![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/6539ad7a3255dc36ba943859_NEXT_STARTS_PLAYER_PROFILE_HEADER_IMAGE_HUKPORTI.jpg)
Ariel
Hukporti
Ariel
Hukporti
Ariel
Hukporti
Ariel
Hukporti
Bio
#
UPDATE: Hukporti has the chance to live his NBA dream, after being selected with the final pick at the 2024 NBA Draft and heading to the New York Knicks.
Ariel Hukporti entered the NBL24 season as the only known quantity in this class of Next Stars, but put his severe Achilles injury behind him to explode onto the scene.
The German-Togolese centre utilised his time on the sidelines last season to become the physically strongest player on Melbourne's roster, and formed an intimidating partnership at the center position with Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
Photos: Getty Images
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/654c0b2da0af554a5c8463f5_hukpoorti.jpg)
#
Videos
![INSIDE NBL24: WE GOT NEXT (Episode 6)](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/661f12e0a2fe0a147b02ca75_doco.webp)
INSIDE NBL24: WE GOT NEXT (Episode 6)
1h 20 mins
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans
![Kenny Smith named head of Next Stars' player initiatives - North America](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/660f23be0a90553acfafcdbf_KennySmith_NextStars_16x9.jpg)
Kenny Smith named head of Next Stars' player initiatives - North America
1m 28 secs
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans
![INSIDE NBL24: WE GOT NEXT (Episode 5)](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/65e784b8b6d5ce0ac5ca4405_next.jpeg)
INSIDE NBL24: WE GOT NEXT (Episode 5)
28m 1 sec
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans
![Next Star Highlights - Round 20, NBL24](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/65d441e9624480ab4203152c_klintman.jpg)
Next Star Highlights - Round 20, NBL24
9m 46 secs
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans
![Next Stars Highlights - Round 19, NBL24](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/65cd3b71ca83a1715c5dbbbe_sarr2.jpeg)
Next Stars Highlights - Round 19, NBL24
6m 35 secs
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans
![Next Stars Highlights - Round 18, NBL24](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/65c1531aae9fd0329d7f536b_maxresdefault.webp)
Next Stars Highlights - Round 18, NBL24
2m 42 secs
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans
![Next Stars Highlights - Round 17, NBL24](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/65b733625d4a71f80d7c5fd4_sarr.webp)
Next Stars Highlights - Round 17, NBL24
4m 50 secs
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans
![Next Stars Highlights - Round 16, NBL24](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/65af12d71fbb5f93cd3f5c73_maxresdefault.jpeg)
Next Stars Highlights - Round 16, NBL24
4m 57 secs
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans
![INSIDE NBL24: WE GOT NEXT (Episode 4)](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/65adccf9c540d90e871d127f_next.jpg)
INSIDE NBL24: WE GOT NEXT (Episode 4)
28m 1 sec
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans
![Next Stars Highlights - Round 14, NBL24](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/65a657a88ece87037ecc3e38_round14.webp)
Next Stars Highlights - Round 14, NBL24
6m 59 secs
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans
![Next Stars Highlights - Round 15, NBL24](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/65a6572cbc6a37d77c422f08_15.jpeg)
Next Stars Highlights - Round 15, NBL24
5m 55 secs
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans
![Next Stars Highlights - Round 13, NBL24](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/65936e6b6f4603777a5c6375_next.webp)
Next Stars Highlights - Round 13, NBL24
5m 46 secs
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans
![Next Stars Highlights - Round 11, NBL24](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/658200452a8d3687d7bef7db_rubsta.jpg)
Next Stars Highlights - Round 11, NBL24
8m 30 secs
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans
![Next Stars Highlights - Round 10, NBL24](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/6581ffb25d04bf9edfe42714_round10.jpg)
Next Stars Highlights - Round 10, NBL24
9m 15 secs
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans
![Next Stars Highlights - Round 9, NBL24](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/6581fc840b7205cf4bfd18a1_mantas2.jpg)
Next Stars Highlights - Round 9, NBL24
7m 18 secs
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans
![INSIDE NBL24: WE GOT NEXT (Episode 3)](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/6581febe931384c20b89443e_doco.jpg)
INSIDE NBL24: WE GOT NEXT (Episode 3)
28m 0 secs
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
![Next Stars Highlights - Round 8, NBL24](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/655b08eb800621546a3c7313_flowers.jpg)
Next Stars Highlights - Round 8, NBL24
5m 52 secs
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans
![Next Stars Highlights - Round 7, NBL24](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/6552170aade809d4930ff112_flowers.jpg)
Next Stars Highlights - Round 7, NBL24
2m 3 secs
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans
![INSIDE NBL24: WE GOT NEXT (Episode 2)](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/6544d3c0b72afc64022cce2d_next.jpg)
INSIDE NBL24: WE GOT NEXT (Episode 2)
28m 0 secs
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
Mantas Rubstavicius
New Zealand Breakers
![NBL Next Star Ariel Hukporti top NBL plays - Rounds 1-4, NBL24](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/6544d1232e052ccc1f66aecc_hukport-1-4.jpg)
NBL Next Star Ariel Hukporti top NBL plays - Rounds 1-4, NBL24
2m 58 secs
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
![INSIDE NBL24: WE GOT NEXT (Episode 1)](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/65437cc5dee9bc89638393cd_next.jpeg)
INSIDE NBL24: WE GOT NEXT (Episode 1)
28m 1 secs
AJ Johnson
Illawarra Hawks
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings
Mantas Rubstavicius
New Zealand Breakers
Alexandre Sarr
Perth Wildcats
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
![Introducing The NBL's Next Stars: Ariel Hukporti](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/65437bf1b72a65987917c2e4_hukporti.webp)
Introducing The NBL's Next Stars: Ariel Hukporti
4m 33 secs
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
![Getting My Reps In - Ariel Hukporti Press Conference (August 24, 2023)](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87fbd_hukporti.webp)
Getting My Reps In - Ariel Hukporti Press Conference (August 24, 2023)
2m 11 secs
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
![United Sign Ariel Hukporti as Next Star](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e1c/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87ed7_hukporti.webp)
United Sign Ariel Hukporti as Next Star
4m 31 secs
Ariel Hukporti
Melbourne United
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6504fd1a7b1030f859a87e42/65270903a1ddb65cfb258c62_3_VIDEOS_BACKGROUND_COMP.jpg)
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