With the last Wildcat contract up for grabs, everyone wants to know who is going to snatch the final position and get their shot at mixing it up with the big boys in the NBL. Will it be Greg Hire, Tom Jervis or another rising star of the SBL? Is Coach Beveridge looking over east for a potential recruit that can help take our Wildcats to the next level in 2012? Or is he only going to select 9 players to keep open a spot for a very nifty little left hand shooting guard in case he comes out of retirement?

There is no doubt that we have a host of talent in the SBL for all NBL scouts to consider. This got me thinking (which is big for me on a Sunday afternoon with a bourbon in my hand) – What young Australian players in the State Basketball League are potentially NBL bound? Do they have a realistic chance of making at the next level? And what assets do they possess that could sway a potential recruiting scout to take them on board?

Now I know there are a few obvious names that spring to mind, such as last year’s Wildcat development players. But after sieving through each clubs player lists you could build a case for quite a few young guns that slip under the radar; that either have unlimited potential, or possess a characteristic or skill set that could be utilised at the next level. I like to think I have a nose for sniffing out talent, and have put together a list of players that I think could definitely bring something to the table in the NBL, or potentially play a vital role in the future for an NBL club.

Players ready for the NBL now?

Greg Hire (20.7 pts, 16.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game in 2011)
Age – 24
Height – 197cm
Position – Power Forward

Three things are guaranteed if you sign Greg Hire:
1. He is going to work hard
2. He is going to work hard
3. He is going to work hard

There is no doubt this member of the Wolfpack is a tireless worker and a great club man. You know he will be first in the gym and the last to leave, doing everything the coaches ask of him. He is producing excellent numbers this year in the SBL, and shown vast improvement from his experience as a Wildcats development player in 2010. The only query you could have with Hire at the next level is whether he is too small for a Power Forward position in the NBL? And does he have the shooting capacity and agility to play in the 3 spot? It worked for Dennis Rodman and Charles Barkley in the NBA and Greg definitely has a Rodman stench about him, without the cross dressing on the weekends I hope.

Tom Jervis (20.8 pts, 16.2 rebounds a game in 2011)
Age – 22
Height – 213cm
Position - Centre

There is a lot of upside about this young man. He boasts a lot of potential as he is a legitimate footer and at 22 years of age, Tom still has plenty of room for improvement. The Boomers saw his potential when they were in town and Coach Brown gave Jervis the call up for the training squad. Banging around with Nevill, Kickert and Baynes would have given Tom a feel what is needed to mix it up at the next level. The big debate with taking on Jervis would be; would the extra individual work and development of his post-game that he would receive from NBL coaches, mould him into a player capable of making an impact in the National League?

Joel Wagner (16.2 pts, 10.2 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game in 2011)
Age – 23
Height – 182cm
Position – Point Guard

Quick, feisty and with a knack of finding open team-mates, Joel Wagner is your ideal point guard. Having a serious taste of the NBL last season with the Sydney Kings, Wagner took his opportunities and definitely benefited from his experience out East. The guy we know as ‘Wags’ has been a premier point guard in the SBL for some time now, leading the league in assists and making all SBL first teams. His ability to catch the ball on the fly and get his team into transition is second to none in the State Basketball League. You need to be a gun to make it in the NBL at 182cm, and whether his skill set is transferable in the National League with the likes of Damien Martin and Gary Ervin all over you like ‘a collapsed tent’ is the big question that scouts need to consider.

Seb Salinas (15.5 pts, 4.6 rebounds and 3 assists per game in 2011)
Age – 25
Height – 190cm
Position – Shooting Guard

This fan of Astrology and 1980’s power ballads may just be getting too old to break it into the NBL. However, players in the past have been picked up in their mid 20’s that possess a deadly weapon in their arsenal. Very much a Drew Williamson type player, Seb ‘Sebba’ Salinas can do a bit of everything, although he specialises in the spot up jump shot and can break a team’s back when his eye is in. I know Coach Beveridge has shown an interest in his skill set, watching him demolish Perry Lakes last season with 40 pts in 3 quarters of basketball. He is super fit, a great team player and prides himself on pushing it to the limit every training session. Could Seb be used as a pinch hitter off the bench for an NBL team? One thing is certain with Salinas on the floor, Hand Down = Man Down!

Players for the future?

Ben Purser (16.9 pts, 9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game in 2011)
Age – 21
Height – 198cm
Position – Forward

There are a lot of positives about this young man. Ben Purser is a student of the game and possesses an excellent attitude, making him a coach’s dream. Another tireless worker who is as fit as anyone in the league, often giving him the edge come late in the 4th quarter. He has had some great highlights this season including a game winning shot, and a 16 pts, 21 rebounds and 7 assists effort v the Giants in week 12 earning him Power Player of the Week. The next few years at Augusta State University will be paramount in further developing Ben’s skills and turning him into an NBL prospect. The big question is whether Purser is a swingman or a power forward? He will need to specialise in one of those positions to be a player in the NBL, as there is no ‘3.5’ spot that I know of. Either way you look at it, this rising star has a very bright future and I look forward to monitoring his progress over the next few years.

