BIO: Justin Cass was born in Ballarat (VIC) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Ballarat basketball program.
Justin Cass made his NBL debut with the Hobart Devils at 20 years of age. He scored six points in his first game.
As a rookie, Cass averaged 11.7 points, 4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists as the Devils finished with a record of 8-18.
1991
In 1991, Cass averaged 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, playing a key role in the Devils rotation, helping the team finish in third place (8-18).
1992
The 1992 season saw Cass average 5.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists and help Hobart finish the regular season with a 9-15 record.
1993
After a challenging season with Cal Bruton serving as both player and coach, the Hobart Devils shifted direction in 1993, opting not to renew Bruton’s contract. Alongside Bruton, the team parted ways with import standout Joe Hurst and veteran Shane Froling, while promising young big man David Stiff departed to play college basketball at Boston College.
Despite these notable exits, the Devils retained a core group featuring prolific scorer Wayne McDaniel, versatile forward Andrew Svaldenis, import guard Donald Whiteside, sharpshooter David Close, rising second-year guard Anthony Stewart, and key rotation player Justin Cass. Cass emerged as a steady backcourt presence across the season, providing important depth and energy for a team struggling to stay afloat against the league’s stronger lineups.
The Devils’ season was defined by inconsistency and mounting injury challenges, as key players like McDaniel and Close missed stretches of games. Mike Kelly was brought in as an injury replacement and quickly made an impact, averaging (19.5 points, 9 rebounds, 2.5 steals) over two appearances. Cass, meanwhile, provided reliable support, averaging (7.5 points, 3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals) across 26 games and delivering several standout performances that showcased his growing role.
Among Cass’s best outings was his explosive 25-point effort against Townsville on June 11, where he shot an efficient 9-of-12 from the field and nailed 2-of-2 from long range while adding 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal. Earlier, on June 4 against Melbourne, he tallied 14 points (7-of-12 FG) with a steal and a block in an aggressive showing. On May 21 against North Melbourne, Cass delivered 13 points (5-of-7 FG, 2-of-2 FT), 5 assists, and 2 steals, while on May 14, he put up another 13-point, 3-assist performance against the Giants, proving his consistency off the bench. Cass also had a strong finish to the season, recording 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists against Townsville on September 11, and adding 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal against Wollongong on August 13.
Despite flashes of brilliance from Cass, Whiteside (15.2 points, 5.6 assists, 2.5 steals), McDaniel (20.2 points, 8.9 rebounds), Svaldenis (15.6 points, 9.2 rebounds), Close (13.2 points, 2.9 assists), and Stewart (11 points, 3.7 assists), the Devils ultimately finished with a disappointing 6–20 record, landing in 13th place. Limited depth, injury setbacks, and tough matchups against the league’s top teams hampered Hobart’s efforts to rise up the ladder.
GEELONG SUPERCATS
1994
After moving to Geelong, Cass averaged 3.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists and was a part of the Supercats squad which finished in a first place with a record of 7-19.
1995
In 1995, the Geelong Supercats parted ways with imports Everette Stephens and Daren Rowe, as well as veterans Vince Hinchen and Ray Borner (who joined Canberra), opting to inject the team with new energy and younger personnel.
Head coach Jim Calvin, in his third year at the helm, overhauled the roster by adding exciting imports Joey Wright and Jeff Arnold, alongside local pickups Andrew Svaldenis (from Adelaide) and David Graham (from South East Melbourne). The club retained key contributors from the previous campaign, including experienced forward Cecil Exum, athletic guard Simon Kerle, Jason Joynes, and utility wing Justin Cass. Despite optimism surrounding the revamped roster, Geelong closed the year at 9–17 and outside the playoff bracket.
The year began with a 102–112 home defeat to Canberra where Jeff Arnold (35 points and 12 rebounds) and Fred Cofield of the Cannons (39 points, 11-of-12 FT) led the scoring in a high-octane opener.
Geelong responded strongly with wins over Adelaide (117–93), Townsville (87–85), and Gold Coast (116–106) to reach 3–1, but their early momentum soon stalled. A run of mid-season losses saw the Supercats drop out of the playoff race.
