Lash backs Bullets local core

The Brisbane Bullets have retained the bulk of their local core from last season for NBL25. Tyrell Harrison, Isaac White, Mitch Norton, Sam McDaniel, Josh Bannan and Rocco Zikarsky are all returning for a second season under head coach Justin Schueller, and Bullets Senior Basketball Advisor Stu Lash believes it’s a local contingent that can compete with any roster’s in the NBL.

Brisbane landed a seventh-place finish in NBL24 to miss out on Finals by percentage alone. In their first season under Schueller the Bullets vocally rebuilt the club’s culture as they continue to chase their first post-season appearance since NBL19.

Former captain and reigning club MVP Nathan Sobey has since left the club for South East Melbourne, whilst legendary center Aron Baynes remains off contract, but Lash believes – from a non-marquee standpoint – Brisbane’s local group is the best in the NBL.

“In my opinion it’s the best non-marquee local group in the league, and I only use non-marquee from a salary standpoint, not from a level of play,” Lash said on NBL Now.

“Guys like Josh Bannan and Tyrell Harrison are playing at a national team level from a very young age, I haven’t even talked about Rocco (Zikarsky) yet, ‘Norto’ (Mitch Norton) brings that experience and he’s even getting an opportunity in Japan.

“I think Sam McDaniel is on track to be one of the most improved players throughout the league, and ‘Whitey’ (Isaac White) just needs more opportunity – we’ve seen flashes of what he can do.

“Retaining that core and having that group together with the entire coaching staff coming back, everyone is going to just be one or two per cent better incrementally through their hard work this off-season.

“I feel comfortable about the foundation and direction of where the club is going from last year to this upcoming season, and a lot of credit goes to coach Schueller for instilling all that and guys understanding what was expected day in, day out.”

Following the signings of Tohi Smith-Milner, Deng Adel and import Keandre Cook, the Bullets’ off-season recruiting run is all but over.

The club has been vocal in its desire to move off Shannon Scott’s contract in order to sign a new import guard in his place, and just one local fully rostered position remains available.

With a host of free agents performing well across NBL1, NZNBL and junior levels, the Bullets – like all NBL clubs – are spoilt for choice when it comes to filling that final position.

A choice, Lash says, that might not be made in the immediate future.

“We have one more roster spot for a local player, we’re going through that process now and evaluating different guys through the NBL1, NZNBL and junior ranks,” he said.

“We’re not in too much of a rush to make that decision but if the right guy presents himself, we’ll act on that.

“Then we have Shannon Scott under contract for next season, we’re having conversations with Shannon and his camp as to what that looks like and Shannon is a professional and understands what’s expected of him.

“Those conversations will be kept internally but it’s part of what we’re trying to do, figuring out where we want to be at that point guard spot.”