The Fab Five: Pre-season standouts

With the Blitz wrapped up and all eyes fixed on the regular season tipping off, there were some standout names primed for a big NBL25.

With a lot of teams choosing to get through rotations and shuffle things around, it allowed some of the young stars to step into more opportunity and showcase what they can do.

Here are five of the standouts from an action-packed NBL Blitz.

Tyrell Harrison
Harrison was one of the stars of the Blitz and rightfully rewarded with the Ray Borner Trophy as the MVP of the week.

The Bullets big man averaged 17.3 points and 7 rebounds across the three games and helped his team go undefeated and claim the Loggins-Bruton cup.

His 21-point, 10 rebound effort against United was one of his most dominant displays of the pre-season, as he went to work against some of the premier big men in the competition.

Harrison, who has shown tremendous growth over the past few seasons, looks set to take on more of a leading role for the Bullets offensively and will be a key factor in how much this team can achieve in NBL25.

Alex Toohey
The Sydney Kings Next Star could not have done any more to impress the NBA scouts and executives in attendance last week.

Toohey was a standout for a stacked Sydney team, scoring 49 points across his two games, including some special moments above the rim. Had he not missed the first game due to injury, he would have likely gone very close to winning the Blitz MVP.

After an inconsistent rookie season, Toohey has clearly put in the work both on and off the floor, which has his confidence looking sky-high ahead of NBL25. 

It’s not so much his production that was impressive in his two games, but rather his efficiency in doing so. This was highlighted by his 26 points in 29 minutes of action against the Phoenix and only missing three shots.

With Sydney looking to be one of the deepest teams in the league this season, that kind of productivity from Toohey will make it hard for Brian Goorjian to sit him for too long.

Lachlan Olbrich
Lachlan Olbrich is another young star flashed his potential in front of NBA scouts throughout the Blitz and looks set to have a major impact for the Hawks this season.

Fresh off a dominant off-season in the NZNBL, Olbrich relished the extra opportunity for the Hawks on the Gold Coast and delivered for Justin Tatum.

His two best games came against United and the Phoenix where he put up 22 and 15 points respectably and looked very comfortable in his role.

Head coach Justin Tatum has been open about increasing the minutes and responsibility of his second-year big man and the early signs are positive ahead of NBL25.

Olbrich didn’t miss a shot from the field against United, hitting all nine shots, including a three from the top.

At just 20-years-old, Olbrich is one of the brightest young talents in the league and is sure to keep NBA eyes on him from here on out.

Joe Wieskamp
The Blitz came at the perfect time for the Phoenix’s new sharpshooting import.

Joe Wieskamp showed exactly why he was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs back in 2021, with his impressive shot making and rebounding for his size across the week.

Wieskamp averaged just under 15 points across his three games, including shooting a scintillating 54 per cent from the three.

His best performance came against one of the favourites of the competition, the Sydney Kings, where he put up 24 points in 24 minutes at 80 per cent from the field.

With a roster full of offensive firepower, Wieskamp is an x-factor for the Phoenix and if he can continue this form in the regular season, it will make this team a serious contender.

Jack White
The leading rebounder across the Blitz, Jack White, stepped into his new role for United and looked very comfortable in doing so.

The NBA Champion averaged 18 points and just under 10 rebounds per game, to start his promising NBL25 campaign off on the right foot.

With United boasting largely the same roster from last season, White’s return to the club will see him take on more responsibility on both ends of the floor.

One of the more athletic players in the league, his point-of-difference is his physical presence while in the air that has Dean Vickerman excited for this season.

Whether that is walling up defensively or throwing it down on the opposition, White provides versatility for United in many areas. The three games at the Blitz highlighted exactly what many people are expecting to see this season from the 27-year-old.