Scouting our rivals ahead of NBL24 season

With the NBL24 season set to tip off this weekend, let’s scout on how our opponents shape up.

There have been several moves during the off-season, with a lot of re-signings and this year’s free agency was one of the biggest on record.

Teams have retooled, changed imports, players have swapped colours, rookies have been upgraded and some players are even back from retirement for the new season.

Head Coach: Justin Schueller

Returning: Nathan Sobey, Aron Baynes, DJ Mitchell, Tyrell Harrison, Matthew Johns

New: Isaac White (Tasmania JackJumpers), Sam McDaniel (Tasmania JackJumpers), Josh Bannan (University of Montana, USA), Mitch Norton (Perth Wildcats), Shannon Scott (Cairns Taipans), Rocco Zikarsky (NBA Global Academy), Gabe Hadley (Cairns Taipans), Chris Smith (Chiba Jets, Japan), Tristan Devers (Nunawading Spectres)

Departed: Jason Cadee (Adelaide 36ers), Tanner Krebs (Melbourne United), Gorjok Gak (South East Melbourne Phoenix), Rasmus Bach (retired), Kody Stattmann (South East Melbourne Phoenix), Tyler Johnson, Andrew White III, Harry Froling, Koen Sapwell, Lual Diing, Hunter Clarke

DEPTH CHART
PG: Scott / Norton / Devers
SG: Sobey / White / Hadley
SF: Smith / McDaniel
PF: Bannan / Mitchell / Johns
C: Baynes / Harrison / Zikarsky

ANALYSIS
The Bullets will once again have a Next Star in NBL24, and have signed 17-year-old local centre Rocco Zikarsky.

Experienced import guard Shannon Scott has traded Far North Queensland for Brisbane, having left the Taipans to join the project at the Bullets and import Chris Smith will add elite level shooting to the wing.

The signing of Josh Bannan is a strong indication of new head coach Justin Schueller’s recruitment strategy heading into the season – the highly-touted Montana forward has previously worked with the first-time head coach as part of the Australian Under 17’s team, while former Taipan Gabe Hadley is also set for a reunion with Schueller, following their time at NBL1 South club Geelong Supercats.

With marquee duo Nathan Sobey and Aron Baynes returning, Brisbane can only sign two imports for the season - those positions now being filled by Smith and Scott.

 

Head Coach: Adam Forde

Returning: Jonah Antonio, Lat Mayen, Sam Waardenburg, Tahjere McCall, Bul Kuol

New: Akoldah Gak (Illawarra Hawks), Sam Mennenga (Davidson College, USA), Taran Armstrong (California Baptist, USA), Bobi Klintman (Wake Forest, USA), Patrick Miller (Brose Bamberg, Germany), Lachlan Anderson (Cairns Marlins), Joshua Roberts (Manhattan College), Alex Mudronja (Illawarra Hawks), Kian Dennis (Southern Districts Spartans)

Departed: Keanu Pinder (Perth Wildcats), Shannon Scott (Brisbane Bullets), Ben Ayre (South East Melbourne Phoenix), DJ Hogg (Sydney Kings), Majok Deng (Tasmania JackJumpers), Gabe Hadley (Brisbane Bullets), Mirko Djeric, Josh Davey

DEPTH CHART
PG: Armstrong / Miller / Mudronja
SG: McCall / Antonio / Dennis
SF: Kuol / Mayen / Anderson
PF: Waardenburg / Klintman       
C: Mennenga / Roberts / Gak

ANALYSIS
Cairns Taipans are reloading for NBL24, and the Forde talent factory is nearing capacity once more.

Exciting collegiate centre Sam Mennenga will hope to have a similar influence on the NBL in his debut campaign as now teammate Sam Waardenburg, while former Illawarra big Akoldah Gak has moved to Far North Queensland in the hope to aid his development.

Bul Kuol bucked the trend of departing stars and has committed his future to the side following a less than productive off-season in France, while import point guard Patrick Miller has been brought in to add some experience and nous to what is a young and athletic side.

Import big man Joshua Roberts will add to the side's young core and will play his first professional season following a stellar college career with Manhattan.

