Stanwix received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 1984. He spent one year there and played for the program’s state league team.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Darren Stanwix made his NBL debut with the Hobart Devils at 18 years of age. He scored 15 points in his first game.

In 1983, after the demise of the Launceston Casino City Tigers saw the state without an NBL team, Hobart entered the NBL. The Devils would play their home games from Kingsborough Sports Centre and were coached by Keith Scott, who built a team around three Stanwix brothers, Warren, Brennan and Darren and imports Eric Bailey, Marty Green and Curtis Coleman, who had been a part of the defunct Launceston team in 1980.

Hobart would win their very first game of the season, a 45 point victory over fellow Tasmanian expansion team Devonport (85-40). The offensive firepower of import trio Bailey (25.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.4 steals), Green (21.0 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks) and Curtis Coleman (11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals) would put points on the scoreboard, but the league’s newest team struggled to compete against the more talented programs in the competition.

After their initial win, the Devils would lose ten consecutive games until a surprise upset of Nunawading at home (81-73).

Darren would appear in 12 games, averaging 3.1 points and 1.0 rebounds, but Hobart would lose the remaining games for the season. They would finish equal dead last with fellow Tasmania expansion team Devonport, with both team’s recording two wins for the year.

1985
Warren did not play NBL basketball in 1984 but returned to the Devils for the 1985 season. Darren averaged 7.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists as the Devils finished with a dismal record of 2 wins and 24 losses.