THE 2024/25 National Basketball League (NBL) season is flying by, with the fifth round of action seeing yet another massive shake of the standings as teams fight to remain in the hunt for a top two spot, and the young guns of the competition are playing vital roles.

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.

Next Star Watch

Karim Lopez – New Zealand Breakers

Unfortunately, Lopez missed the Breakers’ two games with a forearm injury he sustained during the team’s NBA preseason matches. However, his most recent outing against the Utah Jazz was excellent, and he should continue to impress when he returns.

Rocco Zikarsky – Brisbane Bullets

It was Zikarsky’s second consecutive down game, with the big man struggling to make an impact in his 10 minutes of court time. The youngster did not trouble the scorers and shot the ball just one time, unable to get into his spots and use his size to punish the defence. He did pull down three boards, dish out an assist, record two blocks and a steal, but will need to lift his output if he wishes to prove to Justin Schueller and the Bullets coaching staff that he is worthy of more minutes.

Alex Toohey – Sydney Kings

It is near impossible to find a more consistent young player than Toohey in the NBL this season, with the Kings’ Next Star producing yet another solid performance in the win over the Tasmania JackJumpers at the Silverdome on Friday. Toohey looks so comfortable at NBL level it would be easy to mistake him for a 10-year veteran of the competition. Against the reigning champions, he delivered 12 points, eight rebounds and three steals, continuing to boost his NBA Draft stock.

Malique Lewis – SEM Phoenix

Lewis helped the Phoenix to their first win of the 2024/25 fixture when they defeated Melbourne United in the Throwdown at John Cain Arena on Sunday afternoon. The Next Star was given heavy minutes after Derrick Walton Jr was ruled out for most of the match with a hamstring strain, and delivered some crucial plays in an important result. Lewis finished the game with seven points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals and is continuing to find his feet at NBL level.

Izan Almansa – Perth Wildcats

It was a limited amount of court time for Almansa, snagging just eight minutes of action, which made it tough for him to settle into the contest. He made his sole basket for the match in the third term, nailing a nice hookshot to show his scoring potential. However, he could not get involved outside of that play and will be looking for more opportunities in the coming weeks.