 

Head Coach: Jacob Jackomas

Returning: Sam Froling, Will Hickey, Justin Robinson, Tyler Harvey, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, Dan Grida, Harry Morris

New: Mason Peatling (Melbourne United), Lachlan Olbrich (UC Riverside, USA), AJ Johnson (Southern California Academy, USA), Biwali Bayles (Sydney Kings), Gary Clark (Capitanes de Ciudad, Mexico), Todd Blanchfield (Perth Wildcats), Luca Yates (Barry University, USA), Hyunjung Lee (Santa Cruz Warriors, USA)

Departed: Tim Coenraad (retired), Akoldah Gak (Cairns Taipans), Mangok Mathiang (New Zealand Breakers), Kevin White (retired), Michael Frazier II, Peyton Siva, Alex Mudronja (Cairns Taipans), Lachie Dent, Deng Deng

DEPTH CHART
PG: Robinson / Johnson / Hickey / Bayles
SG: Harvey / Lee / Swaka Lo Buluk
SF: Blanchfield / Grida / Morris
PF: Clark / Peatling
C: Froling / Olbrich / Yates

ANALYSIS
Illawarra hit free agency early, and they hit it hard and then completed their new roster the signings of Todd Blanchfield and Gary Clark.

Former NBA forward Clark was reportedly a target for a number of NBL sides, but elected to link up with the new-look Hawks side.

Justin Robinson will feel like a new signing at point guard, while Next Star AJ Johnson and veteran Blanchfield will fight it out to earn a starting spot at the three.

Lachlan Olbrich also looms as one of the most exciting college prospects to enter the NBL this season and recently wrapped his off-season by being named NBL1 Central grand final MVP with West Adelaide Bearcats.

 

Head Coach: Dean Vickerman

Returning: Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, Ariel Hukporti, Zac Triplett, Malith Machar, Brad Newley

New: Flynn Cameron (UC Riverside), Tanner Krebs (Brisbane Bullets), Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (Nanjing Tongxi Monkey Kings, China), Luke Travers (Perth Wildcats), Kyle Bowen (Saint Mary's, USA), Campbell Blogg (Sandringham Sabres), Matthew Dellavedova (Sacramento Kings, USA), Rob Loe (New Zealand Breakers), Ian Clark (Adelaide 36ers)

Departed: Isaac Humphries (Adelaide 36ers), Mason Peatling (Illawarra Hawks), David Okwera (Perth Wildcats), Makuach Maluach (Sydney Kings), Josh Duach, Marcus Lee (Tasmania JackJumpers), Rayjon Tucker (Reyer Venezia, Italy), Lachie Barker (Tasmania JackJumpers), Xavier Rathan-Mayes (Merkezefendi Bld. Denizli Basket, Turkey)

DEPTH CHART
PG: Dellavedova / Ili / Blogg
SG: Clark / Cameron / Triplett
SF: Goulding / Krebs / Machar
PF: Travers / Newley / Bowen
C: Hukporti / Loe (NRP) / Lual-Acuil Jr (inj.)

ANALYSIS
Delly. Is. Back. The Boomers veteran and NBA champion has re-committed to Melbourne on a two-year deal, following a stint in Sacramento with the Kings, and has cited the increased opportunity for playing time ahead of the upcoming Olympics as a key reason for his return.

Young former Perth star Luke Travers and Saint Mary's graduate Kyle Bowen have both been added to the roster and the fit again Ariel Hukporti will look to fill the void left by Jo Lual-Acuil being sidelined with a wrist injury.

The additions of Tanner Krebs and Flynn Cameron leave their main back-court rotation very deep, especially with the signing of former Adelaide 36er Ian Clark last month.

 

Head Coach: Mody Maor

Returning: Will McDowell-White, Izayah Le’Afa, Cam Gliddon, Dan Fotu, Alex McNaught, Tom Abercrombie

New: Mangok Mathiang (Illawarra Hawks), Mantas Rubstavicius (Zalgiris, Lithuania), Dane Pineau (South East Melbourne Phoenix), Finn Delany (Baskets Bonn, Germany), Zylan Cheatham (Bayern Munich, Germany), Parker Jackson-Cartwright (Besiktas, Turkey), Justinian Jessup (Casademont Zaragoza), Carlin Davison (Taranaki Steelformers Airs), Dominique Kelman-Poto (Franklin Bulls), Max Darling (Canterbury Rams)

Departed: Rayan Rupert (Portland Trail Blazers), Rob Loe (Melbourne United), Sam Timmins (Sydney Kings), Tom Vodanovich, Barry Brown Jr (Reyer Venezia, Italy), Dererk Pardon (Altiri Chiba, Japan), Jarrell Brantley (Nagasaki Velci, Japan), Isaac Davidson, Jayden Bezzant

DEPTH CHART
PG: McDowell-White / Jackson-Cartwright / McNaught
SG: Le’Afa / Gliddon / Jessup
SF: Rubstavicius / Abercrombie / Fotu / Davison
PF: Cheatham / Delany / Darling / Kelman-Poto (NRP)
C: Mathiang / Pineau

ANALYSIS
After the signature of impressive point guard Will McDowell-White was secured, the Breakers went quiet in free agency. Then they came back with a bang.

