The Young Stars You Absolutely Must See Play This Season
Sky Sport commentator Justin Nelson lists four young Kiwi stars he believes all basketball fans across New Zealand must go and see in the Sal’s NBL this season. This is a Kiwi quartet primed to put on a stunning show in 2025 ... and beyond!
There are so many reasons to get along to a Sal’s NBL game – exciting hoops, music and entertainment, team mascots, giveaways and on-court activations, dancers and team merchandise, a family atmosphere, and my personal favourite is when all the fans are invited onto the court after the game to meet the players.
Very few (if any) other sports and entertainment offerings in New Zealand allow you to step on the playing surface to talk with the players, take selfies and get autographs immediately after the show finishes – the Sal’s NBL really is a leader in this space, and the fans love it.
But if everything I’ve listed above isn’t enough to get you and the family along to enjoy the experience of a Sal’s NBL game, how about I give you the names of four young Kiwis that you simply must get along and watch this season. These four players are destined for big things in basketball, both here on home soil and overseas.
They are all teenagers, and you have the chance in future years to say you watched them in action in the Sal’s NBL before their global basketball careers took off. The common thread amongst these four young guns is they enjoyed accelerated development in Rapid League last year, and the fruits of that labour will be on show in 2025.
Grab the family, invite your mates – go and watch these four young stars and you too will see the talent and skills that will take them on a successful journey in world basketball over the next 15-plus years.
Jackson Ball (Big Barrel Hawke's Bay Hawks)
Where can I possibly start with Jackson Ball? How about his 40-point game in last night's season opener? How about his 15 of 19 shooting in that game and a plus/minus of 38? Record after record tumbled last night, and perhaps a 50-piece was on offer had he played more than 33 minutes! I first saw Jackson as a then 15-year-old at the 3X3 Cup in Invercargill in late 2023 and he immediately reminded me of Kirk Penney – big praise yes, a little different in his playing style at the same age, but his poise, confidence and ability to read the game placed him years ahead of his time. When we interviewed him on television it felt like we were talking to a 25-year-old, his maturity and comfort in the spotlight was quite surreal to experience. This is a kid who already looks down the barrel of the camera, has self-awareness but zero arrogance - you would swear he'd already completed media training. Jackson made the All-Star 4 at the 3X3 Cup in what would become the first real sign of what was to come. His 2024 season (still only 16yo) with the Hawks was solid but was more about learning the grind of a Sal’s NBL season and getting a feel for an experienced coach and player developer like Sam Gruggen - he scored 47 points total in his Sal's NBL debut season (let hat sink in given he dropped 40 last night). His international game is also starting to blossom in FIBA youth competitions, plus he recently enjoyed his Tall Blacks debut (one of the youngest to be capped) and the international honours will continue this year when he should be included in the Junior Tall Blacks for the World Championships. Jackson has also recently committed to the Wisconsin Badgers (boy, how would the Wisonsin coaching staff be feeling today after last night's game), he’ll join them in 2026 and fellow Kiwi Hayden Jones. At last week’s Westside Blitz the now 17-year-old (as of March 10, 2025) won the tournament MVP, the Phill Jones Medal – yet another accolade. And now Jackson Ball looks set to be a starter at the Hawks this season, and he will be a handful for opposition teams to contain. Do not miss seeing this teenager in action – the skies are the limit for him.
Hayden Jones (NBS Nelson Giants)
It hasn’t taken long for Hayden Jones to shake the ‘Son Of Phill’ tag – make no mistake, this young gun is forging his own path, and he already looks likely to build his own exciting career. At just 18 he is playing beyond his years, both here in New Zealand, and internationally. He made his Tall Blacks debut in 2024, and there will be plenty more caps in future years. Last year he was a valuable member of New Zealand’s U17 team that finished fourth at the World Championships. His performances at school level are stuff of legend, and he’ll soon be a prized player for the Wisconsin Badgers. Giants coach Mike Fitchett has been careful in his approach to playing Hayden, ensuring he learns the ropes the right way and develops all the tools needed to become an international star. In the coming weeks and months it’s likely that Fitchett will let his young star loose – definitely at Rapid League level, but likely also at Sal’s NBL level. Hayden has developed a strong game at both ends of the floor, and of course he has one of New Zealand’s greatest ever scorers as his daily mentor. More international hoops will soon arrive as well (U19 Worlds) where the name Jones will be front and centre (again). All Giants fans have been following Hayden’s progress for years, but this will likely be the last time for a while that they will get to see him in action at the Trafalgar Centre. If you are yet to see the athletic ability of Hayden Jones, his length and outstanding ball-handling skills, his instinctiveness for attacking and scoring, and his rapidly developing defensive game, do yourself a big favour and buy a ticket to see him in action – you will not be disappointed.
Tama Isaac (Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams)
Boy can his kid play! The 18-year-old younger brother of Kaia Isaac is a class act, a pure scorer and a relentless defensive menace. Tama plays at speed, yet it always looks like the game slows down around him – he has a nous for getting involved and his no-fuss approach to the game is a massive asset. What stands out so much about Tama is he looks like a coach’s dream, a team-first character who relishes the heat of battle. Like Ball and Jones, Isaac is already making waves on the international stage, and he will surely be off to another World Champs again this year. Already a Tall Black like Ball and Jones, Tama is set for more opportunities this season in a stacked Rams team. A standout performer at a recent NBA camp, Tama will likely dominate his fair share of Rapid League games this season (as will Ball and Jones), but it will be his play-making confidence at Sal’s NBL level that will impress fans and observers the most. Tama rarely wastes possession, his decision-making is already at an advanced level and his ability to bring others into the game is a credit to him. Again, buy yourself a ticket and go and see Tama Isaac in action, he is a rising star and is destined for big things on the global sage.
Carter Hopoi (The Northern Group Tauranga Whai)
At 205-centimeters and loaded with hops and athleticism, Carter Hopoi is a rising highlight machine who looks set to play a bigger role for the Whai this season. The 18-year-old made his Tall Blacks debut late last year against Taiwan and looks to be growing in confidence with every opportunity to mix it against elite opponents. Hopoi played 12 x Sal's NBL games and 16 x Sky Broadband Rapid League games last season, and in particular two thunderous dunks against the Saints got people off their seats with eyes wide open. Hopoi delivered an impressive 17 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for New Zealand at the U18 2024 FIBA Asia Cup (silver medal) and will play a key role at this year's FIBA U19 World Cup. Hopoi's ability to play above the rim is developing at a rapid rate and he looms as a player who will continue to create headaches for opposing coaches. Impressively, Hopoi is crafting his game at both ends of the floor and increasingly loves a big defensive block just as much as an offensive slam. Like Ball, Jones and Isaac, Hopoi also plays without fear and is more than happy to bang bodies with older and more experienced players in the League - this is an asset that is fast-tracking his development. Hopoi will be one to watch this season for sure, and you can be assured he will feature in quite a few highlight reels.
