Although seeing Boomers stars David Andersen and Cam Bairstow set to suit up for the Melbourne United and Brisbane Bullets respectively is enough to make any NBL fan sign up for season tickets two of Australia’s finest up-and-coming stars won’t be plying their trades in Australia this season.
Despite being offered lucrative contracts by Brisbane and Sydney in the NBL, ex-Townsville Crocodile Clint Steindl has decided to give European basketball a try and signed with Leuven Bears who play in Belguim’s division one competition.
Peter Hooley, who captured media attention worldwide with his emotional buzzer-beating three which won the America East championship and sent Albany University to the NCAA Tournament, will also look for playing time in Europe, signing with English team Plymouth Raiders.
Clint Steindl, our league’s reigning Most Improved Player , will make the move to Belgium after an impressive year with Townsville. Stiendl who teamed with both Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova at St Mary’s university before returning to his home state of Queensland and play two seasons a piece for the Cairns Taipans and the Townsville Crocodile averaging 13 points per game last season with the Crocs.
Belguim’s division one competition, or Scooore League as it is known, is also where former Sydney King Ben Madgen played last season. Madgen fit in will in Belguim his rookie season, averaging 19 points per game for VOO Wolves Verviers-Pepinster.
Recently signed New Zealand Breaker Rob Loe also played in the Scooore League last season.
After an impressive college career, Hooley had been on the Adelaide 36ers radar with coach Joey Wright publicly confirming they were considering signing him for 2016-17. Instead, he will join England’s Plymouth Raiders, who are coached by former Melbourne Tigers guard Daryl Corletto.
Hooley will be able to play in England as a local due to holding a British passport courtesy of his paternal heritage.