Top int’l prospect Toohey spurns Zags for NBL

Prime worldwide basketball prospect Alex Toohey has decommitted from the Gonzaga Bulldogs and can signal with the Sydney Kings as a part of the Australian Nationwide Basketball League Subsequent Stars program, he informed ESPN on Friday.

“Over time, whereas evaluating my scenario, I felt one of the best pathway for me was proper right here in my very own yard,” Toohey stated. “The chance to play for a corporation like Sydney within the esteemed Subsequent Stars program was just too good to show down.”

The 19-year-old from Australia was thought-about one of the promising worldwide prospects committing to the faculty route within the class of 2023, having already made a debut together with his senior nationwide group in FIBA competitors in February 2021. He joined the Boomers once more for his or her FIBA World Cup qualifiers in August, November and February, a rarity for a participant his age. Toohey has been enjoying in Australia’s NBL1 competitors this summer season, averaging 17.9 factors, 5.8 rebounds and a pair of.7 assists in 28 minutes per sport.

Toohey is the primary Australian participant to decide to the NBL Subsequent Stars program since fellow NBA World Academy alumnus Josh Giddey, who was the No. 6 choose within the 2021 NBA draft after enjoying for the Adelaide 36ers. The Subsequent Stars program has gained steam in reeling in a number of extremely touted worldwide prospects at present projected to be drafted in 2024, together with American guard A.J. Johnson (Illawarra), French huge man Alex Sarr (Perth), Swedish wing Bobi Klintman (Cairns) and Lithuanian wing Mantas Rubstavicius (New Zealand).

“I am tremendous excited to be becoming a member of the Subsequent Stars program and may’t wait to compete on the highest degree in Australia and develop as a participant,” Toohey stated. “I do know it is going to take lots of arduous work and dedication, however the subsequent stars program is a confirmed path.”

Toohey’s Sydney Kings squad, part-owned by Australian nice and former NBA No. 1 choose Andrew Bogut, received back-to-back NBL championships the previous two years and not too long ago employed Houston Rockets assistant Mahmoud Abdelfattah as its head coach. Toohey pointed to that as one of many causes he elected to make the transfer.

“For me, becoming a member of the Sydney Kings means I can be a part of a championship-winning group,” Toohey stated. “I’m excited to play beneath Coach Mahmoud and study from my teammates, in addition to Luc Longley and Andrew Bogut, who’ve each been the place I’m aiming to go. I am additionally thrilled to play in entrance of the superior Sydney Kings followers.”

Toohey was slated to enroll and arrive at Gonzaga subsequent week earlier than electing to reverse course and signal within the NBL.

Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft professional and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a non-public scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and Worldwide groups.