Ben Smith (22.9 pts and 13 rebounds per game in 2011)
Age – 22
Height – 201cm
Position – Centre

He can score, he can rebound, shoots at a good clip and he is big; is this enough to make an impact in the NBL? Ben Smith has stepped up and made a name for himself this season in the State Basketball League. He has had a few blockbuster performances this season such as his 31 pts and 14 rebounds v Stirling, his 30 pts and 14 rebounds v Kalamunda and his 32 pts and 12 rebounds effort v East Perth. A very consistent performer and all coaches love a big man that shoots a good percentage from the charity stripe (83%). At the tender age of 22, this Mandurah Magic rising star could be seeing some NBL trials before he knows it.

Reece Maxwell (8.8 pts and 2 rebounds per game in 4 games in 2011)
Age – 20
Height – 187cm
Position – Shooting Guard

Here is another great kid that as a coach you love to have on your roster. Reece ‘Maxi’ Maxwell is one of very few players in the SBL that possesses a legitimate jump shot. He can take you off the dribble and rise up above opponents, even if they are in a good defensive position, which is rare to find in this league. The human maxi-pad ticks a lot of boxes in scouting reports as he can provide hustle, energy and has great lateral movement. He reads the play well for a rising star and loves to hit the offensive glass, having a great nose for the basketball and playing a lot bigger than his height suggests. There is no denying he requires improvement in some areas of his game to play at the next level, and the next few years at college in the states will be vital in ironing out any bumps and complementing his skill set. I personally think he is one to watch out for in a few years, once he is fully grown and bulks up I think a lot of NBL coaches will be keeping a lazy eye on the Maxi man.

Jarrod Balcombe (18.9 pts and 5.6 rebounds a game in 2011)
Age – 20
Height – 198cm
Position – Swingman

There has been a lot of chat out from ‘Eagle land’ about the potential of this athletic swingman. With a skill set modelled on a ‘Bad Santa’ And1 mix tape, it is hard to tell whether he will reach his potential and his NBL dreams will come into fruition. Balcombe has definitely improved after his stint as a Wildcats development player in 2010, and his 19 pts a game is very solid at the SBL level. Being 20 yrs of age, Balcombe has a few years to set the SBL on fire and catch the eye of NBL scouts. If he is to make it in the big leagues, he will need to sharpen up his shooting percentages (currently 42% FG and 27% 3P) and turn himself into a consistent, knock down shooting wingman. The question mark lying over Balcombe’s head is whether he will continue to improve and reach the largely touted potential I keep hearing about?

Michael Vigor (13.2 pts and 7.6 rebounds a game in 2011)
Age – 20
Height – 206cm
Position – Forward/Centre

A big man with flare, Michael Vigor has really stepped up this year for the Perth Redbacks. Earning himself a starting role over their paid import is a great accomplishment, and he has posted consistently good numbers all season in 2011. The man we know as ‘Vigs’ has unlimited potential, with great passing skills and a knack for being in the right place at the right time. His 17 pts and 14 rebounds at 7-9 shooting v the Senators in 29 minutes gives you a glimpse of what this young man is capable of producing. With a focus on becoming more aggressive inside the paint, there is no doubt Vigor could one day be mixing it up with the bangers of the NBL. Being a legit 6 ft 9 with very good all round skills, the basketball future of Michael Vigor lays solely in his hands.

Tyler Hickert (11.6 pts and 6.3 rebounds a game in 2011)
Age – 18
Height – 198cm
Position – Forward

At just 18 years of age, this young man has a bright future. I must be honest in saying I haven’t seen this kid play as yet, as if faced with the option of watching the winless Slammers play this season or having my teeth pulled out with pliers definitely creates a difficult decision. This young gun is fresh off a very impressive national tournament in 2011, averaging 17.2 pts and 7 rebounds a game for Western Australia. In his court time for the Slammers this year Hickert has taken his opportunities and produced very solid numbers. There is no doubting he has a future in the game and all reports state ‘the world is his oyster’ for this young country boy.

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So as you can see we have a plethora of young Australian talent currently in the SBL. Some of these players will take the next step and reach their potential, whilst others may leave the game, fall victim to injury troubles or shift the focus of their life to the ‘the social scene’ of girls, clubs and overseas travel. There is no doubt a lot of the players listed above have the ability to tweak their skills, improve facets of their game and make a career out of playing basketball. Will we see Greg Hire or a Tom Jervis next season in the NBL? Will it be Ben Purser or a Reece Maxwell pushing for an NBL contract in 2013?

It will all depend on what particular skill sets a recruit is looking for, and the needs of their prospective teams in terms of player positions. If the opportunity arises let’s hope these young studs of our league grab hold of their chances with both hands, and showcase their talent in front of fans on the national stage.

Which Australian born SBL players do you think will make the jump to the NBL? Have your say via our official Facebook and Twitter pages.

Article written by Mark Shipley

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The opinions, views and comments in this article are those of the individual and are not the opinions or views of the State Basketball League or Basketball WA.