Toohey looms as first round NBA Draft pick

After a stand-out week at the Blitz, Alex Toohey picked up where he left off in Round 1, helping his Sydney Kings team start with a win.

It was yet another impressive performance from the Next Star and one that has NBA eyes locked in to where he could land at the NBA Draft in June.

“(I) think I’d have him as a Round 1 guy right now,” The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie said on X.

“There hasn’t been enough NBA Draft buzz about Alex Toohey so far.

“(He) comes off of two 20+ point Blitz games and consolidates that with a 15/3/3.”

Think there hasn’t been enough NBA Draft buzz about Alex Toohey so far. Comes off of two 20+-pt NBL Blitz games and consolidates with a 15/3/3 game in Sydney’s opener.

Think I’d have him as a R1 guy right now. Has a 6-11 wingspan and 9-foot standing reach + jumper looks great.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) September 22, 2024

What was perhaps the key takeaway from this game was that the 20-year-old wasn’t afraid of the moment.

In the final quarter, Toohey played all ten minutes and scored 10 clutch points to help lift his team to a win against Adelaide.

With under three minutes remaining, Toohey hit a three to extend the lead and then put the dagger in the 36ers' hopes, with a turnaround mid-range that hit nothing but the bottom of the net.

He also had three assists in the final quarter, to go with one block and one steal.

Vecenie believes all those traits will translate well onto the NBA floor and allow him to thrive in his role.

“A floor spacing shooter who can play the 3 or 4 with size, and hopefully move well enough to defend. (He) makes good decisions and does the little things,” he said.