Young Aussie Talent

Rhys Murphy and Angus Brandt are joining the Beavers!

Today's entry I take a look at what some of the Aussie NBA prospects are up to and update you on where some of young talent will be attending college next season.

- 8. "Luke Nevill, 7-1, 250, Utah: Reigning Mountain West Player of the Year has nice touch and decent skills, but lacks athleticism." Courtesy of Pro Basketball News

Utah Utes centre Luke Nevill is currently ranked eighth in the Pro Basketball News depth charts at his position.

The Utes all time leading shot block passed up an opportunity to play at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. Neville averaged 17pts and 9rebs per game which saw him awarded the Mountain West Player of the Year.

It is not unusual for a player to skip this tournament if they are confident they have done enough to get drafted. Playing at Portsmouth will only hurt their chances.

- 9. "Aron Baynes, 6-10, 270, Washington State: Australia native had great career to help aid the Cougs' resurgence, but is in the same boat as his countryman Nevill, a smart player lacking athleticism. He lacks Nevill's height, too.10. Goran Suton, Michigan State 6-10, 250: He's not the prototype, but you can't argue with the results he's helped garner, not to mention how intelligent his game is. Will make a living with the mid-range jumper... more than likely in Europe." Courtesy of Pro Basketball News

Unlike Nevill, Baynes felt he needed to play at the Portsmouth Tournament.

Baynes did what was expected, rebound and shoot a good percentage. He averaged almost 13 pts, 8rebs and 1.3blks a game, while shooting 57% from the field.

Any scout that was at the game would have known Baynes can do this.

Click here for complete player stats from the PIT.

- 6 "Patrick Mills, 6-0, 180, St. Mary's: At the very least, he's a tempo-changer off the bench who will thrive at pushing the pace and dribbling around opposing guards like traffic cones. The dimunitive Aussie got to improve his shooting stroke and will be a defensive liability over extended minutes, but if he learns to mask his lack of size, he'll be a difference-maker." Courtesy of Pro Basketball News.

Mills is ranked sixth at the PG position. More on Mills in the coming week.

- Brock Motum has decided to go with his original choice and stay at Pac-10 school Washington State.

WSU has had a coaching change from Tony Bennett to Ken Bone over the past few weeks. Bone and assistant coach Ben Johnson made a mad dash to Australia to meet with the young lefty. He was happy with what he heard and remained true with his commitment to the Cougars.

- Angus Brandt has committed to Oregon State Beavers.

Brandt left the Blue Mountains, NSW last year and caught the attention of many as soon as he landed in the USA.

After some fierce recruiting Brandt has chosen the Beaver over many others. He has been honing his skills at the high school level at Lake Forest (Ill) Academy. He averaged 14 pts and 10rebs per game.

It seemed inevitable the Brandt would land in the North West as OSU and the Academy have close ties.

- Little known Aussie Rhys Murphy has also committed to the Beavers.

Murphy has also been playing high school ball in the States (Maine). He is an athletic wing player who is still very much developing.

My eyes in the USA have commented on how this kid is a real sleeper. Time will tell.

- "The disagreement follows a separate stoush last week over BA's requirement that every club provide a $1 million bank guarantee as a condition of entry into the new league, which led to the resignation of Melbourne Tigers' co-owner Seamus McPeake from the BA board."

Full article courtesy of The Age.

- Boti Nagy tells his side of the story as well.

Cavs Proposal

Overseas Aussies Win Awards

"The OT" is returning very soon.

While it has become a little quiet on the hoops news front here in Australia, a few of our fellow countrymen are achieving elsewhere in the world.

- Pat Mills has been named to the All-Bay Area team. This is the San Fransisco Bay area team. Other Division 1 schools that come into consideration besides St Mary's are, San Fransisco, California, Stanford and Santa Clara.

Although Mills missed a portion of the season due to a hand injury, he was in line for the MVP of this team.

- Mills is not done with his award collecting as he was joined by Utah Ute centre Luke Nevill on the CollegeHoops.net high-major All-America 1st team.

- While Andrew Bogut will not get any awards for his play this year (due to injury) he should be congratulated on the great job he did recently in raising $50k for the Bushfire victims in Victoria. Read all about the event right here.

