Revision as of 13:56, 20 September 2024 edit Sushidude21! (talk \| contribs) Extended confirmed users 620 edits No edit summary Tags: Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit ← Previous edit		Revision as of 17:14, 23 September 2024 edit undo DaHuzyBru (talk \| contribs) Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers 114,617 edits clean up, re-do Next edit →
Line 14: \| height_cm = 220 \| weight_kg = 103 \| high_school = [[Brisbane Grammar School]]<br>([[Brisbane]], Queensland) \| draft_year = \| draft_round = Line 21: \| career_start = 2023 \| years1 = 2023 \| team1 = [[Australian Institute of Sport#Basketball program\|BA Centre of Excellence]] \| years2 = 2023–present \| team2 = [[Brisbane Bullets]] Line 28: '''Rocco Zikarsky''' (born 11 July 2006)<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Rocco Zikarsky - Player Profile \|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/en/player/314338/Rocco-Zikarsky \|access-date=2024-07-04 \|website=FIBA \|language=en}}</ref> is an Australian professional [[basketball]] player for the [[Brisbane Bullets]] of the [[National Basketball League (Australia)\|National Basketball League]] (NBL). Standing at 7'3" (220 cm), he is widely regarded as one of the most promising young talents in Australian basketball.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web \|title=Rocco Zikarsky \|url=https://nbl.com.au/player/3709/2076311/Rocco-Zikarsky \|access-date=30 June 2024 \|website=National Basketball League {{!}} NBL Australia {{!}} Australia's Basketball League}}</ref> == Early ~~Life~~life and ~~Education~~ career== Zikarsky, ~~the~~was ~~son~~born ofon the [[~~Germany\|German~~Sunshine Coast, Queensland]],<ref name=sportingnews>{{cite news \|title=Who is Rocco Zikarsky? Seven-foot-three rookie set to make NBL debut for Brisbane Bullets {{!}} Sporting News Australia \|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/basketball/news/who-rocco-zikarsky-rookie-nbl-debut-brisbane-bullets/e4e2ae189af040747ff0737f \|access-date=23 September 2024 \|work=www.sportingnews.com \|date=16 September 2023 \|language=en-au}}</ref> to German Olympic medal-winning swimmer [[Björn Zikarsky]],<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Seven-foot-tall teen's big dreams to join NBA \|url=https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/giant-aussie-teens-over-seven-foot-tall-still-growing-nba-dream/80ffcc6b-2337-48f4-9758-f6143074f87a \|access-date=2024-07-04 \|website=9now.nine.com.au \|language=en-AU}}</ref> ~~was born~~ and ~~raised~~Australian onchampion ~~the~~ironwoman ~~[[Sunshine~~Kylie ~~Coast, Queensland]], Australia~~Zikarsky.<ref ~~From~~name="sportingnews" ~~an early age, his towering height and natural athleticism drew attention.~~/> He excelled in Queensland representative teams and was a standout player at the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, an elite training center for top basketball prospects.<ref name=":0" /> He attended [[Brisbane Grammar School]] throughout his early teenage years.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Inside life of 219cm teen basketball rising star Rocco Zikarsky \|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/north/inside-life-of-219cm-teen-basketball-rising-star-rocco-zikarsky/news-story/181b76b524e0e46af4c4feeede9e78c4 \|access-date=2024-09-14 \|website=couriermail.com.au \|language=en-AU}}</ref> In 2023, Zikarsky played for the [[Australian Institute of Sport#Basketball program\|BA Centre of Excellence]] in the [[NBL1 East]], averaging 9.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in seven games.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Rocco Zikarsky, Basketball Player, News, Stats - australiabasket \|url=https://basketball.australiabasket.com/player/Rocco-Zikarsky/653715 \|website=Eurobasket LLC \|access-date=23 September 2024 \|url-access=subscription}}</ref> == Amateur career ==▼ Zikarsky gained significant attention while playing for the Centre of Excellence in the NBL1 East during the 2023 season. His performances there, combined with his work at the NBA Global Academy, solidified his reputation as one of Australia's most promising young big men. ▲== ~~Amateur~~Professional career == In April 2024, he led Australia to victory at the [[DBB Albert Schweitzer Tournament\|Albert Schweitzer-Tournament]], earning MVP honors. He averaged 18.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game on 73.1% shooting, showcasing his dominance and potential on the international stage.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=G \|first=Ayush \|date=19 April 2024 \|title=Could Rocco Zikarsky break out in NBL25 and become Australia's next NBA big? \|url=https://pickandroll.com.au/p/could-rocco-zikarsky-break-out-in \|access-date=30 June 2024 \|website=pickandroll.com.au }}</ref>▼ ~~== Professional career ==~~ At the age of 16, Zikarsky joined the NBL Next Stars program, a pathway designed to develop elite young talent. He signed a two-year deal with the [[Brisbane Bullets]], becoming the youngest player in the program's history.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Introducing The NBL’s Next Stars: Rocco Zikarsky \|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/introducing-the-nbls-next-stars-rocco-zikarsky \|access-date=2024-08-22 \|website=National Basketball League {{!}} NBL Australia {{!}} Australia's Basketball League}}</ref> In his preseason debut, Zikarsky recorded 23 points, eight rebounds, and six blocks in just 20 minutes against [[California Baptist Lancers men's basketball\|California Baptist]].<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Positive start in Bullets first pre-season game \|url=https://www.brisbanebullets.com.au/news/positive-start-in-bullets-first-pre-season-game \|access-date=2024-08-22 \|website=Brisbane Bullets {{!}} Official NBL Website}}</ref> Line 43 ⟶ 40: Zikarsky is considered one of the top prospects for the 2025 NBA draft.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Uluc \|first=Olgun \|date=22 May 2024 \|title=Zikarsky, Toohey to get Boomers minutes in Japan \|url=https://www.espn.com.au/nbl/story/_/id/40193396/nbl-rocco-zikarsky-alex-toohey-get-australia-boomers-minutes-japan \|access-date=30 June 2024 \|website=ESPN.com }}</ref> ==National ~~International~~team career == ▲In ~~April~~2022, Zikarsky played for Australia at the [[2022 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship\|FIBA U16 Asian Championship]] and the [[2022 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup\|FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup]].<ref name=fiba>{{cite web \|title=Rocco Zikarsky - Player Profile \|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/en/player/314338/Rocco-Zikarsky \|website=FIBA.basketball \|access-date=23 September 2024 \|language=en}}</ref> In 2024, he led Australia to victory at the [[DBB Albert Schweitzer Tournament\|Albert Schweitzer-Tournament]], earning MVP ~~honors~~honours. He averaged 18.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game on 73.1% shooting~~, showcasing his dominance and potential on the international stage~~.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=G \|first=Ayush \|date=19 April 2024 \|title=Could Rocco Zikarsky break out in NBL25 and become Australia's next NBA big? \|url=https://pickandroll.com.au/p/could-rocco-zikarsky-break-out-in \|access-date=30 June 2024 \|website=pickandroll.com.au }}</ref> ~~{{unsourced section\|date=July 2024}}~~ In addition to his success at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament, Zikarsky was selected to headline the Australian Boomers team for a series against Japan in June 2024. Alongside fellow NBL Next Star Alex Toohey, he represented Australia's emerging talent in the Nissay Cup. Zikarsky debuted for the [[Australia men's national basketball team\|Australian Boomers]] during the [[2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualification\|FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers]].<ref name="fiba" /> == References ==

Rocco Zikarsky: Difference between revisions