MELBOURNE (Paulo Kennedy's View from Downunder) - Only a few star Boomers and Tall Blacks are playing permanently overseas these days, but the shortened NBL season means many more of their prospective Rio (and Manila) teammates have now joined them.

Here’s a look at 20 international prospects and how they're performing in professional leagues far far away as we approach business time for national teams.

Tom Abercrombie, Pinar Karsiyaka (Turkey) – Tom has slotted straight into the TBL, scoring 30 points in 57 minutes in his opening two games, hitting 60 per cent from inside and 39 per cent from outside to show he could be a major factor in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila following on from his best NBL season.

Dave Andersen, ASVEL Lyon (France) – ASVEL are fighting for a top four spot and Andersen is averaging 12.0ppg at 47 per cent from inside, 40 per cent from outside and 80 per cent from the charity stripe. Perhaps the best news is his 6.6rpg which leads ASVEL and would be very handy for the Boomers.

Cam Bairstow, Chicago (USA) – The NBA is so much about right place, right time, but many would say Bairstow hasn’t made the most of the opportunities injuries to teammates have presented. He had eight points on 4-of-5 shooting in his last appearance more than a month ago, but lack of game play could hurt his bid to crack the rotation in Rio.

Aron Baynes, Detroit (USA) – Baynes has been a steady contributor for the Pistons, his 6.2ppg and 4.7rpg in 15mpg pretty good preparation for the role he’s likely to play in Rio. The consistent minutes he’s receiving will also help ensure he’s in a groove come August.



Andrew Bogut, Golden State (USA) – The Bogey Man is not far away from being the starting centre on the best regular season NBA team of all time. His 5.4ppg, 7.2rpg, 2.4apg and 1.5bpg speak to the all-around contribution he can make to the Boomers, while his array of alley-oop dunks this season is a good sign he’s body’s as good as it’s been in a while.

Ryan Broekhoff, Lokomotiv Kuban (Russia) – Broekhoff is averaging 10.6ppg and 5.1rpg while shooting 43 per cent from deep in the VTB United League, and 8.7ppg at 50 per cent from outside in the Euroleague. Those numbers should make Boomers fans smile.

Matthew Dellavedova, Cleveland (USA) – Delly’s assist-to-turnover ratio is 3:1, he is shooting 42 per cent from the arc and 86 per cent from the stripe, and he’s putting up 7.5ppg for good measure. Delly playing NBA minutes is very important to the Boomers after his play suffered at Spain 2014 following a year of mostly bench time.



Isaac Fotu, Zaragoza (Spain) – Fotu had 16 points and seven boards last start, but overall it hasn’t been a great year for the big-haired Kiwi or his team, Isaac averaging 7.4ppg and 4.4rpg in the ACB and 9.1ppg and 3.6rpg in the Eurocup.

Cam Gliddon, AZS Koszalin (Poland) – While his numbers of 8.0ppg and 3.5rpg in 26mpg don’t stand out, Gliddon is hitting 42 per cent from distance after hitting 39 per cent in the NBL. He’ll need that sort of form to force his way into the Boomers squad.

Chris Goulding, Auxilium Torino (Italy) – Bubbles has burst in Italy as far as three-point shooting is concerned, hitting just 1-of-18 in his six games to date. This from a man who shot 36 per cent from the arc in the NBL despite all sorts of attention. He’ll need to bring the latter form to Boomers camp.

Stephen Holt, Andorra (Spain) – A fascinating international prospect given his mother is Filipino, Holt is averaging 8.7ppg in 16mpg in the highly-competitive ACB, including 13 points in 16 minutes against Real Madrid. I’m not sure if he’s on the Gilas’ radar for Manila but he would certainly add significantly to Tab Baldwin’s guard rotation.

Joe Ingles, Utah (USA) – With 38 per cent three-point shooting, nearly as many steals as turnovers and the ability to hit big shots, Ingles is coming into form at the right time. His 13 points on 4-of-4 shooting against San Antonio showed just what he’s capable of on the big stage, as he did against Lithuania at Spain 2014.



Aleks Maric, Buducnost (Montenegro) – The Truck has had a resurgent year, averaging 9.0ppg at 62 per cent and 7.0rpg in the Adriatic League in less than 22mpg. In the Eurocup those numbers were 6.0ppg, 4.9rpg and 50 per cent shooting in 18mpg.

Patty Mills, San Antonio (USA) – Mills is averaging 8.6ppg at 39 per cent from long range, with an assist-to-turnover ratio of more than 3:1 (2.8 to 0.9). He’s in form and confident, the only thing left is for the Boomers to figure out how his brilliant offensive skills can be best used to open things up for teammates.



Brock Motum, Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania) – Brock’s 11.1ppg and 4.1rpg at 38 per cent from range in the Lithuanian league are quite promising, but the step up to the Euroleague has proven difficult – reiterating questions about Motum’s international-level toughness – averaging 6.7ppg and 2.8rpg at a respectable 36 per cent outside clip.

Brad Newley, Gran Canaria (Spain) – Noodles continues to be Noodles, doing all the little things his team needs to win. With Gran Canaria a chance at a top four berth in the ACB, he’s obviously doing them well. Newley’s three-ball has been dropping at 33 per cent, respectable but not quite where many Boomers fans would want it.

AJ Ogilvy, Manati (Puerto Rico) – He won’t be in Rio but Ogilvy continues to show why he might be an important part of the Boomers’ future, averaging 13.8ppg and 8.3rpg in his first six games in Puerto Rico, including 21 points and 13 boards in his last start.

Alex Pledger, Southland Sharks (New Zealand) – The Pledgehammer averaged 8.2ppg and 5.3rpg in his final 13 NBL games and has continued his post-injury resurgence in the New Zealand league, averaging 14.9ppg and 13.4rpg, including a franchise record 20 boards against Canterbury. With Steve Adams not available, those numbers will have Paul Henare smiling.

Ethan Rusbatch, Canterbury (New Zealand) – Rusbatch is a smoky for a Tall Blacks place in Manilla, averaging 20ppg, 4.2rpg, 3,3apg and 1.5spg in the NZ NBL. A 1.95m swingman, perhaps the big knock on the emerging 23-year-old is his perimeter shot, which is connecting at just 23 per cent this season, but he is a legit international athlete.

Corey Webster, ASA Koroivos (Greece) – C-Web’s NBL shooting rut continued in his first game in the Greek A1, hitting just 5-of-21, but the Kiwi combo guard still managed to contribute 12 points and seven assists.

Paulo Kennedy

FIBA

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