Another week; another three signings! I ponder if the NBL has a limit when it comes to signing announcements so they can meet a minimum quota each week. Regardless, the South East Melbourne Phoenix find their replacement for the departure of Omari Moore, the Illawarra Hawks enable an incredible comeback story and the Perth Wildcats find their third consecutive European Next Star.

1. Vrenz Bleijenbergh to South East Melbourne Phoenix
2. Harry Froling to Illawarra Hawks
3. Noa Kouakou-Heugue to Perth Wildcats
4. Team overviews
5. Remaining free agents
   1. Locals
   2. Imports

Vrenz Bleijenbergh to South East Melbourne Phoenix

Position: Forward
From: Merkezefendi (Türkiye – Basketbol Süper Ligi)
2024–25 statistics: 11.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 blocks, 1.1 steals, 45.6% field goal, 38.9% three-point, 79.1% free throw

The South East Melbourne Phoenix only had a brief mourning period for the loss of their tall point guard, Omari Moore, who was tempted to return back to Europe less than a month after signing his contract. The Phoenix found their coping mechanism in a playmaking 6’10” Belgian who played in the same league as Moore last season. Vrenz Bleijenbergh is an import archetype which has not ever existed in the NBL which makes his signing incredibly exciting. Moore had been tasked with being the floor general; the two remaining import slots filled by the Phoenix will indicate whether they intend to wreak havoc by having their big man be the primary ball handler in a league abundant with “small” guards. Bleijenbergh has shown that he can be a strong defensive presence as well; he averaged close to 2 steals per game during the 2023–24 season with Merkezefendi.

Harry Froling to Illawarra Hawks

Position: Centre
From: Melbourne Tigers (NBL1 South)
2025 statistics: 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, .4 blocks, .4 steals, 50.5% field goal, 71.7% free throw

The Illawarra Hawks facilitate a beautiful comeback for Harry Froling who has spent the last two years recovering from a brain injury suffered during an assault. He made his return to playing basketball a few months ago and has put together impressive stints while playing for the Taranaki Airs in New Zealand and the Melbourne Tigers of NBL1 South. He joins the Hawks as an injury replacement player which will be a great role for him to become acclimatised to the routine of being a professional athlete again. Froling last played in the NBL for the Brisbane Bullets in 2023; he spent the 2021–22 season as a member of the Hawks where he will again be reunited with his brother Sam. Great signing. Congratulations and welcome back to Harry.

Noa Kouakou-Heugue to Perth Wildcats

Position: Forward
From: Centre Fédéral (France – Nationale Masculine 1)
2024–25 statistics: 9.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 blocks. .8 steals, 48.1% field goal, 20.7% three-point, 68.4% free throw

The Perth Wildcats have been entrusted with two Next Stars over the last two seasons: the French Alex Sarr who went #2 in the 2024 NBA draft and the Spanish Izan Almansa who went undrafted in 2025. They are now given a third consecutive European for this season in French forward Noa Kouakou-Heugue who will be 18-years-old during the season. He has spent the last two seasons playing in the French third division with Centre Fédéral as a product of the training institute INSEP. Kouakou-Heugue enters the NBL as a forecasted second round pick for next year; will his stock rise (à la Sarr) or drop (à la Almansa) during his Wildcats stint? His abilities are relatively similar to both players but at a smaller size. Kouakou-Heugue also comes from a different background from his comparisons; Sarr played two seasons in Overtime Elite and Almansa also played two seasons in Overtime Elite in addition to one year in the NBA G League while Kouakou-Heugue comes from the bottom French division. With the Wildcats letting many of their big men depart this offseason, the opportunity for showcase exists for Kouakou-Heugue.

