THE National Basketball League (NBL) preseason hitouts continued over the past week, and one of the most intriguing matchups of the entire schedule was the Perth Wildcats taking on the G-League Ignite.

The Ignite is one of the best pathways for young players into the NBA, so there was plenty of exciting talent on display for both sides.

The game took place in Las Vegas, but the Perth blueprint was still present with the likes of Bryce Cotton causing havoc for the opposition. It was the first of Perth’s two games in the United States ahead of the NBL Blitz preseason competition next weekend.

The Ignite took the win, but there was still plenty to take out of the game from a Wildcats perspective, especially when it comes to the team’s new additions.

It was a dirty night for star guard Cotton, who shot 4/15 from the field, but luckily a few of his teammates stood up.

The biggest story of the match was the performance of NBL Next Star Alexandre Sarr, who truly caught the eye with a mesmerising performance on both ends of the court.

The 18-year-old from France was superb both offensively and defensively, offering a glimpse into what his basketball future holds. With ambitions of reaching the NBA, Thursday’s performance did no harm to his stocks and confidence.

He used all of his seven-foot-one frame to impact the game, whether it was finishing at the hoop or swatting consecutive attempts from the opposition. Sarr also showed some strong range, knocking down two of his three attempts from behind the arc, adding to his already versatile game.

The talented youngster finished the match with 17 points, seven rebounds and a whopping six blocks, announcing that he will be a seriously good source of excitement during the upcoming 2022/23 NBL season.

Another new Wildcat in Jordan Usher continued his strong form from the preseason matches, top-scoring for the team once again and showcasing just how good he could be for Perth during the regular season and beyone.

He poured in an impressive 22 points on 9/14 shooting from the field, demonstrating that he will be able to take some of the offensive load off Cotton each game. One of the toughest challenges for Perth over recent seasons has been the ability to find a consistent second option next to the team’s star guard, and Usher could be the answer.

The two teams will do it all again tomorrow, as the Wildcats gear up for the season ahead.