Hill Confident in Select Team’s Unity Ahead of 36ers Showdown

NBL1 South 2025 Men's Coach of the Year Richard Hill believes unselfishness will be the key ingredient as his Select Team prepares to face the Adelaide 36ers in Mount Gambier on Thursday night.

The 12-player squad, featuring a blend of proven veterans, imports, and rising talent, will step onto the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre floor in what shapes as a highlight of the pre-season calendar.

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“Unselfishness has always been my first priority when assembling a team,” Hill said. “In the environment that we face on Thursday night this quality will be paramount. Having talented players who are willing to share and connect with each other to form a team in such a small time window is difficult. I was extremely pleased how quickly these guys came together in training on the weekend.”

The Select Team includes seven current NBL training players, with five already having featured in pre-season games. Rising stars Christian D’Angelo (Nunawading) and Luke Rosendale (Ballarat) join seasoned contributors such as Lachlan Barker (North West Tasmania) and imports Joshua Sykes (Eltham) and Jonathon Lawton (Ringwood) in a roster that reflects the depth of NBL1 South.

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For Hill, the clash is about more than just one game — it’s a snapshot of NBL1’s role in shaping future NBL talent.

“The NBL1 South conference is a tremendously tough competition with 19 high level teams all capable of beating each other on any given day,” he said. “Our pathway has proven very successful over time with many young stars graduating to the NBL. Michael Harris is an example of this as he returns home on Thursday night with Adelaide. There are too many more to mention.”

That pathway is underscored by the numbers: beyond the Select Team roster, a further 22 NBL1 South players are currently part of NBL squads, highlighting the competition’s status as the league’s most fertile recruiting ground.

The Select Team will be led by Hill, assisted by Zach Moult (Kilsyth) and Brent Reid (Geelong United), with the contest set to draw a packed crowd in Mount Gambier.

The game tips off at 7:30pm ACST (8:00pm AEST), promising fans a spectacle that connects NBL1’s best with one of the NBL’s most storied clubs.