"This really hurt me": Rucker reveals his toughest Top 15 snubs

Since Derek Rucker released his Hungry Jack's NBL27 Pre-Season Top 15, much has been made about who made the list.

Bryce Cotton edges out Kendric Davis for top spot again, while Melbourne United's Cole Anthony debuts at three before he's even played a game. The list has, predictably, sparked debate.

Just as polarising are the players who were 'snubbed' and just missed out on the list.

Some of those names include Illawarra quartet Kelan Martin, Milton Doyle, Tyler Harvey and Sam Froling, Tasmanian duo Taran Armstrong and Will Magnay, Brisbane pair Arnas Velicka and Tyrell Harrison, new additions to the NBL Skylar Mays and Josh Odouro and reigning Most Improved award winner, Flynn Cameron.

In particular, Rucker felt two of the new imports were the hardest omissions for him to make.

"This really hurt me, as I was trying to find ways to get [Arnas] Velicka and Skylar Mays in particular onto the list," Rucker said on Friday's episode of NBL Now, presented by CODE Sports.

"Skylar Mays was tough [because] I don't know what the usage is going to look like [next to] Nathan Sobey, not to mention South East Melbourne have so much depth.

"[The League] is just so loaded with point guards, it's so hard [to include everyone]."

Another guard Rucker sees potentially climbing into the Top 15 later in the season is Tasmania's Armstrong, who missed out on this edition.

"Taran Armstrong probably isn't in that same group with those guys," he said.

"But like if you're looking at potential and trying to project how this season is going to pan out, there is every possibility that Taran Armstrong could be one of the top 10 players in the League.

"He's that talented, and has great athleticism and size at the position."

The Hungry Jack's NBL27 Season tips off at 7:30pm AEST on Saturday, September 19, the first of a jam-packed 13 games across nine days as part of Opening Week.

Catch the action all season long on ESPN and Saturday hoops on the 9Network.