THERE was plenty of anticipation surrounding the National Basketball League (NBL)’s 2023/24 season for many reasons, including the performances of some seriously talented youngsters.

Through the NBL’s Next Stars program, some of the best prospects in the world have joined Australia’s premier basketball competition in a bid to further their chances of selection at the NBA Draft.

Eight Next Stars will be suiting up this season in an exciting development to the league on the global stage.

Round 10 of the season saw some close games and big performances, including some of the league’s young guns, who are looking like veterans now halfway through their first or second season in the NBL.

Trentyn Flowers – Adelaide 36ers

Injected into the starting lineup after the 36ers had a coaching change, Flowers was unable to hit the scoreboard, but still added a different dimension to Adelaide’s starters. The NBA prospect showed pace and played off the ball well, and although he did not register any score, his presence on the drive and around the perimeter made sure the Taipans’ defence had to keep an eye on him at all times.

Ariel Hukporti – Melbourne United

Hukporti played big minutes with United looking to manage Jo Lual Acuil during their big win over Brisbane on Sunday, and he showed what he can do if given the court time. The second-year player delivered an excellent two-way performance with seven points, eight rebounds, an assist, a steal and two blocks in 20 minutes, and was the most imposing figure on the glass throughout the match.

It is his second consecutive strong performance, and he is building into his role off the bench nicely. There is no doubt Melbourne have an excellent one-two punch in Hukporti and Lual-Acuil, and the former is certainly following in the footsteps of his star teammate.

AJ Johnson – Illawarra Hawks

The Hawks delivered their best performance of the season in the upset win over the in-form Wildcats on Friday night, and Johnson was in the thick of it with some excellent minutes off the bench. In 14 minutes of play, he recorded eight points, three rebounds, two assists and a block and gave the Illawarra fans plenty to cheer about. He threw down a thunderous flying slam in the decisive first quarter, floating through the key and showcasing his athleticism as WIN Entertainment Centre erupted.

Bobi Klintman – Cairns Taipans

Klintman was heavily involved in both of Cairns’ games over Round 10, starting with a solid outing in the tough three-point loss to the Wildcats in bizarre circumstances. In that game, he had 13 points and four rebounds in that game, but managed to be one of the best players on the court in the win over Adelaide a couple of days later. The forward produced 22 points on 7/14 shooting in that game, and is showing exactly what he is capable of when he is in form.

Mantas Rubstavicius – New Zealand Breakers

The Breakers played just the one game over the weekend, which culminated in a loss to the JackJumpers on Saturday night. However, the performance of their Next Star was still encouraging. Rubstavicius had 20 minutes of court time on 3/5 shooting, including going 2/3 from behind the arc. The raw scoring ability is there and he is beginning to put it together in consistent fashion.

Alexandre Sarr – Perth Wildcats

On a tough night for the Wildcats, Sarr was again a bright spot and showing that he can fight through adversity as a team to still make an impact. Perth was convincingly bested by the Hawks in a shock result, but the Next Star and projected number-one pick in the 2024 NBA Draft still impressed off the bench. He played 25 minutes for 13 points (6/10 FG), five rebounds, one assist, one steal and two blocks and was one of the bright spots for the Wildcats.

Alex Toohey – Sydney Kings

The Aussie forward is continuing to stake his claim within mock drafts around the world for the 2024 NBA Draft, but has had a quiet couple of weeks with the Kings. Sydney has failed to live up to the lofty expectations set over the last two seasons, and were bested by the Phoenix at home. Toohey managed just five points in that game, but did it on an accurate 2/3 shooting and still showed impressive defensive versatility. There have been plenty of rumours this week surrounding whether or not the reigning champions will shake up their lineup, and Toohey may be a victim of that, but he has shown enough to encourage that he will impact no matter what.

Rocco Zikarsky – Brisbane Bullets

The Bullets were handed a big loss at the hands of the ladder-leaders at John Cain Arena, and it was a tough outing for all players wearing a Brisbane jersey. Zikarsky played just four minutes in the loss, recording just one rebound and two fouls in his limited court time. Although his numbers may not be too flattering, he should be better for the experience.