Post#1760 » by GimmeDat » Sat Aug 31, 2019 1:48 am
A couple of updates on some of the aforementioned Aus. prospects (sorry for banging on but they're the few prospects this far out I follow closely enough to talk about) -
Josh Giddey (2021 PG, 6'7, currently 16)
He's come out of no where to be probably our most talked about prospect. He has offers from Arizona, Baylor, Utah, Iowa State, TCU +. Also interest from Louisville and Wake Forest.
Just finished playing in the FIBA Oceania u17's, was a bit of a waste of time because the quality of opponent was so low, but we had 2 games against NZ who provide decent competition and he had 25/8/5 w/ 6 steals (9/11 FG, 2 TO's) and 26/5/7 with 2 steals (8/15 FG, 2 TO's) in those 2 games. Just clearly the best guy out there.
Great size for the PG spot, who knows may even grow to be a big wing initiator type prospect, has excellent feel for the game, great passer, very all-around high IQ type. Needs to keep working on his jumper, shot 4/13 at the aforementioned Oceania's from 3 and 18/23 FT.
Mojave King (2021 SG, 6'6, currently 17)
The talk has been NBA bound, probable 1st rounder, but early days. Hasn't played for Aus. in any tournaments yet because he's still clearing up his citizenship but grew up here.
The next in line of Aus. prospects with a former US import father ala Simmons, Bolden, Green, etc., one of the most athletic prospects we've had come through of late, really quick and can rise up. Evan Daniels said he was the best prospect at the NBA Academy Games (which included Giddey). Shoots the 3 really well, 18/36 at those Academy Games, for instance, scores well but within the offense.
"King’s father, Leonard told 247Sports that multiple colleges have established contact, and include Iowa, TCU, Louisville, LSU, St. Mary’s, SMU, UCF, Charlotte, Arizona, Portland, USC, UConn, , Oklahoma, Colorado, George Washington, Ole Miss, Maryland and Miami." - so plenty of interest on the college front.
Luke Travers (2020 SF, 6'7, currently 17)
He's planning on taking the NBL route as opposed to the college one, which has him going under a lot of radars, but a lot of people over here are extremely high on him and believe he's NBA bound. A solid athlete, defender, does a bit of everything, my understanding is his jumper still needs some work but not bad, but he has standout feel/passing, like Giddey. 'A jumpshot away from a top level elite prospect'. He has been compared by many over here that watched Ingles grow up to him in that respect. Just signed on to be a 'development player' (i.e. unpaid so retains college eligibility) for the Perth Wildcats, who are the basically the Spurs level org. of the NBL. He's leaving the door open for college just in case, but at this time he's deemed college 'not for him' so I doubt we see him go over.
I've only seen Travers play at the u17 WC last year and he impressed me, probably the best player on that team.
They're probably the big 3 guys right now that are Australian based (until they head to college, ofc). Of course you've got Makur Maker (latest talk is NBL is a legitimate option for him instead of college but it'll depend on how LaMelo/RJ go) and Josh Green as the existing big name prospects.
There's more out there that *could* be something, but thought I'd stick to the guys who look like legitimate 1st rounders at this stage. More peripheral names are Tamuri Wigness (I love this guy but he has a pretty set jumper and at 5'11 that probably breaks his NBA chances, desperately hoping he has another growth spurt), Jayden Stone (US based, 2020 SG, has had some great college offers), Sam Froling (left Creighton to play NBL this season, might even start on LaMelo's team, both he and his brother could get NBA interest very soon). Alex Ducas is a guy starting at Saint Mary's who can really score as well.