Team overviews

G: Guard / F: Forward / C: Center / I: Import / NS: Next Star / NRP: Nominated Replacement Player / DP: Development Player

Adelaide 36ers
G: Flynn Cameron, Bryce Cotton (I), Michael Harris, Matt Kenyon, Keanu Rasmussen, Dejan Vasiljevic, Isaac White
F: Zylan Cheatham (I), Montrezl Harrell (I)
C: Ben Griscti, Isaac Humphries
DP: F Deng Manyang
Needs: General stability

Brisbane Bullets
G: Sam McDaniel, Taine Murray, Mitch Norton
F: Jacob Holt, Casey Prather (I), Tohi Smith-Milner
C: Tyrell Harrison
DP: G Tristan Devers
Needs: Import guard, import forward, local back-up center

Cairns Taipans
G: Kyle Adnam, Kody Stattman
F: Kyrin Galloway, Alex Higgins-Titsha, Sam Waardenburg
Needs: Everything but also: import guard, import forward, import center, local guard, local center

Illawarra Hawks
G: Tyler Harvey (I), William Hickey, Lee Hyunjung
F: Todd Blanchfield, Daniel Grida, Mason Peatling, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk
C: Sam Froling
NRP: C Harry Froling
DP: G Kobe McDowell-White, G Luca Yates
Needs: Return of G Trey Kell III (I), Gary Clark/Darius Days-type import forward, retaining Justin Tatum

Melbourne United
G: Dash Daniels (NS), Milton Doyle (I), Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, Tanner Krebs, Tyson Walker (I), Tom Wilson
F: Kyle Bowen, Finn Delany, Fabijan Krslovic
DP: G Campbell Blogg, F Tom Koppens
Needs: Import center, local center

New Zealand Breakers
G: Taylor Britt, Parker Jackson-Cartwright (I), Izayah Le’afa
F: Sean Bairstow, Max Darling, Carlin Davison, Karim López, Reuben Te Rangi
C: Tacko Fall (I), Robert Loe, Sam Mennenga
DP: G Kaia Isaac, G Alex McNaught
Needs: Import shooting guard

Perth Wildcats
G: Sunday Dech, Elijah Pepper, Dontae Russo-Nance
F: Kristian Doolittle (I), Noa Kouakou-Heugue (NS), Lat Mayen, David Okwera, Jesse Wagstaff, Dylan Windler (I)
DP: F Thomas Gerovich, F Cameron Huefner
Needs: Bryce Cotton clone / import point guard, local point guard, local center

South East Melbourne Phoenix
G: Owen Foxwell, Angus Glover, Nathan Sobey
F: Akech Aliir, Vrenz Bleijenbergh (I), Malique Lewis (NS), DJ Mitchell
C: Gorjok Gak, Jordan Hunter
DP: G Daniel Foster
Needs: Import guard, import small forward

Sydney Kings
G: Shaun Bruce, Kendric Davis (I), Matthew Dellavedova, Tyler Robertson
F: Xavier Cooks, Jaylin Galloway, Bul Kuol, Keli Leaupepe, Makuach Maluach, Kouat Noi
C: Tim Soares (I)
DP: C Jason Spurgin
Needs: A return to 48-minute games so the quality of players receive enough minutes

Tasmania JackJumpers
G: Ben Ayre, Bryce Hamilton (I), David Johnson (I), Nicholas Stoddart, Sean Macdonald
F: Josh Bannan, Majok Deng, Anthony Drmic, Nick Marshall, Kobe Williamson
C: Will Magnay
DP: G Brody Nunn, F Archie Woodhill
Needs: Injury-free Sean Macdonald

Remaining free agents

Players who were contracted during the 2024–25 season. Statistics are from last season.

