GPS First V basketball’s best new faces highlighted here ahead of exciting round four match-ups

It is a round that will see Churchie host Toowoomba Grammar, Brisbane Boys’ College look to keep their unbeaten 3-0 record in tact against Nudgee College, Brisbane Grammar welcome Gregory Terrace, and Brisbane State High play away against The Southport School.

Already this season the rising stars of basketball in Queensland have been out in full force and the race for the premiership as tight as ever with IGS, BBC, TSS, BGS and Churchie making up the top five.

Ladder-leaders Ipswich Grammar have unleashed four debut boys through the opening three rounds: Usai Bickey, Zyreal Santiago, Douglas Makonese and Zephaniah Teaukai.

Bickey has been running the point and has settled in nicely playing his first GPS season.

His passing ability has been eyebrow-raising and IQ just downright impressive.

Zyreal Santiago, a combo guard who loves bringing the ball up, has provided punch off the bench whenever called upon by coach Jason Ralph.

Santiago was in the squad last year while in Grade 9 and has stepped into a key role this year and has made valuable contributions during Ipswich Grammar’s game start.

Churchie have handed out three starting debuts to Aiden Ball, Samson Kent and Campbell Couch.

The trio will be eager to make up for round 2 where BGS dictated terms and beat Churchie’s First V for the first time ever.

In a small two-match sample, Kent has shown he oozes potential. A Grade 10 student, Kent brings another dimension to the side from the wing and versatility given he can play every position bar centre.

Couch, a representative hooper from the Gold Coast, has also shown plenty in little spurts.

A big game from the rangy stretch four is just around the corner.

Churchie take on a young Toowoomba Grammar outfit that has blooded seven debutants.

The list includes: Lincoln Quinlan, Austin Wilson, Marcus Franklin, Lachlan Scott, Peter Barac, Riley Lucht and Harry Young. 

In a bit of a rebuild year for the school, Lincoln Quinlan has come out firing to begin the season.

Quinlan, the starting point guard, is a highly-skilled local from up on the range and he has the tools to terrorise the competition in the years to come.

He just has to find his feet against older and bigger opponents but once he gets going, Quinlan can light it up from every level.

Speaking of lighting it up, the progression of Rockhampton product Austin Wilson has been stunning since his arrival on school grounds earlier this year.

A powerful frame inside, the young centre nicknamed ‘Aussie’ is learning how to use his size and strength to be a force down low.

Across town, BBC host a Nudgee College outfit that has blooded nine debutants: Tom Murphy, Tion Townsend, Ethan Easton, Vinny Meraveka, Ben Goggin, George Guppy, Angus Anderson, Austin Hollis and Theo Court.

From what we’ve detected so far, Easton and Meraveka have been delightful additions in a team that is sorely missing the star-power of 2024 old boys Rylan Carlisle and Tyson Warren.

Easton, whose progression would have been noted by his mates on the school’s outdoor courts during lunch break, has come on considerably in the past 12 months.

A 10As player last year, Easton is showing his worth in attack and on defence where he is doing his best to disrupt.

Meraveka, nicknamed ‘Vinny’, has also emerged from the 10As side and has thrived in a starting role so far.

His lockdown defence has been a feature, as has his consistent attack of the key to create for himself and his peers.

BBC have shot out of the blocks and are 3-0 to start their season. Debut boys Noah Stauber, Archie Howell and Jagger Tune have each been brilliant in their own right.

If the last name Tune sounds familiar that’s because it should.

Jagger’s father Ben Tune was quite frankly Queensland’s greatest ever wing.

He had explosive pace and the toughness of a middleweight boxer. Jagger is wiry like his father, and the slender, energetic debutant has been good springing off the bench for BBC.

Stauber has been a bit of an early-season sensation in the green and black, a huge piece who has poured in the points and brought down plenty of rebounds.

Last week’s 24-point performance against Nudgee College wasn’t the first, nor will it be his last, 20-bomb of the season and the consistent threat is also bringing down about 10 rebounds a game.

Coach Mike Ayanbadejo has the Gold Coast product playing everywhere and said he was playing “great team basketball” which is a great sign given Stauber is relatively new to the school.

