Hayes-Brown and Eales riding with Dandenong for 2021 NBL1 South season

Oliver Hayes-Brown and Lawson Eales are on board with the Dandenong Rangers for the 2021 NBL1 South season.

This marks the return to Australia for Hayes-Brown after a college season with NCAA Division I program UC Riverside while Eales is making a further transition from Youth League to the NBL1 competition.

For Hayes-Brown, the chance to play basketball back in Victoria and with the Rangers is something he jumped at, as he looks to utilise the skills learned with UC Riverside in Dandenong after a solid freshman year.

Helping the team make the Big West Conference title game and playing in 20 total games, Hayes-Brown looks notably stronger with an impressive mullet that will make him a fan favourite at Dandenong Stadium.

"I started playing for the Rangers in Youth League so I feel a great sense of connection to DBA," Hayes-Brown said.

"Being a Ranger gives me the opportunity to work with Darren Perry, who is an outstanding coach, and who I have a long relationship with.

"It also gives me the opportunity to play with past teammates from the Victorian state teams I’ve played with over many years.

"I have always played basketball in Victoria so coming back from college in the US and being able to play semi-pro for a team in Victoria is very exciting.

"I love the style of basketball that the NBL1 has, it’s very team-oriented and allows people to get opportunities each game."

A man with a similarly interesting haircut is Hayes-Brown’s Youth League and now-NBL1 teammate Eales, sporting a famous blonde middle-part that recalls 90s boy bands of years past.

But Rangers Youth League fans know that Eales is a fierce competitor on the court, often making opponents sing Bye, Bye, Bye with his strong-bodied defence and smart playmaking.

Having progressed through every level of Rangers basketball from juniors to NBL1, Eales is a true Dandenong success story.

He similarly cannot wait to be back playing regular elite basketball again, itching to get back on the court after last year’s COVID-19 interruption.

"We’ve all had a year off due to COVID-19, so obviously to be able to come out this year and for the competition to start as normal is really exciting," Eales said.

"I’m keen just to be back on the court again playing competitive basketball, especially at a high level.

"Dandenong is the only club I’ve ever played for, coming up through juniors and youth and now playing NBL1 it feels really special.

"It’s basically like a second home for me."