Andrew Bogut has heaped praise on four Australian NBA draft hopefuls plying their trade in the NBL, backing Rocco Zikarsky, Alex Toohey, Lachlan Olbrich and Ben Henshall to all be on clubs’ radars.

Speaking to basketball.com.au, the Australian Boomers, NBA, and NBL champion shared his thoughts on the young guns’ draft potential.

Bogut pointed to Brisbane Bullets big man Zikarsky as a player who could feature in the Australian national setup for years to come.

“He's got the length, he's got the size, and he's got great touch for a big man. He can really shoot the ball and he's gotten that part of his game much better,” Bogut said.

“It's going to be an interesting one to see where he falls because you just don't know.

“That Boomers five spot is one that needs to be addressed. We've got Jock (Landale), obviously, but beyond that, we've got to find something for the long term - and I think he's the one everyone's looking at.

“I think he is going to be drafted as a development piece. I don't think he's going to be drafted and play tomorrow. It's going to take him a year or two. He needs to take his opportunities when they come, and just be ready and build his body up.”

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The Sydney Kings part-owner and assistant coach said his team's Next Star, Toohey, was perhaps the most ‘draft-ready’ of the group.

“He's ready to play NBA basketball right away, I think, depending on where he goes,” Bogut said.

“I think he'll probably be going to a decent team as well, and he could definitely provide some minutes - especially at the defensive end—because he's long, he's athletic enough to guard some of those tricky guards and just put some length on them. And his three ball's improved.”

The forward averaged 10.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game across NBL25.

“I think he's probably the most NBA-ready right now to play a small role.”

Alex Toohey.

Illawarra Hawks young gun Lachlan Olbrich is another player in the Draft mix, after a campaign where he averaged 8.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

“I love his game,” Bogut said.

“I think he was integral in that championship series when Froling went out. He really kind of changed the way they played a little bit. He can handle the ball on the perimeter, he can bring the ball up. Will he be drafted? I think it's a coin flip.

“The good thing is, these days you don't have to be drafted to make the NBA, as we've seen with numerous guys. You can go and ply your trade overseas, get your game better in a year or two, and then re-address the NBA path a couple of years down the line.”

Lachlan Olbrich.

Bogut was equally complimentary of Wildcats star Ben Henshall, who averaged 9.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in his most recent campaign.

“I like his game, I like his motor—he's got some grit to him and he's got some fight in him. That’s what I like about him,” Bogut added.

“Does he get drafted? I don't know, I don't think so. I think he's probably in the same boat as Lachlan Olbrich—late second round at best, probably undrafted and goes the Summer League route.

“He's got potential to be a future Boomer and be part of that program for a long, long time.”

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