IN ROUND 11 of the National Basketball League (NBL), the Next Stars saw plenty of playing time as eight games took place from Thursday to Sunday.

Although there were no specific performances that set the world on fire, the competition’s best and brightest played their roles to perfection and took notes as the big guns of the competition delivered some massive outings.

With just five Next Stars suiting up for the 2024/25 season, there will be plenty of attention on each and every player within the program over the coming months, and how they perform on a weekly basis.

Despite not all players being draft eligible this year, all five participants will be looking to use every match to boost their output and continue their quest to make the NBA.

Rookie Me Central will be posting weekly updates on how all five Next Stars perform week in week out, and how their performances are impacting their draft stocks.

Karim Lopez – New Zealand Breakers

It was a tough weekend for Lopez and the Breakers as the team went 0-2 in Round 11 and the young gun could not find his rhythm. Lopez initially went scoreless in the loss to Melbourne United and only added a couple more a few days later as the Breakers fell to the Kings. It was far from his best but his performances were reflective of his team’s level of production and once New Zealand gets back on track, Lopez should find his feet again.

Rocco Zikarsky – Brisbane Bullets

After a pair of strong showings over the past fortnight, Zikarsky’s minutes copped a hit with the return of Tyrell Harrison. This also impacted his output, limiting his ability to influence the match and his numbers dropped as a result. However, the Bullets did go 2-0 for the round and Zikarsky’s ability to draw the defence when on the floor helped his teammates get open looks. He had just one point over two matches, but luckily showed his ability in previous matches.

Alex Toohey – Sydney Kings

In the win over the Breakers, Toohey was solid and played an important role for Sydney in a successful weekend. He showed his athleticism early in the match with a putback dunk, which was one of several occasions in which he threw it down. It was another balanced performance from Toohey, who posted seven points, eight rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal as he continues to be a key cog in the Kings’ machine. Once again, there was a lot to like about the versatility in his game.

Malique Lewis – SEM Phoenix

Lewis was one of South East Melbourne’s best in the win over the Taipans at John Cain Arena over the weekend. He posted 10 points and seven rebounds in a solid display, and showed how dangerous he can be, particularly as a scorer. In the first quarter, he barrelled over an opponent looking to draw a charge, and finished through the contact for an and-one. Later in the match, he fired off a three-pointer immediately after catching the ball, and his shot rattled in for a crucial triple to display his ability to stretch the floor.

Izan Almansa – Perth Wildcats

Almansa continues to prove a serious weapon for the Wildcats, and delivered a pair of strong showings in Round 11. In the loss to the Hawks on Friday night, Almansa was one of the shining lights for Perth, almost producing a double-double with 15 points on 7/12 shooting to go with nine rebounds. He could have had an even better if he had produced better numbers at the free throw line, making just one shot from five attempts at the charity stripe.

He was less accurate from the field in the win over the Sixers on Sunday, but it did not matter as that match was the Bryce Cotton show. Almansa still worked his way to eight points and seven assists to keep chugging along nicely and continue his status as the form Next Star of the NBL.