The NBL has landed yet another impressive NBA Draft prospect, with Australian Dash Daniels set to sign with Melbourne United. 

Daniels, the younger brother of Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, is one of the top ranked international prospects in the 2026 draft, and he knocked back interest from top Division 1 NCAA teams such as Louisville, LSU, Florida and SMU to stay in Australia. 

The youngster becomes the latest in a long line of Australians to choose the NBL over college basketball, joining the likes of Josh Giddey and Rocco Zikarsky, a former and a projected lottery pick. 

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Aussie star Dash Daniels signs with Melbourne United 

In a massive coup for the NBL, top Australian prospect Dash Daniels has spurned college basketball to join hometown team Melbourne United, reportedly turning down millions of dollars in NIL money at the collegiate level.

One of the most exciting prospects in international basketball is a Next Star 🤩 https://t.co/OfSoTHwk2U pic.twitter.com/Ny7GADmWlT

— NBL Next Stars (@NBLNextStars) December 13, 2024

Having spent the last several years at the NBA’s Global Academy in Canberra, he becomes the latest in a long line of hopeful Aussies to shoot for a spot in the NBA, aiming to replicate the success of current New York Knick and former United player Ariel Hukporti. 

“I am joining one of the toughest leagues in the world,” Daniels told ESPN of his decision to join the NBL.

“Playing against grown men at a young age will only help me develop. The Next Stars Program has proven to help lots of young stars achieve their dream of playing in the NBA, which is mine also. 

“I joined the Next Stars program for a number of reasons, but the main one being, I will be able to start my pro journey a year earlier in the NBL than If I was to go to college, as I wouldn’t be eligible until next year.”

The younger Daniels also offered some points of comparison between himself and older brother Dyson, who is in the midst of a historic defensive campaign with Atlanta. 

“We do have our similarities and differences,” he said.

“We both love playing defense, getting steals, reading what the offense is doing, being able to jump the lanes, and being in the right help positions.

“We both get out in transition, get to the midrange floater game, and are aggressive getting on the rim. I play a little bit more with the ball in my hands, create for teammates, use more on-ball screens, and beat my defender off of a quick first step.”