The plan was to ease 17-year-old Rocco Zikarsky into his first NBL season however no one instructed him that.
Brisbane Bullets coach Justin Schueller says the membership’s Next Star signing has demanded minutes together with his pre-season kind and the “sky’s the limit” as NBA scouts clamour to see {the teenager} in motion.
Zikarsky did not prepare on Thursday as he overcame sickness, whereas veteran centre Aron Baynes missed the latter phases of the session as he iced his foot.
Schueller mentioned each would go well with up towards Melbourne United in Saturday’s pre-season NBL Blitz opener on the Gold Coast.
“My expectations; the sky’s the limit to be honest,” Schueller, who coached Zikarsky as a junior, mentioned.
“Every day he does something we weren’t quite ready for, other days he’s still a 17-year-old kid.”
Zikarsky’s first yr of NBA draft eligibility might be in 2025.
“We signed him with the idea to ease him into things,” Schueller mentioned.
“But he’s demanding minutes off me. He’ll get opportunity as it’s deserved and right now he’s controlling that space.”
The first-year coach mentioned Zikarsky’s motor expertise have been “second to none” for a participant of his measurement, whereas skilled level guard Nathan Sobey mentioned the teen would deal with the rigours of the bodily league.
“You forget how young he is,” Sobey mentioned.
“The ceiling’s so high for that guy.
“We’ll hold pushing him to get higher and higher so he can attain these objectives.
“Competing against Baynsey … to hold his own and give some is pretty special for a 17-year-old.
“Absolutely he’ll be able to go and there might be instances we want him for large minutes.
“I don’t think there’s a better situation for him to be in.”
Most NBA golf equipment might be represented when all 10 NBL groups collect on the Gold Coast for video games between Saturday and Friday subsequent week.
The season begins with a Victoria derby between Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix on September 28.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
