The NBL’s Next Stars program has secured the signature of Australian wunderkind, Roman Siulepa.
 
The 17-year-old will join the Tasmania JackJumpers following a dominant junior career, and is expected to be one of the next big things in Australian basketball. 

The 6’7 forward out of Queensland already has a long list of accolades, creating an impressive early resume despite not yet celebrating his 18^th birthday. 
 
Siulepa, of Samoan heritage, was named the MVP of the 2024 U20 National Championships, where he averaged an impressive 24 points, eight rebounds and four assists per game despite being a bottom-age player. 
 
He has already represented the green and gold, leading Australia to a gold medal at the 2024 Albert Schweitzer Tournament by averaging 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. Those feats led Siulepa to a selection in the All-Tournament Team, alongside fellow Next Star Rocco Zikarsky. He also represented Australia at the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup and helped the country claim gold at the 2022 FIBA U16 Asian Championships. 
 
“Roman is an incredibly exciting signing for the Next Stars program, the JackJumpers and the NBL,” NBL General Manager of Next Stars Recruitment, Liam Santamaria, said. 
 
“He possesses a unique combination of speed, strength, and athleticism, is a freight-train in transition, has good passing instincts and is regarded as a high-upside defender.
 
“Tasmania’s fans are some of the most passionate in the NBL and I have no doubt they will fall in love with Roman over the next couple of years as he looks to develop into a high-level NBA prospect.”
 
NBL veteran, Peter Crawford, praised Siulepa recently, saying: “He’s one of the best athletes in Australia, in any sport” after coaching him in the Queensland U20 system.
 
Siulepa is a former NBA Global Academy Scholarship holder, was the MVP of the 2022 Basketball Without Borders Asia Camp and participated in the 2024 Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in Indianapolis (USA). 
 
The 2023 Basketball Queensland Male Player of the Year is currently playing for the South West Metro Pirates in NBL1 North and leads the team in points (21) and rebounds (10.7) per game. 
 
“We’ve got the utmost confidence in Roman’s talent and trajectory and believe he’ll continue to thrive in our program and in Tasmania,” Tasmania JackJumpers General Manager of Basketball Operations, Mika Vukona, said.
 
“Coach Roth and his coaches have a proven record in developing players, in our environment we believe Roman will be given a great opportunity to develop and grow his game the right way, preparing himself perfectly for the next level.”
 
The Next Stars program is a proven pathway to the NBA for young prospects across the world. Five Next Stars have been drafted directly from the NBL to the NBA - LaMelo Ball (pick 3, 2020), RJ Hampton (pick 24, 2020), Josh Giddey (pick 6, 2021), Ousmane Dieng (pick 11, 2022) and Rayan Rupert (pick 43, 2023). 
 
Alex Sarr, a Next Star with the Perth Wildcats last season, is projected as the number one pick in this month’s NBA Draft, with fellow Next Stars Bobi Klintman, AJ Johnson, Trentyn Flowers, Ariel Hukporti and Mantas Rubštavičius also in the mix to be selected.
 
The influence of the Next Stars program on the basketball world is growing, with NBA legends Carmelo Anthony (Global Ambassador) and Kenny Smith (Head of Next Stars’ Player Initiatives - North America) recently joining the program in an official capacity. 
 
Siulepa is the third confirmed Next Star for the 2024/25 season, joining fellow Australians Zikarsky (Brisbane Bullets) and Alex Toohey (Sydney Kings).