Young talent time: 25 gunning for DP roles

The son of an Australian cricketing great and the brother of an AFL player are among a host of talented young basketballers given the chance this week to stake their claim for a spot on the Adelaide 36ers roster.

25 players have been invited to the annual two-day Development Player tryout camp being held on Tuesday and Wednesday at the State Basketball Centre at Wayville.

Among them are Brandon Gillespie, the son of former cricketer and SA Sport Hall of Famer Jason Gillespie and Koby Moir, the brother of Carlton AFL player Ashton Moir.

Gillespie, 17, is a graduate of the Adelaide 36ers academy, has represented South Australia at underage level and is currently playing in the NBL1 Central for the Southern Tigers.

Moir, 17, is a Sacred Heart College student who plays for the South Adelaide Panthers.

“All of the guys have conducted themselves incredibly well,” said Adelaide 36ers Head Coach Mike Wells.

“There’s a lot of talent in South Australia and as I’m getting to know the clubs and the players in the local league, to be able to see the top end guys on the court together and get to speak with them and get to know them personally is incredibly important.

“For them, they get the chance to get to know how Mike Wells operates and how the 36ers operate, the things we value and what we’re looking for for the future.

“Hopefully we’re seeing a bunch of them who get the opportunity to play for the 36ers, like an Isaac White or a Michael Harris that have come through that pathway.”

The 36ers must sign at least two development players for NBL26 but can take as many as four.

Along with White and Harris, fellow 36er Keanu Rasmussen spent two years as a Development Player while centre Ben Griscti impressed in the club’s inaugural DP Camp in 2023.

Griscti was on hand at Wayville on Tuesday along with captain DJ Vasiljevic to join in on drills and scrimmages.  

“You’re hopeful that a few of the guys we’ve got at our camp go on to be DPs and we build relationships with these players, and then in a few years they’re in a 36ers uniform representing Adelaide,” said Wells.

“This is a great opportunity to get them on a court together, see them play with other really talented players and build relationships with each other outside of the club system.”

To be eligible for a Development Player spot, players must be aged 24 years or younger for the duration of the NBL26 season.

A decision on the signings will be announced in coming weeks.