Sons of guns trial with 36ers

Photo: Rio Bruton (provided by Adelaide 36ers Media)

The Adelaide 36ers are putting the next batch of potential NBL stars to the test, with development contracts up for grabs for those who shine brightest. 

The club's annual trials are underway and there's some familiar names looking to prove their wares - among them, Rio Bruton, the son of six-time NBL champion CJ Bruton, and Micale Mee, son of Darnell, a five-time NBL Best Defensive Player.

"It's exciting to see him. I know CJ would be proud of the basketballer he's becoming and will become," 36ers coach Scott Ninnis said of 17-year-old Rio. 

"He's a Bruton!" 🔥🔥

Deep, deep in the fourth quarter of the grand final and Basketball SA's Rio Bruton came up with a huge play.@BasketballAus pic.twitter.com/3E2uObdp7w

— KommunityTV (@KommunityTV) April 16, 2024

Ninnis said the club could offer as many as four development contracts, while also being on the hunt to fill its import spots in the coming weeks.

“It’s not just a token selection, we want these guys and expect these guys to be NBL players,” he said.

“We’re looking at guys who can be NBL players.

“This first session has exceeded what I was expecting ... they’ve been really competitive and really high quality.”

Local college talents Jacob Rigoni and Ben Griscti have already signed on with the 36ers for next season, and Ninnis says budding South Australian talent is always a key focus for the club. 

“I’m sure a couple of those development players will be South Aussies,” he added.

“We had a couple of guys last year that we will potentially bring back. Keanu Rasmussen hopefully will be back with us in one of those DP spots.”

Last week, Adelaide GM of Basketball Operations Matt Weston provided insight into the club's recruiting approach, as it looks to complement its domestic stars, DJ Vasiljevic and Isaac Humphries, with a pair of imports.

“Positional wise we’re looking for a play-making one [point guard] … a guy that can score, but ultimately get the ball to DJ and Isaac in the right spots as well,” Weston said.

“We’ve got the best off-guard (Vasiljevic) and the best five man (Humphries) in the league in my opinion.

“It’s someone that’s going to be able to control the tempo of the game.

“We’re also looking at a stretch-four [power forward]. Someone that can also play some five when we want to play some small ball.

“The players we’re talking about are very good players. They don’t go cheap and they’re in demand.”

Micale Mee.