Liam Badkin

NBL25 Next Star review – Rocco Zikarsky
COMING into the National Basketball League (NBL) season as one of Australia’s premier NBA Draft prospects, it was not the campaign that Rocco Zikarsky would have hoped for, but he still showed patches of promise throughout his second year as a Next Star. Entering the 2024/25 fixture, Zikarsky had loomed as a first round draft […]

SCOUTING NOTES | Duke vs. Miami
ONCE AGAIN stamping their authority as one of the toughest matchups in college basketball, the Duke Blue Devils secured another big win in the NCAAM on Wednesday, this time defeating the Miami Hurricanes by 37 points. The Hurricanes played host at Watsco Centre, and would need to bring their best if they were to knock […]

NBL Next Stars under the microscope in new series
WITH THE 2024/25 National Basketball League (NBL) season all wrapped up, some of the competition’s Next Stars have played their final game on Australian shores, while others are gearing up for a big finals campaign to further their NBA Draft stock. The NBA Draft is just four months away, and the NBL fixture has offered […]

Spirit sneak past Flames in game one
THE BENDIGO Spirit have moved one step closer to the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) title for season 2024/25, after defeating the Sydney Flames by nine points in game one of the semi-final series over the weekend. The series opened at Red Energy Arena on Sunday afternoon, with the Spirit entering the clash as favourites […]

Aussies complete clean sweep at qualifiers
THE AUSTRALIAN Boomers have finished the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers with a perfect record after closing out the tournament with a 50-point thumping of Thailand at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon. Fresh off a big win over Indonesia, the Boomers were looking to close out the FIBA window in style, gearing […]

Armstrong a Warrior as Taran reaches NBA
ONE OF Australia’s best young basketballers has reached the pinnacle of the sport, with Taran Armstrong signing a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors in the NBA after emerging as a star on his home shores over recent seasons. Armstrong was the best player for the Cairns Taipans in a tough National Basketball League […]

Boomers open Asia Cup Qualifiers with big win
THE AUSTRALIAN Boomers were brilliant in their first clash of the second window in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, opening their account for 2025 with a big win over Indonesia at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Centre on Thursday night. The Boomers were bringing in a squad stacked with National Basketball League (NBL) talent, and […]

SCOUTING NOTES | Alabama vs. Missouri
THE MISSOURI Tigers have claimed a seriously impressive upset over the Alabama Crimson Tide to close out the NCAAM season on Thursday afternoon. The fourth-ranked Crimson Tide entered the clash as favourites over the No. 14 Tigers, and were looking to head towards March with some wind in their tails. With 21 wins from 25 […]

Flames looking to upset Spirit in semi-finals
AFTER a thrilling race for a top four spot, the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) finals are set to kick off this weekend, with the four best teams left standing in the hunt for the 2024/25 championship. It all kicks off on Saturday night, when the first semi-final series begins and the best of three […]

Melbourne produces final round masterclass
YOUNG GUN Jade Melbourne has finished the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) season in style, dropping a career-high 40 points to lead her UC Capitals past the minor champion Bendigo Spirit at AIS Arena in the final round. The game was a dead rubber, with the Capitals ruled out of making finals after the Sydney […]

SCOUTING NOTES | Duke vs. Virginia
THE DUKE Blue Devils were at their ruthless best again on Tuesday afternoon, defeating the Virginia Cavaliers by 18 points in the NCAAM at John Paul Jones Arena. The Blue Devils moved to an impressive record of 23 wins and three losses as they continue to build towards March with plenty of momentum. Looking like […]

Whitcomb wins MVP at WNBL awards night
IN A surprise to no one, Sami Whitcomb has claimed the top gong at the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) awards night on Monday, taking home the Suzy Batkovic Medal for season 2024/25 after a dominant campaign with the Bendigo Spirit. Whitcomb led the Spirit to top spot in the standings after the conclusion of […]