Perhaps you consider yourself an appreciator of basketball, but are not as fanatical as the next fan. Alternatively, you may have strayed away from the game for a few years. Either way, the hysteria that has been sweeping the basketball nation in anticipation of the 2011/12 iiNet NBL Championship has led to an increased focus on the local game -- and rightly so.

With the arrival of Patty Mills to the NBL, along with a slew of fine imports boosting an already potent Australian contingent (think Mark Worthington, Julian Khazzouh, Damian Martin, Adam Gibson), it's high time for you to brush up on your knowledge of the game. We've got you covered here with the first segment in the Casual NBL 2011/12 Fan's Guide, focusing on the players that you possibly have never heard of, but are likely to make some significant noise.

Brad Hill, Cairns Taipans, G/F

This extremely talented swingman has encountered significantly more than his fair share of bad luck early in his career through injuries, most notably with a horrific broken arm in 2006, which saw him miss an entire season. Originally from South Australia, Brad spent his early years with the Adelaide 36ers, after coming out of the Australian Institute of Sport with great expectations attached. A rangy body at 198cm tall, he has long been known for his dogged defensive work and athleticism which allows him to get to the basket with ease.

In addition, Hill can stroke the outside shot with ease, making him a difficult proposition to contain. With the flux that the Taipans roster has seen during the past off-season, the arrival of Hill in Cairns could not be more timely. He has brilliantly stepped into a key role both offensively and on the boards, particularly proving valuable during the pre-season and round one, with the absence of star forward Alex Loughton. Hill put up 15 points, 11 rebounds and four assists during the Taipans first-up victory over the Townsville Crocodiles, in what will not be an unusual stat line for him this season.

Stephen Weigh, Adelaide 36ers, G/F

Another versatile Aussie wing on the rise is Weigh. Similarly to Hill, he has benefited from the perfect storm that is a change of scenery to a team in need of fire-power along with his own career ascension. At only 24 years of age, Weigh comes off his third season on a stacked Perth Wildcats roster where he proved immensely valuable in putting up 11ppg along with 5rpg. Having enjoyed time at the University of Utah and two years under 36ers Head Coach Marty Clarke at the AIS, Weigh has not been entirely under the radar. In fact, Weigh was called to the Australian Boomers camp in 2009 in recognition of his strong potential as a sturdily built 198cm swingman on the rise.

Joining the 36ers this season he immediately steps into a role as an offensive leader and an undersized rebounder, as well as likely being called upon to guard the toughest wing opponents. Look to Weigh to assert himself as a star in this league over the next couple of seasons, with 2011/12 the definite beginning as he forms an integral part of an Adelaide team that is not as deep as his former Wildcats roster.

Rhys Martin, Wollongong Hawks, G

Perhaps one of the most unassuming players in the league, Martin is a hard-nosed worker who should not be underestimated. After starting his career as a development player with the Brisbane Bullets behind Aussie stars CJ Bruton and Adam Gibson, the Queenslander moved down to the 'Gong, as a 2009 member of the Hawks roster. Once again Martin was presented with fantastic training court competition in import Kavossy Franklin and Kiwi Lindsay Tait before the arrival of star import Tywain McKee. The scrimmages between McKee and Martin in training were apparently legendary, with Martin gaining much from the exchanges. When McKee was sidelined for the second half of the 2009/10 season with a back injury, Martin and namesake Luke Martin stepped admirably into the fold, sharing the point guard duties en route to an improbable Grand Final berth against the eventual champion Perth Wildcats.

Whilst the Hawks then recruited 2010/11 NBL MVP Gary Ervin the following season, Rhys Martin continued to impress as his backup, eventually leading to a run with Brett Brown's Australian Boomers this past off-season. Brown, a notoriously tough coach, was impressed enough with Martin's play to give him significant minutes. The glow from that experience was evident in his pre-season and round one play, as he once again stepped into the starting point guard role after the dismissal of import Donovan Monroe, putting up 16 points and seven assists against the reigning champion New Zealand Breakers on Sunday. Which ever way the Hawks go with their now-vacant import spot, look for Martin to play a key role on the team this season as an emerging talent not to be ignored.

Daniel Johnson, Adelaide 36ers, F/C

Another AIS graduate on the rise is skilled big man Johnson. It is hard to name a big man in the NBL who is lighter on his feet than this 212cm Perth native. After spending his first two seasons with the Melbourne Tigers, Johnson's move to the 36ers last season was a fortuitous one, as he proved extremely valuable (ranking second only to Adam Ballinger for team MVP honours) as a rare back-to-the-basket pivot man. His array of spin moves and footwork sets him apart as a player that opposing coaches both envy the talents of and are wary of.

Coupled with Australian giant Wade Helliwell this season up front, his presence allows team star Ballinger to play his more natural power forward position, along with new import signing Diamon Simpson. His foot speed, coupled with that of import point guard Chris Warren (mentioned in last week's speedsters article) allows the Sixers to surprise some teams, both on broken down plays, as well as in half-court pick-and-roll situations. Johnson is a name you need to remember, as one of the most promising low post players in the NBL.

Aaron Bruce, Sydney Kings, G

Whilst Bruce is the oldest player on this list at 26-years old, we have by no means seen the best of him in this league. Originally from Horsham, Victoria, Bruce's talents have been on display already representing Australia at both junior and senior levels, in addition to a standout collegiate career and time with the Adelaide 36ers, before now joining the Kings. In 2003 Bruce was part of the Australian team that won the FIBA Junior World Championships in Greece, upsetting Team USA by 21 points as Bruce poured in 25 against the likes of now-NBA player JJ Redick.

2006 saw Bruce take part in the Boomers team that represented Australia at the FIBA World Championships in Japan, with his talent already well-respected after his four year career at Baylor University, in which he was awarded various All-Big 12 honours and was the nation's leading freshman scorer in 2004/05. He then played for the Adelaide 36ers in two separate stints, interspersed with some time living in the US with his wife, who he met at Baylor. During that time overseas he did not play professional basketball. Accordingly, Bruce has yet to find stability in the NBL, which has now hopefully been gained through a full off-season of training with the Kings going into this season. He has the ability to both hit the outside shot and set up the offence for other members of the team, making for a solid set of point guard skills.

In addition, he has an underrated defensive skillset and superb body control which will become apparent to more astute viewers of the game. The three-headed monster that is the Kings' point guard rotation, including Bruce, Luke Martin and Luke Cooper, makes for some solid competition which will no doubt push Bruce to even better things as the season progresses. 

To read more of my thoughts on the 2011/12 iiNet Championship, keep on reading here weekly at NBL.com.au, or check out A Stern Warning. You can also follow me on twitter @ASternWarning.