"A future star": The young 36er turning heads

The NBL landscape is changing. With long-serving players like Kyle Adnam out of the competition, and high-profile stars like Deng Deng and Daniel Johnson still unsigned ahead of NBL24 – the talent level, both existing and emerging, is at an all-time high.

That’s why the praise directed from NBL analyst and GM of Next Stars Recruitment Liam Santamaria towards Adelaide guard Nick Marshall means so much. The former development player is heading into his third career NBL season – and the first as a fully-rostered member of the side – and will take to the court with Santamaria’s praise ringing in his ears.

“Nick Marshall is going to be a star of this league.”

Santamaria’s eye for young talent in this country is impossible to debate. He’s taken the Next Stars program to a new level over the past 12 months, and his praise in this space is just worth more than others.

The 24-year-old 36er showed a strong sample size of what he can do when afforded more opportunity on-court last season between the club’s release of Craig Randall II and the signing of Ian Clark, and the sheer number of new faces in Adelaide’s guard rotation means he will almost definitely get even further opportunity to impress.

“I just continue to work every day,” Marshall told NBL Media. “That’s what got me to where I am today.

“This season I haven’t really got much of a set plan as to what I’m expecting. I’m more locked in on getting to practice every day – I won’t be watching as much as I was last yar.

“I’m just really looking forward to having that ability to practice with the group and try to get better every single day, and hopefully that leads to some success on the court.

“If it does, I’ll just go from there.”

The departure of Cleveland not even two weeks ago shook a fanbase that had already been hit with the departure of Robert Franks.

Former South East Melbourne guard Trey Kell and Chinese Basketball Association star Jamaal Franklin have both since been signed to help fill the breach, while new signing Jason Cadee, and the returning duo of Mitch McCarron and Sunday Dech will also take to the floor in the guard and wing positions this season.

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Marshall says while Cleveland’s exit did seemingly come out of nowhere to the team, but all the two-time NBL Defensive Player of the Year’s former teammates wish him the best.

“We pretty much found out when everyone else did – or a few days before,” Marshall said.

“It was a surprise to everyone. Obviously AC isa great player and we would have loved to have him back again.

“Sometimes better opportunities present themselves though. It was a good thing for him and we’re all supportive of AC, and hope that maybe one day he can come back and be a 36er again.

“We need to lock in on defence, because obviously AC was a big part of that last year with his length, size, and the way he moves. Sunday’s [Dech] still here and he’s a great defender – and I’ve been learning from him as well – it’ll be cool to start locking in and pushing for the start of the season once everyone gets in.”

If you want a glimpse into Marshall’s undoubted potential on both ends of the floor, all you need to do is turn on an NBL1 South game featuring Mt Gambier.

He's led the Pioneers as far as the competition’s final four this year and will face off against Knox for a place in the final this Friday night.

The guard starred for his side in its one-point preliminary final win over Brad Newley and the Frankston Blues. He scored a game-high 36 points on 50 per cent shooting in the win, while also adding six boards and four assists.

That type of scoring outburst hasn’t been rare this season though. He’s averaged over 22 points per game over 18 appearances this season and has his just under 50 per cent of his shots – just under 40 per cent from distance.

His performance against the Blues may have been his pick of the bunch in what’s been an impressive NBL1 season for Marshall, but he’s keeping his eyes on the prize ahead of Friday’s clash with Knox.

“Going back and playing in NBL1 South has been really good this year. There are a lot of great teams out there and there have been some tough matchups for me as well. It’s about growing and trying to be better and take those moments,” he said.

“I’ve been trying to work on growing some leadership qualities this season because we have a really young team. It gives the opportunity to grow in all areas of my game.

“We’re just going to play the way we play and trust that we can do it together as a team. Knox has got some size on us, so we’re going to have to take care of the rebounds and make sure we limit their second chances at the rim.

“It’s going to be really exciting.

Those lucky few on-lookers have already had a glimpse into the “Nick Marshall Show” 12 months ago, when Marshall torched an Overtime Elite side featuring top five NBA Draft picks, Amen and Ausar Thompson, last pre-season.

Marshall reminisced on the game and described it as “a lot of fun” and “an awesome experience”, but if he gets going in the new season for the Adelaide 36ers, we could be looking at a full season of the 'Nick Marshall Show', not just one episode.

Marshall and the Mt Gambier Pioneers are in action in the NBL1 South Preliminary Final on Friday night, streaming from 8pm AEST, live on Kayo Freebies.

The Adelaide 36ers will kick off their NBL 24 campaign on Friday, September 29 against the Brisbane Bullets.