Vrenz Bleijenbergh: The NBL's most intriguing new signing?

Vrenz Bleijenbergh is shaping as one of the most intriguing Free Agency signings ahead of the Hungry Jack’s NBL Season, and Pete Hooley is eager to see him in action.

South East Melbourne’s GM of Basketball Simon Mitchell describes the Belgian combo forward as a rare blend of size, versatility and athleticism, while NBL experts are calling him a player who’s “going to be fun” to watch.

“What do we expect from Vrenz Bleijenbergh in NBL26? Could he be an MVP dark horse?” a fan pondered in a special edition of The Marketplace.

“He’s very talented. Big enough to play the four or five, but he’ll most likely play on the wing under Josh King,” Pete Hooley said.

“He’s got the handle, great court vision. Very unique. Not something we’ve really seen.”

Bleijenbergh's most recent stint was in Turkey, where he showcased his all-around game by averaging 11.6 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.1 steals and 1 block per outing.

“I was trying to think of a comparison. Maybe Xavier Cooks. Someone who can play one through five,” ESPN’s Olgun Uluc said.

“I don’t think anyone else in the NBL can do that. Maybe Kristian Doolittle in stretches.

“But Vrenz is six foot ten and handles the ball a lot. When you watch his highlights, he runs pick and rolls, he creates. It’s really interesting.”

“He’s going to be fun,” Hooley added.

Derek Rucker sees Bleijenbergh as a likely successor to former import Joe Wieskamp.

“Does he have the toughness to compete with bigs in the NBL? That’s a question,” Uluc pondered.

“In the 2021 draft, he was regarded as one of the most talented international prospects.

“He hasn’t fully broken out in EuroLeague, but he’s got this skill set in a six-foot-ten frame. That’s rare.”

Phoenix coach Josh King is confident Bleijenbergh will be a strong fit on and off the court.

“We're really excited about him. He gives us a lot of leeway with our shopping list because he's a six-nine wing, plug-and-play type guy. So we definitely need a bigger guard, and then from there, we’ll decide after that.”

“Yeah, no, very excited about Vrenz. Dynamic. Can do a lot of different things. And he fits well with all the pieces that we’ve got coming back. We’ve got a very strong core of local guys that we’re excited about, and he'll fit in well with them. Excited to get those guys on the floor in two weeks—and obviously, we need to get two other guys in there as well.”

The 2025 NBA Summer League starts from July 11, Australian time, with exclusive interviews and insights available on the NBL App and NBL.com.au.