The Far North Talent Turning Heads

Now the NBA season is finished all eyes move to the NBA Draft and, even beyond that, players that could make waves in the competition in years to come.

While Rayan Rupert looms as the only likely draftee out of the NBL this year, the crop of Next Stars coming in for NBL24 looks set to be one of the most promising in the history of the program.

Top 20 projections for 2024 AJ Johnson and Alexandre Sarr have, so far, been joined by incoming pair Bobi Klintman and Mantas Rubstavicius – as well as third-year Next Star Ariel Hukporti.

Both Klintman and Rubstavicius were touted as likely selections in the 2023 draft before electing to play in the NBL.

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There’s plenty of draftable talent outside this crop of Next Stars though, and two-time NBL champions Chris Anstey says he’s looking forward to one young local star in particular.

“I’ve mentioned it before, but when we had the U20 championships – I think – three years ago, I saw every single kid because I was coaching. Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels and Taran Armstrong were all on the same level with slightly different strengths and weaknesses,” Anstey said on Hasbeen Hoops.

“The one thing Taran never had which suited his skillset incredibly well was talented teammates.

“I can’t what to see what he looks like with guys who can finish plays around him because he never had that, and was forced to finish his own plays more regularly than he would have liked to have done.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Get excited, Snakes fans - because Fordey is ?<br><br>Just how good will Taran Armstrong be in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL24?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL24</a>? ? <a href="https://t.co/o4J8kx2WRV">pic.twitter.com/o4J8kx2WRV</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1659068142872846336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“I still reckon he could be a sneaky chance of being a late first round NBA draft pick.”

As well as being excited by the impact Armstrong could have on the NBL in his debut professional campaign, Anstey says he is ‘fascinated’ by the prospect of how Alexandre Sarr will perform for the Perth Wildcats.

The 7’1” French big has joined a Perth team with an already personnel-heavy frontcourt, and Anstey – along with co-host and former NBL Rookie of the Year Mark Worthington – wonders how Sarr will carve a niche for himself with the Wildcats.

“This is the one that fascinates me with the physicality of a professional league as opposed to college,” Anstey said of Sarr.

“I look back at who I learned from and I had Mark Bradke, John Dorge, Tony Ronaldson. It’s not what you say off the court, it’s what you learn competing against them every day, from them being in your ear and educating you as you go along.

“That’s the part I’m fascinated in as well as the physical development.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Making history ?<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PerthWildcats</a> have signed French phenom Alexandre Sarr as the first Next Star in the history of the club ?<br><br>Read more: <a href="https://t.co/ANylYYvR64">https://t.co/ANylYYvR64</a> <a href="https://t.co/DvLAVskkwv">pic.twitter.com/DvLAVskkwv</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1655717274257612800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“I’d say Keanu Pinder is the obvious choice as far as he goes,” Worthington added.

“Back-to-back Most Improved Player – he’s really carved out a niche from nearly being on the outer in the NBL. That doesn't happen by luck.

“When you’re brought in from overseas nothing is always great. There is a rollercoaster of emotions and when it comes to the lows of the lows going through a season – and all these kids will go through it at some stage – Alex Sarr will probably be leaning on Jesse Wagstaff.”

Perth’s new NBL season will tip off against Tasmania on Friday, September 29.