Former Illawarra centre Mangok Mathiang has replaced Dererk Pardon in the starting centre spot, while Dane Pineau is likely to play behind him in what is a strong-rebounding centre rotation.

Last season's star imports Jarrell Brantley and Barry Brown Jr have also moved on, to Japan and Italy respectively.

Mantas Rubstavicius will be looking to become the fourth Next Star drafted from the Breakers to the NBA in four years, while hometown forward Tom Vodanovich has mutually departed the club to take up a contract in the Philippines.

Local hero Finn Delany and import Zylan Cheatham have both been signed to play the power forward position - and having one of the pair likely come off the bench is a luxury some teams will struggle with, while Parker Jackson-Cartwright to replace Brown Jr's score-heavy replacement.

 

Head Coach: John Rillie

Returning: Bryce Cotton, Michael Harris, Kyle Zunic, Tai Webster, Jack Andrew, Corey Webster, Jesse Wagstaff

New: Keanu Pinder (Cairns Taipans), David Okwera (Melbourne United), Ben Henshall (Centre of Excellence), Hyrum Harris (Adelaide 36ers), Alexandre Sarr (Overtime Elite, USA), Dontae Russo-Nance (Auckland Tuatara, New Zealand), Jordan Usher (Besiktas,Turkey)

Departed: Mitch Norton (Brisbane Bullets), Luke Travers (Melbourne United), Todd Blanchfield (Illawarra Hawks), Brady Manek (Zalgiris, Lithuania), TaShawn Thomas (Derthona Basket, Italy), Majok Majok (Tasmania JackJumpers)

DEPTH CHART
PG: T. Webster / Zunic / Russo-Nance
SG: Cotton / C Webster / Henshall
SF: Usher / M Harris
PF: Okwera / Wagstaff / H Harris
C: Pinder / Sarr / Andrew

ANALYSIS
The Wildcats stocks in the big man department has undergone a major reshuffle, with potential first-round NBA draft selection Alexandre Sarr becoming the first ever Next Star in the history of the club.

Former Adelaide 36er Hyrum Harris, Cairns' Keanu Pinder and Melbourne's David Okwera have completed the dramatic frontcourt re-shuffle, however the return of captain Jesse Wagstaff for another season adds some continuity.

Import Jordan Usher has certainly been talking the talk since arriving in Perth and has already thrown the gauntlet down in his bid to be named Defensive Player of the Year.

The club's guard rotation will have an element of sameness given the re-signing of both Corey and Tai Webster, and the continued commitment of Bryce Cotton - but exciting local talent Ben Henshall has also been added.

 

Head Coach: Mike Kelly

Returning: Mitch Creek, Alan Williams, Owen Foxwell, Reuben Te Rangi, Anzac Rissetto, Gary Browne

New: Gorjok Gak (Brisbane Bullets), Matt Kenyon (Tasmania JackJumpers), Rhys Vague (Kagawa Five Arrows, Japan), Ben Ayre (Cairns Taipans), Austin Rapp (Knox Raiders), Kody Stattmann (Brisbane Bullets), Luke Rosendale (Bendigo Braves), Craig Moller (s.Oliver Wurzburg, Germany), Will Cummings (Zhejiang Lions, China), Tyler Cook (Salt Lake City Stars)

Departed: Junior Madut (Tasmania JackJumpers), Dane Pineau (New Zealand Breakers), Kyle Adnam, Ryan Broekhoff (retired), Trey Kell III (Adelaide 36ers), Tohi Smith-Milner (Adelaide 36ers), Grant Anticevich, Zhou Qi (Guangdong Southern Tigers)

DEPTH CHART
PG: Browne / Ayre / Foxwell
SG: Cummings / Kenyon / Rosendale
SF: Moller / Te Rangi / Stattmann
PF: Creek / Vague / Rapp
C: Cook / Gak / Rissetto / Williams (inj.)