- This may be old news to some but Matt Nielsen has been named to the All-Eurocup second team.

Nielsen's Spanish team Pamesa Valencia lost in the quarter finals of the Euro Cup to Russian team BC Khimki.

- David Andersen will get another chance to play for a European title in the upcoming weeks.

His team Barcelona will be joined by CSKA Moscow (his old team), Greek power Olympiacos and the Greek "Green Machine", Panathinaikos.

The Euroleague Final Four will be held in Berlin from May 1st through 3rd.

- As the Greek League is heading towards the playoffs, Brad Newley has continued to build on his very solid season. His last performance of 21pts and 8 rebs highlights what a great year he is having.

Look for Newley to impress with the Houston Rockets in the NBA Summer Leagues this off season.

- While on award winners...A fellow Aussie blogger A Stern Warning has asked for some good old Aussie support. His blog banner has been nominated in a contest (a Basketblog Header Playoff) and he needs our support.

Click on the above link and vote for his banner.

I find it interesting that two Portland fans would be put head to head in such a contest.

Andrew Bogut & The Bushfire Appeal

It Is All Beginning To Happen

Larry Sengstock (7) will have to trade in his tight shorts for running a tight ship if the NBL is to get back on course.

I jump on a plane in Los Angles and I arrive in Brisbane and the NBL has started to make some progress in the direction of the New NBL.

First, Basketball Australia announced that Larry Sengstock will take the reins of the New NBL.

From a distance I believe that this is a great hiring. Sengstock and basketball needs no explanation. He has one of the country's best resumes, both domestically and internationally.

The thing that impresses me the most and gives the sport hope is Sengstock has been entrenched in business since he hung up his Puma Luffs.

This is what the sport has been missing. Someone that knows and loves our game while also having the business acumen to woo potential sponsors to the great sport of basketball.

I know it is easier said than done, but I believe we (basketball) have given ourselves every chance to get ourselves out of this rut we have put ourselves in over the past decade.

Sengstock has all the oncourt championship experience that the league named the Finals MVP Award after him. Imagine if he succeeds in the boardroom what basketball will do for this man.

All the best Larry, you have my support.

News

- The NBL coaching carousel is beginning to heat up. The Perth Wildcats have dumped first year coach Connor Henry half way through his deal. The dust has settled and Henry speaks on the Wildcats decision and his aspirations to remain in Australia. (Was it some 48 yer old that cost him his job?)

It is expected that former Sydney Spirit head coach Rob Beveridge will be the new coach.

Also in the coaching ranks, Joey Wright is the hot mail to take over from Brendon Joyce at the Gold Coast. Some dust just needs to settle between the Blaze and Joyce before anything will become official.

My understanding was that both Wright and Beveridge were in contention for both the Wildcats and Blaze positions. Must feel good to be wanted!

- Sam Harris looking to get career going in Europe.

- Cairns Taipans have seemed to be able to do what the Wollongong Hawks have done. Meet the criteria set by the New NBL.

- Aussies Luke Nevill and Aron Baynes played in the NABC All-Star Senior Game over the Final Four Weekend. (Click on the above link to get the boxscore.)

This is where the sport needs to get back to.

Links Everywhere

Larry Abney won something in Holland or did he just buy a trophy with his Taipans money?

Sorry about the laziness over the past few days people, but I'm in San Diego just taking in the sights and sounds of sunny southern California with my family before I head home.

As there are many fine golf courses down here, I thought it would be appropriate to dedicate a links edition.

Although it is the lazy way out of blogging, there is plenty happening in the world of hoops that is holding my attention.

Hope the same can be said for you. Enjoy!

- A hot topic here in the USA over the past few days has been where will Mike Dunlap end up when his coaching merry-go-round stops. The wait is now over people. He has signed on as the assistant coach at Oregon for a lazy $400k.

I will go on record and say that the players of Oregon better get ready for the individual workouts they are about to become part of.

Dunlap is the best I have worked out for in this area. Players can do nothing but improve. He is that good I would send my own kids his way...just to see if he can break them down.