Howell has also been important for BBC, the Mackay Mr Versatile shooting well from deep and attacking the cup with full force in his timely sprints off the bench.

Down the Gold Coast, the Brisbane State High side will have their hands full against TSS.

BSHS have handed debuts to Jaymin Green, Jayden Rodgers, Lance Amos and Alek Klaric, with Green inspiring his teammates with his work in the paint.

A monster on the glass, Green is enjoying his first year in the squad and has left an instant imprint with his ability to make the right reads and match motors with the big men of Nudgee, IGS and BBC.

Amos has also been a breath of fresh air in the First V.

A go-to option from deep, Amos possesses a smooth stroke and plenty of leadership qualities which holds him in good stead moving forward into his senior year in 2026.

“His eagerness to lead is very promising,” BSHS coach Jaeci San Jose said in praise.

While the results have not been in their favour, the green shoots are there in spades for BSHS.

Elijah Tuupo has been elevated off the bench and into a key starting role where he is a clear foundation piece of the program.

A bloke who played a sprinkle of time as a Year 8 student in 2023, Tuupo plays well above his age and is dominant in all he does.

Tuupo’s leadership characteristics have also shone through this season with the young Grade 10 student a team-first player who is more than happy to share shots around and do whatever is needed to give BSHS the best chance of winning.

They are at their best with Tuupo taking charge.

Also giving BSHS their best has been Asher San Jose, a little ripper whose value and effect is intangible.

He is not a stat-stuffer but he is an important cog in the wheel for BSHS.

For TSS, Jack Tweedy has been stuffing the stats but you knew that already.

Young gun guard Ty Khomenko, Sam Scott, Max Board, Marcus Murphy and emerging centre Tom Petrie have made their debut for TSS, with the young trio great new additions who are learning valuable lessons this season.

TSS have been spearheaded by the likes of Tweedy, Riley Oberman, Ty Lockwood, Will Pickett and Alex Walker, as well as key inclusion Ash McGrath who was sorely missed during TSS’s round 1 loss against Churchie.

The highly-skilled lefty is so important.

TSS have scored a total of 228 points in their last two games against Toowoomba Grammar and Gregory Terrace and are sizzling hot entering Saturday’s home hit out against Brisbane State High.

Neighbouring schools Brisbane Grammar and Gregory Terrace will engage in a battle for bragging rights.

Terrace The Brave have had to learn on the fly with giant centre Harry Cook an early season departure to the AIS in Canberra.

Stepping up alongside key players Denver Loli and Luca Anderson have been new faces Derek Ola and Julian Black.

Efram Wanandi, Harry Cook, Joshua Casey, Sam Stockton, Charlie Cook, Matthieu Adom and Nick Adami have all made their debuts as well.

Both Black and Ola are only in Grade 10 but have shown flashes of brilliance to ensure Gregory Terrace remain competitive in the years to come.

Black, a coachable young big learning the ropes against more experienced players, will have his hands full in the absence of big Harry Cook but oh how good that will be for his development.

The athletic Ola, a wing, is also one of the babies in the squad but he has held his own just fine in three games so far.

Physicality on defence has been a fantastic feature of the young disrupter’s game.

Brisbane Grammar have their tails up but are staying humble after dusting off the cobwebs and letting rip in wins against Churchie and TGS.

BGS coach Dan George has handed debuts to: Liam Cook, Xavier Grey, Gus Loughnan, Angus McNamara, Armaan Timblo and Jonas Kowalik.

Newcomers Loughnan and Kowalik have been particularly impressive in the infancy of the season.

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Loughnan, a tough cover, has shown plenty of potential with his moves in the post. At times, when he gets in a scoring groove, it looks like he’s barely trying.

Kowalik, one of the competition’s high flyers, has been a dunking sensation to start the year and has been unselfish and efficient.

Key piece Timblo has also been terrific, especially against Churchie when he came to life in the fourth quarter to thwart a comeback attempt.

Originally published as GPS First V basketball’s best new faces highlighted here ahead of exciting round four match-ups