NBA scouts aplenty as Wildcats prepare for Blitz

As Perth Wildcats prepare to take on Cairns in their tournament opener on Sunday, 42 NBA scouts will on the lookout for the NBL's best emerging talent.

Twenty-six of the 30 NBA clubs will be represented at the Blitz, the most in the history of the pre-season competition.

The Wildcats arrived in Queensland on Tuesday and will play three games in a five-day period, taking on Adelaide in game two on Tuesday before finishing their campaign against New Zealand on Thursday.

Veteran Corey Webster said the tournament was a good opportunity to get ready for the NBL24 season, which kicks off against Tasmania on September 29.

"It's good be on the Gold Coast," Webster said.

"I'm looking forward to playing other teams in our league.

"We're just using this to get ready for the NBL season and jell together as a team and figure out identity early."

Perth have had a successful pre-season to date, winning four out of five hit-outs including two of three in the recently-concluded Las Vegas trip.

Athletic 216cm Frenchman Alex Sarr will no doubt be high on the NBA scouts' radars after a stunning series against the G-League Ignite.

Sarr amassed 17 points, seven rebounds and six blocks in the series opener and followed it up with 26 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks in the second game two days later to help the Wildcats split to series 1-1.

WA-bred teen Ben Henshall was another Wildcat to impress in the series.

Henshall scored 11 points and 16 points against G-League Ignite and followed up with 17 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals in a 91-64 win against Overtime Elite.

“I have belief in Ben Henshall becoming a great player. Does that happen in the next 12 months? Does it happen in the next three years? That’s what we’re starting to see," Wildcats head coach John Rillie said.

“When I first saw him play I believed in his skillset and his mentality. Now all of a sudden he’s on people’s radars which is great for him and it’s great for the Perth Wildcats.”

Wildcats' NBL Blitz fixtures

Sunday 17 September @ 1.30pm WST – Perth Wildcats v Cairns Taipans

Tuesday 19 September @ 5.30pm WST – Perth Wildcats v Adelaide 36ers

Thursday 21 September @ 5.30pm WST – Perth Wildcats v New Zealand Breakers

All games will be streamed live and free on Kayo freebies.