- Australian basketball will have a presence at the Final Four in Detroit this weekend. Both Aron Baynes of Washington St and Luke Nevill of Utah will play in the Hersey's College All-Star Game on Friday (Saturday Down Under).

- "The only thing that Shaq likes better than speaking his mind is giving nicknames to big guys who get dunked on. If Robin Lopez doesn’t push back, he could end up like “Ericka Dampier” or Andrew Bogut, who is “Ericka Dampier with a beard.” Maybe Lopez can be “Ericka Dampier with stupid looking hair.” Courtesy of Dime Mag.

Get to get the full story behind this Shaq quote chick here.

- This article is for all my Australian friends that think I'm a little one eyed towards Gonzaga and their success. Read for yourself, it is a great place to play.

- Former Canberra Cannon boss Ron Harvey honoured by the International Olympic Committee.

- Boti Nagy fills us in on what is going on around the traps.

- Boomers can be found in Vegas over the off season.

- Luke Schenscher is looking at overseas option.

- Julian Khazzouh loves to surf. Who would have thought?

- Former Kings import Jerome Beasley given second chance in Holland after setting fire to the wrong thing.

Just couldn't go past this footage!

Nevill & The Utes Done

Will Luke Nevill be the next Aussie in the NBA?

Talk about a tough decision. Since landing in the USA on Thursday, I have had the ability to watch basketball for every waking minute but my blogging time has been effected.

Thanks to the NCAA Tourney and NBA TV I've been getting my fill of both forms of the game.

One minute I'm seeing Jeremy Pargo (Gonzaga) dunk on a skinny red head kid probably from the Mid West (Akron), then with the push of a button I'm checking out silky smooth Ray Allen drop some threes on a porous Memphis Grizzles defense.

But the story of the weekend for me was Luke Nevill's college career is over.

His Utah Utes were defeated in the first round of the NCAA Tourney by the Arizona Wildcats.

I have been following Nevill all season as he is one Aussie that was truly flying under the radar with Pat Mills and AJ Ogilvy dominating the headlines. Nevill responded with being named Defensive and Player of the Year of the Mountain West Conference, while setting a school record in block.

On Friday when the Utes and Wildcats tipped off, you could tell that Arizona's game plan was to shut down Nevill.

Early foul trouble did not help out the Perth native but every time he got a low post touch, Nevill was looking at four Wildcat jerseys the minute he faced the basketball. The Wildcats gave him no breathing room what so ever.

This is one aspect that always sparks the "what's better" to watch debate, NBA or college.

Nevill clearly has an offensive skill set (when he saw single coverage he scored on most occasions) that will allow him to score at will if played straight up, but due to the rules in college he can face a double team way before he has touched the ball.

This is style of defense is not allowed in the NBA.

But give credit to Arizona for their game plan as it was clear the Utes would struggle to score enough points if Nevill was restricted at the offensive end.

Nevill can be proud of what he has achieved in his college career but it is time for him to move onto his next phase in his basketball career.

I mentioned on "The OT" the other day that Nevill could really boost his NBA stock with a couple of solid NCAA tourney games. This was not to happen but Nevill will still get the opportunity to perform at the highest level in the game.

In the upcoming months look for Nevill to workout for many NBA teams and decide where his stock value rates.

In my opinion I believe we will see this Aussie in the NBA for many years to come.

The time has come, I have more live NCAA games to watch, Arizona St and Syracuse is calling me.

QLD - Winners of the U/20 National Men's Championship

Jorden Page - MVP of the u/20's championship

The championship game saw Queensland take on New South Wales. The Maroons ran out easy winners in the end, 111-72.

On this occasion talent over powered everything at the end of the night.

NSW went into the Gold medal game with out centre Shane Harris-Tunks (Colorado), so it was going to take a miracle for the Blues to over come this hurdle. Maybe they played their final the night before by defeating Victoria to get into the championship game.

The first half was very even with Qld going into the half time break with a six point lead, 46-40.

It was Sean Mullan (18pts) that kept the Southerners in touch with a stellar 16 point first half.

PG Jason Cadee (20pts/6ass) controlled the game well for his team during the first 20 minutes, creating a lot of easy opportunities for his teammates. Qld did a lot of double teaming of Cadee in the back court but he made good decisions that created open space for his teammates.

