HAVING emerged as a future star during his campaign in the NZNBL this season, Jackson Ball has crossed the Tasman to join the NBL, signing with the Illawarra Hawks as a development player for the upcoming 2025/26 fixture.

Ball has been one of the biggest stars of New Zealand’s professional basketball competition, despite being only 17 years of age, and has been rewarded with a contract with the Hawks, as well as a spot in the NCAAM with the Wisconsin Badgers for the following season.

He will only be with Illawarra for one season, given he is set to join Wisconsin in 2026 for his first season in the collegiate season, but joining the reigning champions will give him valuable experience around some proven veterans.

A six-foot-four point guard, Ball has delivered immense production on the offensive end, averaging 19.9 points per game for the Hawkes Bay Hawks in the 2025 NZNBL season. He also posted 2.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 48.9 per cent from the field.

The young gun started the season showcasing his scoring ceiling, dropping 40 points in his first game for the fixture before backing it up in the same round with 36 points a few days later in an immense start to 2025.

His tight handle and impressive dribbling allowed him to break down the defence and score inside the arc, which is where he did most of his damage on the scoreboard. He nailed 61.5 per cent of his two-point attempts, and was crafty at getting to the rim.

He can also knock down a three-pointer, and if his long-range shots start falling, it truly spells trouble for the opposition as it means his scoring game has adapted to three levels, while his quick release ensures he can get a shot up before the defence arrives. He can also get downhill and attack the closeout nicely if the defence looks to shut him down at the perimeter.

Ball can operate nicely in pick and roll situations, and if given court time alongside some of Illawarra’s talented bigs, it should reflect his ability to either score or find a teammate with his excellent playmaking skills.

The point guard has also represented his country at international level, both with junior teams and the senior Tall Blacks, showing how highly he is rated by New Zealand’s basketball system. He did not look out of place at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, while he proved game-breaking at times with the U19 team.

“Jackson is a player we’ve been tracking for some time,” Hawks General Manager of Basketball, Mat Campbell said.

“He brings a great mix of skill and potential, and we believe our system is the perfect environment for him to take the next step in his basketball journey.”

His one-year stint with the Hawks should be vital in fast-tracking his development, spending time around the likes of Tyler Harvey and Sam Froling, and it should translate once he takes his game to the Badgers in the United States, where he is set to play a considerable role for the team.