Archie Woodhill set for a major 2023 season

Sydney Kings development player Archie Woodhill has a major NBL1 season around the corner. 

Currently a part of the Sydney Kings’ attempt to repeat as NBL champions, afterwards Woodhill will join the inaugural NBL1 East Sydney Comets – with their season starting on March 11. 

Woodhill played for the Sutherland Sharks last season, where he averaged 14 points and 6.4 rebounds for the Semi-Finalists last season. Now with the Comets, Woodhill is going to be one of the key pieces to a brand new team and thinks this is an opportunity to take the next step. 

“So I think I've had to like look at myself and go ‘this is really an opportunity for me to play amongst that group’ and really show how well I can play,” he said. 

He explained that the brain trust the Kings and the Comets have collected has been extremely valuable to his development. The Comets’ CEO Ben Madgen alongside Andrew Bogut, Luc Longley and the Kings’ coaching staff has been a dream situation for the 21-year-old. 

“In my first year Luc Longley took me and Jaylin Galloway out to lunch when we were in the Blitz down at Melbourne, which was just unbelievable for me,” Woodhill explained.

“Obviously the whole [Michael] Jordan story and stuff like that, and I've been in interviews with him at the AIS and stuff and have been too shy to talk – and then all of a sudden, I'm having lunch with the guy.” 

“It’s just amazing to be able to just be there with him and learn from him. But yeah, Bogut then Magden, even Daniel Kicks and Kevin Lisch. It's just amazing that the Kings have had the put that all together and it's yeah, it's like nothing else.”

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Described as the glue of the team, assistant coach Fleur McIntyre has been praised repeatedly for her development with the younger player on the team. 

Woodhill explained she has been instrumental in his development this season.

Yeah, Fleur has been amazing. She's like the mother of the group. She talks a lot of smack and has a lot of banter with a couple of players, but she's awesome,” he said. 

“She's definitely someone I go to for advice and every scrimmage She's always telling me like what to do and what I could have done better here. So she's, yeah, she's very smart. And it's amazing to have her wisdom on the team for sure.” 

With an inside perspective, Woodhill gave his picks for the major X-factors going into the Championship Series. 

“I have to look at Kouat Noi and Xavier Cooks would be my two key factors for this series,” he said.

“And then has to be Justin Simon, the defensive menace. You know, if he plays well, we will win.” 

Coming off an 18-point performance in game 1, can the Kings even the series in New Zealand? 

Catch Game 2 of the Championship Series live and free on ESPN via Kayo Freebies, 10 Peach and 10 play on Sunday at 4pm AEDT. Live on SkySport and Prime in New Zealand.