Cheapies for Round 3: SuperCoach NBL Classic

Sydney Kings rookie guard Will Johnston ($69,000) clearly isn't taking hairstyle advice from Brian Goorjian. The coach described the 25-year-old's 'do as a "pine cone", but Johnston is soaking up every minute he spends with the seven-time NBL champion.

"I've had (the haircut) since Texas Rio Grande Valley, which is about four years ago," Johnston said. "So, yeah, four years. It's for sure staying."

Also staying, based on his performance against the Illawarra Hawks, are his minutes. Young legs in a deep Sydney Kings backcourt and the late arrival of Kendric Davis ($436,000) have given Johnston the chance to earn genuine rotation minutes.

Johnston, back from the US after a four-year Division 1 college career, stormed to the top of the SuperCoach NBL Cheapie Bible with 24 SuperCoach points off the bench in the Sydney Kings' 121-100 win against the Illawarra Hawks on Sunday.

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He scored those 24 SuperCoach points in 16 minutes, 45 seconds, on the back of 14 points, four rebounds and four assists, with one turnover. At $69,000, that game alone is worth 34.8 SuperCoach points per $100,000.

The only catch with bringing Johnston in now is that the Kings don't play a double-header until Round 5, and by then his price will have gone up.

Nine players who started at $69,000 are averaging 10 or more SuperCoach points per game (overs). Seven of them have a double-header in Round 3, and three have already had a price rise.

Alongside Johnston, they are: Johny Narkle ($90,000) 14.7 points; Matt Kenyon ($85,700) 13.0; Ben Gold ($69,000) 12.0; Malith Machar ($69,000) 11.5; Keanu Rasmussen ($80,400) 11.0; Jason Spurgin ($69,000) 10.5; Kyle Adnam ($69,000) 10.0; and Lat Mayen ($69,000) 10.0. Narkle, Kenyon and Rasmussen are the three to have risen already.

Narkle is a potential starter on Friday against the Adelaide 36ers after getting the job against the Kings on Sunday.

In the lower- to mid-price range, $100,000 to $175,000, NBL Next Star Dash Daniels ($159,200) is averaging 28.0 points per game and has another double-header in Round 3. His production is likely to drop now that Nathan Sobey ($379,600) is back in the South East Melbourne Phoenix line-up, but his price has already risen $44,200.

All of the top nine in this range are punching above their weight, and seven of them have a double-header in Round 3.

Those who were impatient enough to jump off the Delly 2.0 train after Round 1 will have serious regrets about Anthony Dell'Orso ($138,300). The former Arizona Wildcat and new Perth Wildcat absolutely cooked in Round 2, logging 75 points in Perth's two wins. His price has gone up $38,300.

Dakota Mathias ($145,200) at 20.5 SC PPG and Tanner Krebs ($165,800) at 20.3 SC PPG both produced overs, and both play twice in Round 3.

Players 10 to 23 in the $100,000 to $175,000 table below are yet to fire. Cairns Taipans sniper Reyne Smith ($147,800) ranks 10th and is struggling to find his range in Adam Forde's offence. Smith is averaging 11.7 SC PPG and his price has dropped $8,500, but Cairns do play twice in Round 3.

Below are the top 25 cheapies (under $100,000) and every player priced from $100,000 to $175,000 after Round 2.

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