IT WAS another successful season for the National Basketball League (NBL) Next Stars program, with the five players from the year’s class all honing their craft in Australia’s top competition, and capturing the attention of NBA scouts across the globe.

The NBA Draft is set to take place in June, and the 2024/25 NBL season provided the perfect opportunity for both Australian and International young guns to prove that they can compete against fully developed athletes, as opposed to the NCAAM route, which pits college players against each other.

Although some Next Stars excelled more than others, all five players have certainly done enough to be kept in draft contention, showing glimpses of their potential and seeing plenty of court time with their respective sides.

Since the 2018/19 season, the Next Stars program has become one of the most successful pathways into the NBA, with last season delivering four draftees, including the second overall selection with Alexandre Sarr heading to the Washington Wizards.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be ranking this season’s Next Stars, and providing an indication of where they are likely to be selected come draft time.

NBL Next Stars – 2024/25

5. Malique Lewis – SEM Phoenix

Lewis was a consistent starter for the Phoenix throughout the course of the 2024/25 season, highly valued by Josh King after he took over the head coaching gig midway through the season. Lewis’ one-wood is his defence, and was often tasked with shutting down the best players in the NBL, which was a good demonstration of his value to NBA sides.

With the ability to stay in front of his opponent courtesy of impressive lateral speed and a top-notch athletic profile at six-foot-eight, the 20-year-old has been able to cause problems for even the most experienced campaigners in the NBL. While the offensive side of his game still has room for improvement, he still showed an ability to contribute as an off-ball cutter, who can finish at the rim due to having plenty of spring in his step.

Lewis is currently expected to be selected towards the end of the second round at the 2025 NBA Draft, although teams may strike earlier if they value his defensive traits higher than his offensive growth areas.

>> MALIQUE LEWIS SEASON REVIEW <<

4. Izan Almansa (Perth Wildcats)

Perth’s big man made himself valuable to the Wildcats with his production scoring the ball inside the paint. Almansa came in and out of the starting lineup due to the availability of his already established teammates, but still played to his strengths despite his inconsistent court time. He proved to be a valuable contributor on the offensive end and worked in tandem with the team’s guards.

Almansa found himself in scoring spots with tremendous positioning, placing himself under the basket and often getting on the end of dish-off passes from his teammates. At six-foot-10, he brings plenty of height to the frontcourt, and his footwork improved greatly as the season rolled on. Shooting proved to be his biggest downfall throughout his time with the Wildcats, with Almansa still needing to work on his consistency from downtown and at the free throw line.

With the potential to be selected late in the second round as well, Almansa has the foundation of a solid NBA career, and if he can fine tune the intricacies of his shooting mechanic and mindset, he could develop into a complete player at the top level.

>> IZAN ALMANSA SEASON REVIEW <<

3. Rocco Zikarsky (Brisbane Bullets)

Coming into the season, Zikarsky was projected to be Australia’s premier prospect, likely to be selected in the first round after an excellent first season with the Bullets. However, injuries and inconsistency in his production halted this trajectory, and he has since slid down the rankings ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft. Despite this, the big man still has plenty to offer as a prospect, and has the goodwill of his first campaign in the Next Stars program.

Towering over his opponents at seven-foot-three, Zikarsky is a seriously enticing prospect for NBA sides purely from a physical standpoint. At his best, the Sunshine Coast native used his height to his advantage, and was a seriously intimidating threat in the paint on both ends of the floor. Offensively, Zikarsky is a consistent lob threat and has shown impressive timing on his putback attempts, while he was one of the best shot blockers in the NBL when he was fit and firing.

While his draft projection has slipped down to the second round, Zikarsky has still shown enough to justify his selection, and although a long-term prospect, could thrive at the top level in similar vein to Memphis big man Zach Edey.

>> ROCCO ZIKARSKY SEASON REVIEW <<

2. Karim Lopez (New Zealand Breakers)

It was a remarkable first season for Lopez in the NBL, and despite not being draft eligible until 2026, excelled as one of the best prospects the Next Stars program has seen in the past few years. The 17-year-old was a revelation for the Breakers throughout the 2024/25 season, and has stormed into contention as one of the top picks at next year’s draft.

Lopez has a natural feel for the game, and can comfortably navigate the defence with or without the ball to get to his spots. Although he is more than capable of contributing as a spot-up shooter, the Mexico native looked at his best when attacking the rim, consistently looking to attack the defence downhill and showing no fear of contact at the rim. Defensively, Lopez is as versatile as they come, showing a knack for guarding one through five and boasts an impressive vertical leap that allows him to get up and block shots at the basket.

Lopez is certainly in the conversation for top-10 selection in 15 months’ time, and with another season to come as a Next Star, could remarkably develop his game even further in the coming year.

>> KARIM LOPEZ SEASON REVIEW <<

1. Alex Toohey (Sydney Kings)

The clear standout throughout the 2024/25 NBL season, Toohey stormed up the draft boards with a tremendous campaign as a member of the Kings. His second year in the NBL proved to be the most fruitful, with the forward locking in a spot as a starter and showing just how versatile his game can be in a star-studded lineup.

Toohey adapted his game to whatever the situation required, and showed value as a scorer, rebounder, passer and defender at various stages throughout the season. He was able to hit the scoreboard, largely due to his nifty touch around the rim, and could adjust his body on the shot to avoid the defence in impressive fashion. Toohey also showed impressive traits as a playmaker and dribbler, creating shots for himself and others in transition with clever plays that would have surely caught the attention of scouts.

Toohey is now shaping as either a late first or early second round selection in the 2025 NBA Draft, and the depth and versatility of his game make him a valuable addition to any side in June.

>> ALEX TOOHEY SEASON REVIEW <<