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.

It was a big weekend for the league’s rising stars, with a number of players putting up career-best numbers over the course of Round 11.

Trentyn Flowers – Adelaide 36ers

Flowers retained his spot in the starting lineup, albeit playing just 12 minutes in the loss to United on Saturday night. However, his energy was still as present as ever, making two of his three attempts from the field to finish with four points along with two rebounds. Both of his makes were driving lay-ups, demonstrating his excellent finishing ability at the rim.

Ariel Hukporti – Melbourne United

It was another successful weekend for the ladder-leaders, who finished 2-0 from their outings in Round 11, and Hukporti played a key role, particularly in the first game. Melbourne opened its account for the round with a win over the Phoenix on Thursday night, and a big factor in that result was United’s dominance inside. The team’s Next Star was heavily involved with 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in just 18 minutes of play. He was a perfect 4/4 from the field and one of the best for the winning side. Although his output dropped in the win over the 36ers a couple of days later, his weekend was still solid overall.

AJ Johnson – Illawarra Hawks

The Hawks are on some sort of roll at the moment, with every player buying into acting coach Justin Tatum‘s way of winning, including Johnson. Although his minutes still remain in the single-digits, the NBA hopeful still brought a spark whenever on the court as Illawarra thumped the Phoenix to the tune of 28 points in Gippsland. Johnson had two points (1/3 FG), one rebound and two assists in his eight minutes, with his sole make coming in the form of a lay-up.

Bobi Klintman – Cairns Taipans

It was a quieter weekend compared to last for one of the NBL’s most productive Next Stars, riding out the weekend as the Taipans claimed one win from two games. Cairns was stunned by a heavy defeat at the hands of the Breakers on Thursday night, and Klintman managed just four points and five rebounds in that match, reflective of his side’s form. Two days later, the NBL’s Northernmost team bounced back with a one-point win over the Bullets, but Klintman produced just four points, two rebounds and an assist in just 13 minutes of play.

Mantas Rubstavicius – New Zealand Breakers

It was a breakout weekend for the Lithuanian prospect, who had the best performance of his career in the big win over the Breakers. New Zealand has built a solid reputation for developing young prospects, highlighted by recent NBA draftees in Ousmane Dieng and Rayan Rupert, and that looks to continue this season with Rubstavicius finally emerging onto the scene.

On Friday night, the forward was injected into the starting lineup and rewarded the coaching staff with a career-best performance on a number of fronts. He was one of three Breakers to reach 20+ points, finishing with 21 for the match on 5/8 shooting from the field and a perfect 9/9 shooting from the free throw line. Heading into the game, he had managed eight rebounds across his first eight games, but doubled that tally against the Taipans. It was as encouraging a performance as the Breakers could have asked for, and could set the tone for the remainder of his campaign

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Alexandre Sarr – Perth Wildcats

The projected number-one pick in the 2024 NBA Draft may not have had as productive a night as he has delivered in the past, but Sarr did enough to encourage scouts that he is still deserving of the top selection next year. In the comeback win over the JackJumpers, Sarr made three shots on six attempts for seven points to go with two rebounds, an assist and another two blocks, having established himself as one of the NBL’s premier rim protectors.

Alex Toohey – Sydney Kings

Toohey remained in the starting lineup for the Kings, and although his teammates delivered bigger numbers, his importance to the team was still on display. The forward’s defensive versatility was on show in the eight-point win over Tasmania on Sunday, spending time on both of Tassie’s star guards in Milton Doyle and Jordan Crawford, and doing far better than many could have achieved. He did not allow either player to break the game open, and his close checking played a key role in Sydney’s success.

Rocco Zikarsky – Brisbane Bullets

It was a seriously impressive cameo from the 17-year-old, who gave his side a spark with some impactful minutes off the bench. Although he had just seven minutes of court time, Zikarsky made each of them count by using his seven-foot-three frame to make his presence known at both ends. He had four points and three rebounds in the one-point loss to the Bullets, but it was his four blocks in less than three minutes in the third quarter that gave Brisbane the belief to nearly conjure a remarkable comeback having trailed by as much as 20 points throughout the game. His potential is still raw, but the signs continue to be positive.