Perth backs emerging youth for NBL25

Ben Henshall and David Okwera found NBL opportunities few and far between in their last campaign with the Perth Wildcats, but Danny Mills has backed the talented pair to force their way into John Rillie’s rotation in NBL25.

Henshall is currently plying his trade for NZNBL side Otago during the NBL off-season, while Okwera is turning out for the East Perth Eagles in NBL1 West.

The Wildcats’ roster construction left them with only three spots to fill ahead of next season. A local position that has since been taken by Elijah Pepper, and import spot, and a Next Star to replace potential number one draft pick Alexandre Sarr.

Mills says the set nature of Perth’s roster means the club is looking internally for players to develop over the off-season.

“As well as adding pieces teams need to internally develop with guys returning,” Mills said on SEN WA. For Dave the opportunities didn’t come last season with the depth we had up front, but that’s what we need.

“We have so much confidence in his ability and that’s why we signed him here, and him having a stable off-season staying in Perth, lifting every day, and getting a lot of reps and being a high usage player in NBL1 is going to show dividends when we get into training camp.

“We’re expecting him to fully have opportunities to crack the rotation.

“Ben is playing fantastic right now in New Zealand and the plan and development for him was coming in as a rookie and getting a taste of professional basketball at this level, and then having a huge off-season where he’s in a high usage on-ball role, where he’s getting a lot of shots and able to play 35-plus minutes.

“I don’t think it’s a surprise to any of us, but people in New Zealand are a bit shocked a 19-year-old Australian is playing that well in their league, but it’s great development for him and it will give him great confidence to come in next season with a huge role.

“There are a lot of minutes to be played, and if you look at our roster he’s going to have a chance to be in our rotation from day one. We’re excited to see what he can produce next year.”

That front-court depth due to the departure of Sarr has been earmarked as a spot to strengthen by Mills, and although Okwera has been cited as a huge improver in that position, the Wildcats are targeting that position with one of their final two key roster spots.

Boomers selection Keanu Pinder is currently the only natural center on the Wildcats’ roster heading into next season, however that is a role in which Okwera thrived at an injury-hit Melbourne United in NBL23.

Mills says while the club will look for a big and a wing to round out its roster, they need to be strategic around who they sign for next season.

“There’s two ways to look at it. We have one more import spot and one more Next Star spot, so we have to figure out whichever way these pieces fall will alter the other one,” he said.

“We definitely need wing scoring, or at least a three-man that can give us some size and defensive presence and be able to shoot and we need someone to solidify our front-court. However that plays out, those are the two positions.

“You’re always looking for the best talent available but it’s got to fit into the current roster and how it’s assembled. We already have a lot of pieces there, so we have to be pretty strategic in how it all fits in and we feel really good about where we’re at.

“If we can land these last two pieces we’re working hard on I think we’ll be in a strong position to start the year.”