Photo: Illawarra Hawks Media

Illawarra Hawks NBL Next Star AJ Johnson is set to play at the Hungry Jack's NBL Blitz, after overcoming a broken nose.

Johnson suffered the injury in mid-August but has returned from surgery and is training with the squad while wearing a protective mask.

The 18-year-old NBA draft prospect will hit at the court at the Blitz, where over 40 NBA scouts from nearly all 30 teams will be in attendance.

"I think AJ's feeling good... he'll be playing at the Blitz," coach Jacob Jackomas said via the Illawarra Mercury.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hawks are headed to the GC ?<br> <br>There’s one week to go until the Illawarra Hawks tip off for the NBL Blitz. <br> <br>Catch all the games live and free on Kayo Freebies ? <a href="https://t.co/O7rKEu373d">https://t.co/O7rKEu373d</a><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeRiseTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeRiseTogether</a> <a href="https://t.co/usjyoEFSvZ">pic.twitter.com/usjyoEFSvZ</a></p>&mdash; Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1701101922969883047?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"He's obviously missed a lot of practise and it doesn't matter who you are, you need practise. But he's come back out of this thing a lot more confident by watching, so we're happy with him."

While Johnson is confirmed to play at the Blitz, the Mercury reports import guard Justin Robinson “remains in doubt due to a leg complaint”.

Illawarra’s NBL Blitz campaign begins on Monday night against Melbourne United at 5pm AEST, live and free on Kayo Freebies.