The HUGE names Rucker was forced to leave out

For every player who makes Derek Rucker’s Top 15, there are another two or three just as unlucky to miss out. That is the reality of squeezing more than 120 athletes across the NBL into just 15 spots.

But who were the unluckiest players to miss this year?

Rucker says it was an incredibly tough task narrowing the field to such a select group of stars.

“I started this list with a batch of 35 players and getting from 35 to 25 was really difficult, and then narrowing it down to 15, that really stretched me,” Rucker said.

“I had to do a lot of research and a lot of hard work and make some tough decisions.”

>> PICK YOUR TOP 15 AND WIN A TEAM-SIGNED JERSEY

Arguably the most debated call was leaving out Casey Prather, who was right in the mix for MVP contention before his season-ending knee injury.

“Realistically had he not got injured, he was easily into the top six or seven,” Rucker explained.

“Because of the depth of talent in the league right now, I had to knock players out due to injury. Some players have been impacted, although not as adversely as Casey.

“Injuries are playing a factor and if you get hurt, it is really going to hinder your chances of being in the Top 15.”

A New Zealand big was also reluctantly left out by the former MVP.

“Sam Mennenga was a really tough one, because he is performing so well,” Rucker said.

“He was the victim of the team not winning games. If they turn that around and can win close games down the stretch, I do not see why Mennenga cannot appear.”

Mennenga has averaged career highs in points at 16.9 and rebounds at 7.4 across the Hungry Jack’s NBL26 Season and remains firmly in the mix, alongside Parker Jackson Cartwright, for club MVP honours.

Tasmanian pair Will Magnay and Bryce Hamilton were also overlooked.

“Will Magnay missed time. Magnay with his injury and the subsequent losses that flowed on for the JackJumpers really affected Bryce Hamilton,” Rucker said.

“In those games where Magnay was out, while Bryce Hamilton did a decent job of scoring the basketball and had a couple of big scoring games, he was not able to get wins on the board for the team.

“So he got pinged in that regard.

“I had Bryce Hamilton at number 16 or 17, but another guy with a bullet next to his name, who could very easily be in the top 10.”

Ranked number nine in the pre season, Tyler Harvey was not included in the 15 to 6 list, alongside Taipans import Admiral Schofield.

Host Joel Peterson also pointed to the absence of Wildcats star Dylan Windler in the initial list.

The top five will be revealed on Saturday afternoon via the NBL App.

In a new addition to the popular series, fans can also pick their own top 15 for the chance to win a team signed jersey.

>> PICK YOUR TOP 15 AND WIN A TEAM-SIGNED JERSEY