Mills backs young Wildcats duo to take next step in NBL25

Home-grown pair Ben Henshall and David Okwera averaged 6.1 and 5.5 minutes respectively in their debut seasons at the club last year.

Henshall - who scored a game-high 24 points in his first taste of NBL action against South East Melbourne in October - had to contend with fellow guards Bryce Cotton, Tai and Corey Webster and Michael Harris for court time, while Okwera had big men Keanu Pinder and Alex Sarr ahead of him in the pecking order.

NBL24 SEASON REVIEWS

• Ben Henshall
• David Okwera

Both are lighting it up in the off-season with Henshall playing for Otago in the New Zealand Basketball League where he’s among the favourites to win the competition’s Youth Player of the Year award.

Former Melbourne United player Okwera has remained in WA this winter, playing locally for East Perth in the NBL1 West where he’s posted four double-doubles in as many minutes.

With Corey Webster and Sarr both departing at season's end, it could open up more minutes for both Henshall and Okwera. 

“As well as adding pieces teams need to internally develop with guys returning,” Mills told SEN WA’s The Run Home with Hase and Marto.

“Dave the opportunities didn’t come last season with the depth we had up front, but that’s what we need.

“We have so much confidence in his ability and that’s why we signed him here, and him having a stable off-season staying in Perth, lifting every day, and getting a lot of reps and being a high usage player in NBL1 is going to show dividends when we get into training camp.

“We’re expecting him to fully have opportunities to crack the rotation.

“Ben is playing fantastic right now in New Zealand and the plan and development for him was coming in as a rookie and getting a taste of professional basketball at this level, and then having a huge off-season where he’s in a high usage on-ball role, where he’s getting a lot of shots and able to play 35-plus minutes.

“I don’t think it’s a surprise to any of us, but people in New Zealand are a bit shocked a 19-year-old Australian is playing that well in their league, but it’s great development for him and it will give him great confidence to come in next season with a huge role.

“There are a lot of minutes to be played, and if you look at our roster he’s going to have a chance to be in our rotation from day one. We’re excited to see what he can produce next year.”

After the addition of Australian-born college guard Elijah Pepper, the Wildcats still have one more import spot remaining and a Next Star to replace NBA-bound teen Sarr on their NBL25 roster.