Several NBA teams sent scouts this week to watch 2027 draft prospect Dash Daniels at the NBL Blitz, the annual preseason showcase for Australia’s National Basketball League.

Daniels’ team, the South East Melbourne Phoenix, was one of two teams to go 2-0 during the event, with the 18-year-old guard averaging 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.0 assists in 22.2 minutes per game.

However, Daniels’ former club, Melbourne United, ended up claiming the Loggins-Bruton Cup after earning more points by winning more quarters (Twitter link). Former Cavaliers forward Luke Travers, who averaged 18.0 PPG, 9.5 RPG and 2.5 APG, was named MVP, tweets Olgun Uluc of ESPN. 

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

• Former G League Ignite, Mexico City Capitanes and Westchester Knicks guard Dink Pate is seeking NCAA eligibility to play for Providence in 2026/27 after signing an Exhibit 10 contract with New York last fall to earn a bonus for playing for Westchester. As Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe writes in a subscriber-only story, Pate went the NBAGL route from high school before name, image and likeness deals were implemented in college, is still only 20 years old, had never attended college until now, and reportedly declined multiple 10-day and two-way contract offers last season with an eye on playing college basketball during the upcoming season.
• Pate’s agent, Sam Permut, believes his client has a very strong case to be awarded eligibility, according to Washburn. For now, Pate is enjoying his time as a student as he awaits the NCAA’s decision. “College was one of the main things I was missing,” Pate told the Globe. “I had to learn how to be independent while being in that grown [G League] world with a lot of my teammates [who] were 30-year-olds and they had kids and they have wives. I’m the young buck on the team. Now I have a different type of life, me and my teammates chill and talk to each other. That was something I didn’t have. I haven’t been to college at all. I’ve had to adjust to having four classes on a Monday and having a two-hour practice. I feel at home here.”
• Former Hornets guard Amari Bailey has agreed to a multiyear contract with Hapoel Jerusalem, reports Tomer Givati of Israel Hayom (story in Hebrew). However, Bailey won’t suit up for Hapoel Jerusalem in 2026/27 — he’ll instead spend the season on loan with Hapoel Be’er Sheva. Bailey, a former second-round pick who played one year of college ball at UCLA, attempted to return to the college ranks in ’26/27, but decided to continue his career overseas after he became convinced he had no path back to the NCAA, Givati explains.