Report: Aussie Sharpshooter NBL Bound

Australian youngster Jonah Antonio is set to sign with an NBL team, according to league analyst Liam Santamaria.

Antonio most recently played with BK Nova Hut Ostrava in the Czech Republic, where he averaged 7.5 points across 19 games.

The Perth native had a five-year college career (one year in junior college) with Mount Saint Mary’s University (2016-2018), South Plains College (2018-2019, JUCO), University of Nevada (2019-2020) and Wake Forest (2020-2021).

“My understanding is that he (Antonio) is going to be in the league this season,” Santamaria said on NBL Overtime. 

“(He is an) absolute sniper. I think he is going to have the quickest release in the NBL.”

Despite his Western Australian roots, Santamaria reported that Antonio won’t be signing with the Perth Wildcats. Instead, the three-point marksman is believed to be joining a different squad, one in need of perimeter shooting.

“Most people thought he was going to Perth – there was talk about him going there last year – but my understanding is it is not going to be Perth,” Santamaria added.

“It’s going to be a team that is trying to improve their three-point shooting from what they served up overall last season.”

Sydney Kings champion Dejan Vasiljevic was full of praise for Antonio, as the two have shared the court before.

“We called him quick six at the Uni Games because he would come in, boom boom, two threes straight away,” Vasiljevic said.

“I look forward to seeing where he plays next year in the NBL.”