Rising NBL Next Star Dash Daniels recently made the decision to withdraw from the 2026 NBA Draft and return for the Hungry Jack\u2019s 2026-27 campaign.<\/p>\n
The decision by Daniels, who is the younger brother of Atlanta Hawks star Dyson, comes after the 18-year-old wanted to concentrate on improving his game before making the potential jump to the United States.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a decision that is backed by Next Stars Program GM Liam Santamaria.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it’s a good decision,\u201d Santamaria said on the recent NBL Next Stars Update Show.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m super-high on Dash, and this is why I was so excited to bring him into the program.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had a chance to be like the youngest guy in this 2026 Draft [if he declared].<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had such a great start to the year last year, and he showed a lot throughout it.<\/p>\n
\u201c[Both] he and his camp feel like he could show more, and a second year in the program is going to give him the opportunity to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
On countless occasions, both in a Melbourne United uniform or while playing for Australia, Daniels has shown his defensive exploits.<\/p>\n
But a second season, Santamaria says, will allow the Bendigo talent to focus on his ever-improving offensive game.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know he’s either the or one of the top perimeter defenders in the world for his age,\u201d Santamaria said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look at his trajectory towards the NBA, and those teams have a great feeling that he’s going to be able to come in and defend at a high level, even as a first or second-year player in the NBA.<\/p>\n
\u201c[The question is] can he show a little bit more of his offensive game?<\/p>\n
\u201cI love when he gets into the lane and gets to his float game. I love it when he shoots the ball with confidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThink about that game against the [New Orleans] Pelicans, and he had that one-foot fadeaway. He had his juices flowing there at one point.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s the idea for him, so now he is resetting his focus on the 2027 Draft and going to try and put himself in a position to show more and prove to be that first round pick next year that he has the potential to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
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