After putting together an excellent campaign at the 2024 Under-18 Club Championships, Joondalup Wolves guard Taj Gleeson put his name on the map as a player to watch for the future.

Gleeson and the Wolves had home court advantage at the tournament, and although they fell short of claiming the ultimate prize at home, the team’s point guard was one of the standout players for the entire week.

The young gun’s efforts were perfectly exemplified in the win over Canberra in the final game of the pool stages of the tournament, where Gleeson led his team to a 24-point win in commanding style, controlling the tempo and hitting the scoreboard in a big way.

Speaking to Rookie Me Central after the game, Gleeson said he was thrilled the team was able to execute, while highlighting the efforts of another exciting teammate.

“Wieu (Atuer) is really athletic so you can just throw it up and he’ll make something happen,” Gleeson said. “He really helps us run in transition which is where we were able to get on top. I got some shots to fall too and we were able to really gain some momentum.”

A talented scorer, Gleeson has the capability to light up a match from behind the arc, and did so against Canberra by knocking down five triples and helping the Wolves break away and get on top in the second quarter.

He finished the game with 20 points, the most of any player for the match and looked a class above with his ability to find the bottom of the net, showcasing his natural skill as a shot-creator and bucket-getter.

“I love to shoot,” he said. “I certainly try to look for the three-point shot, but I will also just play with what the defence gives me.”

Gleeson’s scoring ability extends beyond long-range shooting, with the point guard also showing off his explosive speed and fearless attack on the basket at the Club Championships as well. Despite not being the tallest player, Gleeson said he is happy to attack the interior defence and either look for a lay-up or dish out to a teammate.

Having stepped up as a key player throughout the Club Championships, Gleeson continued to play with the Wolves at the State Basketball Championships, averaging 11.1 points per game as the Wolves finished runners-up to the Willetton Tigers.

Although the Wolves are the perfect place for Gleeson to hone his craft and develop his skills, the gifted guard has his sights set on a big future in the sport, following in the steps of Alex Condon and Tyrese Proctor of late.

“I would hopefully like to play Division 1 college basketball,” he said. “That’s the goal and then we’ll see from there.”