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. With the season now six rounds in, the Next Stars are looking as comfortable as ever on NBL courts, and continuing to post impressive numbers on a weekly basis.

Trentyn Flowers – Adelaide 36ers

Flowers entered Adelaide’s match against the Wildcats in the second quarter, when the 36ers were on top and in control. He showcased how dangerous he can be behind the arc by knocking down a three-pointer during his court time. Although he was only given three minutes, Adelaide coach CJ Bruton has been vocal in how impressive Flowers has been, and his offensive impact in limited opportunity on Saturday night.

Ariel Hukporti – Melbourne United

It was a disappointing round from United, who were handed their second loss of the season after being upset by the Wildcats at John Cain Arena, and signs were ominous early. The team’s next star went down after Luke Travers‘ head and Hukporti’s knee collided. The former came off worse, but Hukporti was clearly hindered by the incident and could only play 10 minutes for one point, two rebounds and an assist in a quiet night.

AJ Johnson – Illawarra Hawks

Johnson’s minutes continue to slowly build under Jacob Jackomas, and his strong play of late was rewarded with 10 minutes in the loss to the Kings on Friday night. In that time, Johnson looked electric, and although he did not produce the most eye-catching numbers (four points, one rebound), he looked truly at home on the floor. He will be hoping this is a sign of things to come and his opportunities are even more frequent in the future.

Bobi Klintman – Cairns Taipans

Klintman continued to firm as the one to watch in the Next Star Class of late, producing another pair of strong performances in Cairns’ two games. He has fully cemented his spot in the starting lineup and is now playing 30 minutes a game, which is helping boost his recognition on the global stage.

Against the Breakers on Friday night, Klintman was one of his side’s best performers in a tough one-point loss. He had 17 points (6/10 FG), six rebounds, two steals and an assist, never doing too much but playing his part to perfection and proving a strong contributor in Adam Forde‘s side. A couple of days later, he had 10 points and five boards in the loss to the Phoenix.

Mantas Rubstavicius – New Zealand Breakers

As his time in the NBL has gone on, Rubstavicius’ role has increased dramatically, with coach Mody Maor giving him more responsibility as a scorer off the bench. Although he may not move into the starting lineup just yet, he is playing significantly more minutes per game, and is rewarding the team with some big baskets.

His best performance came in the home win over the Taipans on Friday night, where he had 11 points, one rebound, one assist and two steals on a perfect 4/4 shooting from the field. It was an indicator of what he has been capable of if given the chance. Although he was not as effective in the loss to the Kings a couple of days later, it was a breakout weekend of sorts for Rubstavicius.

Alexandre Sarr – Perth Wildcats

Perth finally got its season back on track over the course of the sixth round, going a perfect 2-0, and Sarr played a key role in that. In both matches, the top 10 projected pick in next year’s NBA Draft was extremely impressive, particularly on the scoring front.

Kicking things off with a win over the 36ers on the road, the French phenom had 10 points and six rebounds on a perfect 4/4 shooting from the field, playing an important role off the bench with his ability to score inside. Sarr took things to the next level at John Cain Arena on Monday night, where his side knocked off the ladder-leading Melbourne United. In that game, Sarr had 17 points, six rebounds, a steal and a block in a hugely crucial performance, bouncing back after a quiet weekend in Round 5.

Alex Toohey – Sydney Kings

Despite DJ Hogg returning to the starting lineup, Toohey remained as a starter, but his output did drop over the course of two games. The forward delivered 17 points over those matches, but was still a solid performer on the glass, and created a lot of space fo the bigger names on the team to play to their strengths and get the Kings back on the winners’ list with a pair of victories.

Rocco Zikarsky – Brisbane Bullets

Now sharing the big man duties with the returning Aron Baynes off the bench, Zikarsky’s minutes have dropped in a big way. However, he is still a physical presence for the Bullets whenever on the court, and had four points against the Bullets and added another two in the game against Tasmania, so the ability is definitely still there.