ALTHOUGH he may not have been the most highly regarded Next Star coming into the National Basketball League (NBL) season, Alex Toohey certainly changed that with a marvellous campaign with the Sydney Kings.

Although the Kings finished in sixth spot and were eliminated in the play-in tournament, Toohey was certainly the standout throughout the 2024/25 fixture, putting together a campaign that has caught the attention of NBA scouts.

It was the kind of season that can make or break NBA dreams, and Toohey’s level of consistency and development has boosted his draft stock and has made his chances of reaching the top competition in the world a lot more realistic.

With the regular season all wrapped up, Toohey is the second player in Rookie Me Central‘s Next Star Review series, putting the competition’s best and brightest under the microscope.

Alex Toohey

Averages – 10.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.8 blocks

WHAT HE HAS SHOWN

Toohey was able to cement his spot in Sydney’s starting lineup under new coach Brian Goorjian, and made himself invaluable to the team with a balanced game that saw him impact the contest in a number of ways. A six-foot-seven small forward, the King has a marvellous feel for the game, and is capable of controlling the tempo himself in a point forward role. He fitted in seamlessly alongside the likes of Xavier Cooks and Jaylen Adams and glued the lineup together with his ability to adapt to the pace of the match.

He has a tight handle for his size and position, and is capable of taking his opponent off the dribble and driving to the basket. Toohey is a talented inside scorer, and often generates bonus points thanks to his ability to finish through contact and convert and-one opportunities. The forward can stretch the floor and is a handy spot up shooter for any side if their point guard is ball-dominant. Toohey is also competent on the defensive end, maintaining active hands to consistently generate steals, while he has the strength to hold his own in the paint.

HIS IMPROVEMENTS MOVING FORWARD

Toohey has shown a tremendously balanced skillset, so there is not too much for the young gun to improve on. One area he may be exposed in at NBA level is the speed of the game, as he is not the quickest mover. With the NBA boasting lighting-quick athletes, there is a chance he may be targeted by some of the faster players. However, he can quell these concerns with smart use of his frame, improving his lateral movement to ensure opponents find it difficult to get by him.

HIS BEST PERFORMANCE

Toohey recorded a big double-double in a December win over the New Zealand Breakers, and stepped up when the game was on the line to showcase his star potential. The forward posted 21 points on 9/15 shooting from the field to go with 11 rebounds and a pair of steals in a mature performance in his second year at NBL level. With the game on the line, his ability to crash the glass and throw his weight around was vital for the Kings, and showed how far he has come in the past 12 months.

IN A SENTENCE

The biggest improver of his Next Star class, Toohey has fully emerged as a future star of Australian basketball, and looms as a second-round selection in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft.