THE Brisbane Bullets have added another player to their roster ahead of the upcoming 2023/24 NBL season, acquiring the services of rising star Rocco Zikarsky.
There have been plenty of players joining the NBL as a Next Star this year, and Zikarsky is the next youngster to be added to the system, which has brought plenty of success to some of the brightest prospects in the world over the past few years.
At just 16 years of age, he might not have as much experience as some of his opponents this season, Zikarsky more than makes up for it with some serious physical attributes. He stands a whopping seven-foot-three, and will tower over any opponent in the NBL.
The Queensland native has been one of the most hyped youngsters in the country given his physical gifts, and will now have the opportunity to showcase his skills at the top level. He will also benefit from the presence of new teammate Aron Baynes, who is one of the most skilled big men Australia has ever produced.
Zikarsky has been on NBL radars for some time, thanks to his scholarship to the NBA Global Academy, which has helped develop the likes of Joshua Giddey and Dyson Daniels in the past. He has also attracted international interest as well, courtesy of some big performances for Queensland at representative level.
Last year, the big man represented Australia at the Under-17 FIBA World Cup, and caught the eye with some standout performances. He averaged 13.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and a whopping 3.1 blocks per game, with his two-way performances standing above his peers and catching the attention of plenty of scouts in the process.
He has played seven games this season for the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in the NBL1 East, combining with some of the other best young prospects in the country.
It was only a matter of time before Zikarsky was snapped up by an NBL side, and the big man chose to stay in South East Queensland to join the Bullets. He has all the tools to build a strong career at NBL level or even higher, and the Next Stars program should help accelerate that process.
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