Once the second half began it seemed as though Qld just turned up the pressure at the defensive end. This led to a lot of easy fastbreak points. Whether it was a layup or an open transition three, Qld was firing on all cylinders.

Tourney MVP Jorden Page (25pts/10ass) was the catalyst behind this fast pace game. This kid excels in the open court. St Mary's fans get ready for the Pat Mills comparisons.

With Page's speed causing NSW's defense problems, this allowed Brock Motum (27pts/12rebs) and Mitch Young (14pts/12rebs -8off) to control the paint.

In the end it was a case of big brother just beating down little bro'.

Cadee was always going to have to have a monster game, especially with Harris-Tunks sidelined with a dodgy wheel (sprained ankle), but Qld did a good job of making him work for everything he got.

Mullan could not keep his offense going in the second half so that left NSW's offense anemic.

On the otherhand, when Qld subbed, they lost nothing as the depth of their team proved too much for the Blues to handle.

I felt it was a good championship's as a number of these kids will on day grace the NBL hardwood.

First there are many that will test their luck in the USA college system, so over the next week or so, I will break down these players individually so the public of Australia and other places can see that basketball is well and truly alive in this country.

News

- Utah Utes Luke Nevill becomes the schools all time leader in block shots. Plus could he be the next Aussie who is ready to have an impact on the NBA? You need to listen to the next edition of "The OT" (out soon) to hear what I think.

- South Dragons coach Brian Goorjian fears "Homicide"?

"I was the girl that was tryin' to stay", says Stephon Marbury.

Daily Dose Of News

Perth's Paul Rogers could be out for the year.

- James Dampney of the AAP reports, "Tigers on prowl for second NBL title".

- "Spirit confident of finals", says Chris Pike of Sportal.

- Perth Wildcats Paul Rogers could be out for the rest of the season, due to a knee injury.

- Crocs nail the Adelaide 36ers, again.

"Rillie's three on the buzzer broke the Sixers' back and the last quarter was just embarrassing as the Crocs pushed their lead out to 30 and cleared their bench", wrote Boti Nagy of the Adelaide Advertiser. Cheers Boti!

- New Zealand Breakers Kirk Penney to be NBL's MVP?

- For all the boxscores from Round 18 of the NBL, click here. Ladder, here.

- Former Adelaide 36ers import Julius Hodge makes refund.

- Brad Newley continues his solid form in Greece. boxscore

- Aron Baynes records a double-double as his WSU Cougars get past the Ducks of Oregon.

- Nate Tomlinson (Colorado) gets a lesson from Kansas.

- Utah's Luke Nevill continues to be rock solid, and he has Andrew Bogut's record in his sights.

- Mills and Co cruise by 50.

- AJ Ogilvy and Vandy struggle on the road.

Tassie Devils at their best.

What's Making Headlines

Aussie Luke Nevill is in his final year at Utah. Could he follow in Andrew Bogut's footsteps to the NBA. His coach believes so. Read more below.

- "I think if he continues to grow physically and emotionally, he should be a 10-year pro (NBA)," Utah coach Jim Boylen said about Aussie centre Luke Nevill. For the rest of the article, read it here at the News-Leader.com.

- Here is an update on young Aussie big man Angus Brandt. A Springwood, NSW junior who is attending Prep school in Illinois and will go D1 for sure.

- The other remaining 9 NBL clubs have come together to throw the Sydney Spirit franchise a lifeline. Hopefully the package will see them through the remainder of the season.

- Jason Smith and his family are becoming all too familiar with the current Spirit situation.

- South Dragons have been told to make the trip to Sydney.

- The Wollongong Hawks may struggle to find a lazy $1.5mil lying around so they can play next season.

- The Australian Boomers job is Goorjian's if he still wants it.

- Milwaukee Buck Andrew Bogut ready to go but injury says no.

- Brian Goorjian likes Taipans Kerry Williams. Is he starting to recruit this kid for next season already?

- Injured Crocs point guard Kelvin Robertson ready to tackle Taipans.

- Pat Mills and his St Mary's teammates taste their first defeat of college season.

Crocs/Tigers Press Conference