Locals

• Jack White (F, Melbourne United) – 35 games, 13.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists
• Ben Henshall (F, Perth Wildcats) – 32 games, 9.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists
• Alex Toohey (F, Sydney Kings) – 30 games, 10.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists
• Thomas Vodanovich (F, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 30 games, 2.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, .7 assists
• Keanu Pinder (F, Perth Wildcats) – 29 games, 15.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists
• Lachlan Olbrich (F, Illawarra Hawks) – 29 games, 8.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists
• Hyrum Harris (F, Perth Wildcats) – 28 games, 2.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists
• Grant Anticevich (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 26 games, 4.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, .7 assists
• Jonah Antonio (G, Cairns Taipans) – 26 games, 4.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, .8 assists
• Jonah Bolden (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 24 games, 6.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists
• Akoldah Gak (F, Cairns Taipans) – 21 games, 6.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, .9 assists
• Tai Webster (G, Perth Wildcats) – 20 games, 7.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists
• Taran Armstrong (G, Cairns Taipans) – 19 games, 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists
• Rocco Zikarsky (C, Brisbane Bullets) – 18 games, 4.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, .3 assists
• Mojave King (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 17 games, 8.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists
• Dillon Stith (F, Cairns Taipans) – 14 games, 1.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, .1 assists
• Emmett Naar (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 14 games, 1.1 points, .6 rebounds, 1.1 assists
• Jackson Makoi (G, Cairns Taipans) – 11 games, 4.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists
• Deng Adel (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 10 games, 4.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, .8 assists
• Lachlan Barker (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 10 games, 2.0 points, .3 rebounds, .2 assists
• Jacob Rigoni (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 10 games, 1.6 points, 1.0 rebounds, .1 assists
• Luke Rosendale (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 10 games, 1.2 points, .3 rebounds, .2 assists
• Jarred Bairstow (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 8 games, 2.3 points, 1.6 rebounds, .1 assists
• Kye Savage (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 8 games, 1.3 points, .0 rebounds, .3 assists
• Joel Foxwell (G, Melbourne United) – 8 games, 1.1 points, .3 rebounds, .8 assists
• Walter Brown (F, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 8 games, .8 points, .5 rebounds, .1 assists
• Zac Triplett (F, Illawarra Hawks) – 8 games, .6 points, .4 rebounds, .3 assists
• Josh Kunen (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 7 games, 1.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, .7 assists
• Majok Majok (C, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 5 games, .8 points, .6 rebounds, .0 assists
• Kuany Kuany (F, Illawarra Hawks) – 5 games, .8 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Callum Dalton (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 4 games, 3.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, .0 assists
• Tad Dufelmeier (G, Cairns Taipans) – 4 games, 2.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists
• Tai Wynyard (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 4 games, 1.0 points, .5 rebounds, .0 assists
• Alex Starling (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 4 games, .5 points, 2.3 rebounds, .3 assists
• Patrick D’Arcy (G, Adelaide 36ers) – 3 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .3 assists
• Luke Fennell (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 2 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Brad Ballinger (G, Illawarra Hawks) – 1 game, .0 points, 1.0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Klairus Amir (F, Sydney Kings) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Fiston Ipassou (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Tom Kubank (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Henry Lau (F, Sydney Kings) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Ngor Nai (C, Adelaide 36ers) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists

Imports

• Ian Clark (G, Melbourne United) – 36 games, 14.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists
• Matt Hurt (F, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 34 games, 19.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists
• Marcus Lee (C, Melbourne United) – 34 games, 6.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, .9 assists
• Joe Wieskamp (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 33 games, 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, .7 assists
• Darius Days (F, Illawarra Hawks) – 33 games, 10.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, .6 assists
• Trey Kell III (G, Illawarra Hawks) – 32 games, 17.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists
• Cameron Oliver (F, Sydney Kings) – 30 games, 12.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists
• Matthew Mooney (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 29 games, 16.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists
• Keandre Cook (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 28 games, 16.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists
• Jordon Crawford (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 28 games, 16.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists
• Jaylen Adams (G, Sydney Kings) – 27 games, 18.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists
• Rob Edwards (G, Cairns Taipans) – 26 games, 19.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists
• Pedro Bradshaw (F, Cairns Taipans) – 24 games, 10.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists
• Tanner Groves (F, Cairns Taipans) – 22 games, 13.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists
• Jarell Martin (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 22 games, 8.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, .5 assists
• Derrick Walton Jr. (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 18 games, 11.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists
• James Batemon (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 16 games, 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists
• Craig Sword (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 15 games, 6.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, .9 assists
• Todd Withers (F, Perth Wildcats) – 14 games, 5.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, .4 assists
• Ian Hummer (F, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 12 games, 4.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, .4 assists
• Josh Adams (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 9 games, 10.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists
• Freddie Gillespie (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 9 games, 6.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, .6 assists
• Deshon Taylor (G, Cairns Taipans) – 3 games, 3.0 points, 1.3 rebounds, .3 assists