17-YEAR-OLD Jackson Ball has had the perfect start to the 2025 New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) season, erupting for 40 points to lead his Hawkes Bay Hawks to a 34-point win over the newly introduced Indian Panthers.

Having debuted last season in Sal’s NZNBL, Ball entered this year looking to continue his development. He has also committed to play for Wisconsin in the class of 2026, and already has a bright future ahead of him as an explosive guard.

However, not many could have predicted a performance of this calibre so soon, absolutely torching a Panthers side that had to put some local players on the court due to travel issues. This meant Ball could capitalise on an underprepared opponent, and put himself on the global radar with a masterful showing of offence.

Hawkes Bay Hawks (112) def. Indian Panthers (78)

Jackson Ball – 40 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals

It was a statement performance from the 2008-born guard, who showed his deep array of moves on the offensive end and deliver a seriously mature scoring performance, outperforming teammates and opponents that had plenty more experience under their belt.

He was heavily involved early as the Hawks built their lead, knocking down an early three-pointer to get in on the action as Hawkes Bay looked to get back in the game after a slow start. With a rapid fire release and no fear in firing off a quick shot, Ball is a dangerous prospect to leave open around the perimeter. While Ball does release the ball lower than some of his peers, he can get into his shot fast enough to deny the opposition a chance of contesting.

Ball then showed off his handle and with a seriously crafty move, spinning away from his opponent on the drive and finishing at the cup with some serious hangtime. It was a move that he kept going to and it kept producing results, driving hard right before using the spin to gather the ball and finish uncontested at the cup.

With the Panthers defence scrambling after quarter time, the young gun took advantage, looking to attack inside and putting up one-handed floaters despite having two defenders on him at some stages. His ability to knock down shots from long range meant that Ball was also capable of punishing the defence for sagging off to protect his drive.

As the game rolled on and his score kept ticking over, Ball grew in confidence and stature, and began to take riskier shots. This could not have been more exemplified than his shot in the second half, when the guard broke down the defender with a pair of crossovers, before stepping back and splashing home the deep three-pointer. It was the kind of play that capped off a tremendous night for the 17-year-old, who was far and away the standout in a big win for the Hawks.

Ball finished the game with 40 points on a remarkable 15/19 shooting from the field and 5/7 shooting from behind the arc. He will undoubtedly be one to watch this season and could be a major player in next year’s NBA Draft.