ANALYSIS
Rhys Vague has returned to Australia off the back of a career-defining move to Japan. How much he has improved since his championship laden stint at the Wildcats could be one of the storylines of the early season.

Ben Ayre turned down reported interest from across the NBL to sign with the Phoenix - and his signing sees the club's rotational options all but sorted for the upcoming season.

Owen Foxwell’s promotion to the main roster is a deserved improvement for the young guard, while Anzac Rissetto’s two-year deal will see him afforded the opportunity to impress.

Gary Browne is back for a second season running the point guard, while Gorjok Gak’s signing adds an experienced, strong body, while Alan Williams' absence due to a knee injury means nominated replacement player Tyler Cook will start in his place.

 

Head Coach: Mahmoud Abdelfattah

Returning: Jaylin Galloway, Jackson Makoi, Angus Glover, Kouat Noi, Jordan Hunter, Shaun Bruce

New: Makuach Maluach (Melbourne United), Klairus Amir (Dream City Christian School, USA), DJ Hogg (Cairns Taipans), Jonah Bolden (uncontracted), Alex Toohey (Centre of Excellence), Jaylen Adams (Qingdao Eagles, China), Sam Timmins (New Zealand Breakers), Denzel Valentine (Maine Celtics)

Departed: Xavier Cooks, DJ Vasiljevic (Washington Wizards), Biwali Bayles (Illawarra Hawks), Justin Simon, Tim Soares, Derrick Walton Jr, Archie Woodhill, Iggy Mitchell

DEPTH CHART
PG: Adams / Bruce / Makoi
SG: Valentine / Glover / Amir
SF: Galloway / Toohey / Maluach
PF: Hogg / Noi / Gattorna
C: Bolden / Hunter / Timmins

ANALYSIS
Sydney have a new coach, and Mahmoud Abdelfattah will be taking charge of the new-look Kings side, replacing two-time championship mentor Chase Buford.

The bulk of the side's bench core has been retained ahead of next season, however there has been wholesale changes to the side's starting five.

Former NBA centre Jonah Bolden and ex-Gonzaga commit Alex Toohey are a pair of unlikely star signings that loom as key pieces, while former league MVP Jaylen Adams has returned following a season away from the club.

Established star DJ Hogg looms as the most like-for-like Xavier Cooks replacement but, like Toohey, is adept at playing both the small and power forward positions.

With an import spot free and having to replace the NBA-bound Dejan Vasiljevic, the Kings added NBA veteran Denzel Valentine last month to create a potent backcourt duo with Adams.

 

Head Coach: Scott Roth

Returning: Jack McVeigh, Clint Steindl, Jarred Bairstow, Fabijan Krslovic, Sean Macdonald, Will Magnay, Walter Brown, Milton Doyle

New: Anthony Drmic (Adelaide 36ers), Junior Madut (South East Melbourne Phoenix) Marcus Lee (Melbourne United), Jordon Crawford (Buyukcekmece, Turkey), Majok Deng (Cairns Taipans), Lachie Barker (Melbourne United), Jacob Richards (Hobart Chargers), Majok Majok (Perth Wildcats)

Departed: Isaac White (Brisbane Bullets), Sam McDaniel (Brisbane Bullets), Matt Kenyon (South East Melbourne Phoenix), Jarrad Weeks (retired), Rashard Kelly, Josh Magette

DEPTH CHART
PG: Crawford / Macdonald / Barker (NRP)
SG: Doyle / Madut / Brown
SF: Drmic / Steindl / Richards
PF: McVeigh / Deng
C: Lee / Krslovic / Bairstow / Majok (NRP) / Magnay (inj.)

ANALYSIS
Tasmania had one priority this off-season, and that was the re-signing of Milton Doyle.

The JackJumpers got their man, for another two seasons, and former Melbourne United centre Marcus Lee and international scoring star Jordon Crawford have joined him, in place of Rashard Kelly and Josh Magette.

Tasmania’s guard/wing rotation has undergone drastic change with Matt Kenyon, Sam McDaniel and Isaac White departing, but Scott Roth brought in Junior Madut and Anthony Drmic to shore up the three-and-d ranks.

Starting centre Will Magnay is facing a race against time to be fit for the start of the regular season, but the addition of versatile big Majok Deng and Lee helps shore up what has been a shallow position for the JackJumpers in the last two seasons.

Lachie Barker and Majok Majok have been named as NRPs for the side, with Majok coming in on a short-term deal.