Joey Wright (22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists) and Jeff Arnold (19.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.0 block) were key offensive weapons, supported by Simon Kerle (18.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists), David Graham (15.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists), Andrew Svaldenis (10.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists), and veteran forward Cecil Exum (10.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 steals). Justin Cass (6.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists) played in all 26 games, adding stability off the bench. In the final game of the season—a 103–129 loss to South East Melbourne—Cass chipped in with 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block. Joey Wright top-scored for Geelong with 39, while the Magic were led by Adonis Jordan’s 27.
Justin Cass (6.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists) played a consistent role off the bench, bringing hustle and adaptability across all 26 regular season outings. Geelong ended the season at 9–17, falling short of finals contention for the third straight year under Calvin, but with a more youthful and committed group that featured several players stepping into bigger roles.
Justin Cass played six seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Hobart Devils and the Geelong Supercats. He averaged 7.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 153 NBL games.
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 26 | Geelong | 9-17 (12) | 26 | 678.0 | 176 | 92 | 44 | 40 | 52 | 20 | 13 | 15 | 43 | 64 | 172 | 37% | 28 | 80 | 35% | 20 | 24 | 83% | 48% | 45% | 30 |
| 1994 | 25 | Geelong | 7-19 (11) | 25 | 395.0 | 75 | 65 | 29 | 23 | 42 | 23 | 7 | 10 | 33 | 32 | 83 | 39% | 9 | 31 | 29% | 2 | 4 | 50% | 44% | 44% | 8 |
| 1993 | 24 | Hobart | 6-20 (13) | 26 | 767.0 | 194 | 79 | 59 | 20 | 59 | 35 | 6 | 32 | 50 | 76 | 172 | 44% | 16 | 44 | 36% | 26 | 34 | 76% | 52% | 49% | 25 |
| 1992 | 23 | Hobart | 9-15 (11) | 24 | 531.0 | 134 | 43 | 38 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 2 | 20 | 42 | 58 | 147 | 39% | 12 | 39 | 31% | 6 | 7 | 86% | 45% | 44% | 13 |
| 1991 | 22 | Hobart | 8-18 (13) | 26 | 871.0 | 222 | 94 | 75 | 34 | 60 | 28 | 9 | 40 | 89 | 84 | 175 | 48% | 27 | 60 | 45% | 27 | 36 | 75% | 58% | 56% | 22 |
| 1990 | 20 | Hobart | 8-18 (12) | 26 | 1,043.0 | 305 | 104 | 127 | 52 | 52 | 40 | 7 | 57 | 80 | 129 | 263 | 49% | 15 | 42 | 36% | 32 | 42 | 76% | 54% | 52% | 26 | Totals | 153 | 4285 | 1106 | 477 | 372 | 190 | 287 | 168 | 44 | 174 | 337 | 443 | 1012 | 43.8% | 107 | 296 | 36.1% | 113 | 147 | 76.9% | 51% | 49% | 30 |
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 26 | Geelong | 9-17 (12) | 26 | 26.1 | 6.8 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 6.6 | 37% | 1.1 | 3.1 | 35% | 0.8 | 0.9 | 83% | 48% | 45% | 30 |
| 1994 | 25 | Geelong | 7-19 (11) | 25 | 15.8 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 39% | 0.4 | 1.2 | 29% | 0.1 | 0.2 | 50% | 44% | 44% | 8 |
| 1993 | 24 | Hobart | 6-20 (13) | 26 | 29.5 | 7.5 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 6.6 | 44% | 0.6 | 1.7 | 36% | 1.0 | 1.3 | 76% | 52% | 49% | 25 |
| 1992 | 23 | Hobart | 9-15 (11) | 24 | 22.1 | 5.6 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 6.1 | 39% | 0.5 | 1.6 | 31% | 0.3 | 0.3 | 86% | 45% | 44% | 13 |
| 1991 | 22 | Hobart | 8-18 (13) | 26 | 33.5 | 8.5 | 3.6 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 6.7 | 48% | 1.0 | 2.3 | 45% | 1.0 | 1.4 | 75% | 58% | 56% | 22 |
| 1990 | 20 | Hobart | 8-18 (12) | 26 | 40.1 | 11.7 | 4.0 | 4.9 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 3.1 | 5.0 | 10.1 | 49% | 0.6 | 1.6 | 36% | 1.2 | 1.6 | 76% | 54% | 52% | 26 | Total | 153 | 28.0 | 7.2 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 6.6 | 43.8% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 36.1% | 0.7 | 1.9 | 76.9% | 51% | 49% | 30 |
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 30 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
|---|
- NBL Rookie Of The Year (1990)
Whilst we try to source as much information as we can for every player who has ever played in the NBL some information on a player profile may be missing. If you have additional information on a player you'd like us to add to a profile, please send it to us using the enquiry form below.
