with a clutch three, helped by prodigies Jacob Furphy and Lachlan Brewer.
NSW pair Josh Dent and James O’Donnell and Josh Dent stood out, along with Luke Fennell, Austin Rapp and Joel Foxwell out of the talent-laden Victorian team.
Cheney oversees the Bullets junior academy and he’s been struck by the maturity of 16-year-old Queenslander Indy Cotton, in Ballarat as a late call up for the NBA Global Academy.
“He’s still U18 age but the thing that stands out for me with Indy is just the IQ,” Cheney said of the son of former Port Adelaide AFL player Jarrod Cotton.
“Guys are trying to fight the defence to come off a hand off and he’s just back-cutting and getting himself a lay-up.
“You can see some with some kids who have been talented and used to having the ball in their hands, they need the ball to be successful.
“But Indy’s a guy who adapts and can just find his way, whatever role you give him.”
Several players in the Queensland squad are in the Bullets’ academy, with Sunshine Coast standout Liam Switzer improving his stock and Elijah Kamu, Mason Honeyman, Ben Tweedy and Jaylen Pitman all putting up their hands as potential future pros.
WATCH EVERY GAME FROM THE U20 AND IVOR BURGE NATIONALS LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE ON KOMMUNITYTV. JAN 30-FEB 4.
ROUND 18: (All games live on ESPN and Kayo)
Thursday, February 1:
Cairns Taipans vs Tasmania JackJumpers at Cairns Convention Centre from 7.30pm (AEDT)
Friday, February 2:
Adelaide 36ers vs Sydney Kings at Adelaide Entertainment Centre from 7.30pm (AEDT)
Saturday, February 3:
Illawarra Hawks vs Brisbane Bullets at WIN Entertainment Centre from 5.30pm (AEDT)
Melbourne United vs South East Melbourne Phoenix at John Cain Arena from 8pm (AEDT)
Sunday, February 4:
Tasmania JackJumpers vs Adelaide 36ers at MyState Bank Arena from 2pm (AEDT)
Perth Wildcats vs New Zealand Breakers at RAC Arena from 4pm (AEDT)
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