Submissions are then sent to info@aussiehoopla.com
The conversation around NBL expansion has intensified in recent years, with the league publicly confirming discussions with potential markets such as Canberra, the Gold Coast, and Darwin. However, one city that continues to quietly build momentum as a realistic candidate for a future franchise is Newcastle. While it may not always dominate the expansion headlines, the pieces required for an NBL return are slowly aligning, and according to former owner of the Illawarra Hawks, Dorry Kordahi, the push for a Newcastle team is very real.…
READ MOREMost 16-year-olds would take the bag. Luke Paul wants to take a beating. In an era where high school recruits are chasing six-figure Instagram followings and seven-figure NIL deals, Luke Paul just did the unthinkable. The 16-year-old Australian talent is a 6'6" point guard widely tipped as a future NBA lottery pick who reportedly turned down US college offers worth up to $3 million to stay home. He didn't do it for comfort. He didn't do it for safety. According to Paul, he did it…
READ MOREWith one game remaining in the regular season and finals seeding on the line, South East Melbourne moved a step closer to the top two with a 120–104 win over the Tasmania JackJumpers at John Cain Arena. The Phoenix overcame a career-high 36-point outing from Majok Deng, with Angus Glover leading the way with 21 points and seven three-pointers as the home side’s firepower proved too much. Despite the result, coach Josh King said his group still needs to produce a complete four-quarter performance, particularly…
READ MOREIn recent weeks, NBL Pride Round has been accompanied by a wave of opinion pieces — including Michael Randall’s “Pride Round: Why the NBL should be proud it won’t ever ‘shut up and dribble’” — praising the initiative while dismissing its critics. This has been something I’ve been thinking about and discussing with people since Indigenous Round.I think we all need a little perspective sometimes. https://t.co/2D65bvtS5K — Michael Randall (@MickRandallHS) February 3, 2026 But the argument that any criticism of the National Basketball League’s social-issue…
READ MOREWe continue diving deeper into one of Aussie hoops’ fiercest rivalries — Sydney vs Illawarra — picking things up as LaMelo Ball and his Rookie of the Year season in 2019 propelled the Hawks into the global spotlight, setting NBL viewership and attendance records, while the Kings reloaded under Will Weaver and pushed for a championship in a season that ended in chaos. Host Dan Boyce breaks down LaMelo’s viral debut, his back-to-back triple-doubles, and the impact of Aaron Brooks’ season-ending injury on Illawarra’s playoff…
READ MOREKeanu Pinder has hit a new gear in Japan. As Akita’s starting big, he is producing like a franchise option, and that level of form is putting him back in the Boomers conversation. Pinder is in the midst of a prime career stretch that has seen him exceed the 2 time NBL "Most Improved Player" form that first made him a star in Cairns.The primary storyline defining Pinder’s 2025-26 campaign is a shift in usage. In Perth, Pinder was often a secondary option behind heavy…
READ MOREBelow is an up-to-date roster for each NBL team and a list of rumours and potential signings derived from discussions with NBL staff and media. Players listed as contracted come from information supplied by the National Basketball League. * = Denotes import player ** = Naturalised Australian DP = a member of the team's development roster SRP = the previously named Asian player exception denoting an Asian player who qualifies as a local in the NBL. MP = Marquee players listed as known Click here…
READ MOREFive to ten years ago, if an Australian headed to Japan, it was typically because of not making NBL roster spots. Players like Venky Jois, Daniel Dillon and Rhys Vague fit this profile. Now Australian basketballers looking to play overseas rarely viewed Japan as a serious career destination. The traditional pathways pointed elsewhere, but that perception has shifted rapidly. Today, Japan’s B.League has emerged as a legitimate and increasingly attractive option for Australian players seeking strong contracts, defined roles, and long-term professional stability.Today, that narrative…
READ MOREDi balik gemerlap dunia taruhan, SEKOLAHTOTO menghadirkan sensasi bermain di pusat keberuntungan Asia dengan nuansa eksklusi yang memikat.
