Defensive dynamo Daniels shines in Italy

Ever since he stepped foot on the international stage, Dash Daniels has proven time and time again that he’s one of the best defenders for his age in the world.

The recent 2026 adidas Eurocamp was no different, where the talented teenager claimed the tournament’s Best Defender award after helping the NBL Next Stars team win the Final.

“It means a lot to me to be the Defensive Player of the Tournament,” Daniels said.

“It’s the best part of my game, and I continue to put time and effort into that end of the floor.

“For me, it’s kind of an expectation that I give myself to be the best defensive player in every game I play.

“[In saying that] I’m super grateful and happy I got the award.”

In the final, the Next Stars team, also featuring South East Melbourne’s Malique Lewis, edged Eurocamp 1 66-62 in Treviso, Italy, in a result that Daniels says he’ll remember for some time.

“It’s very special to win the championship in a tournament like this against some of the best up-and-coming talent in the world,” he said.

“To be able to do it with fellow Next Stars is pretty cool. Getting to know them personally and play with them, as well as some great players from around Australia that I haven’t had the chance to play with [was a special experience].”‍

As well as being a standout on the defensive end, Daniels also proved his playmaking abilities, finishing equal-third for the tournament in assists per game (3.7).

“I played well defensively and was a facilitator, making plays offensively, but I know there are many areas I could have been much better in,” Daniels said.

“As a team, I thought it was a great tournament and I thought we improved in every game we played in, which is important in competitions like these that are only three games long.

“The reason we were so successful could have been many things, but for me, it was our experience and physicality that we played with throughout the tournament that helped us get the job done.”

‍>> READ MORE: NEXT STARS WIN EUROCAMP TITLE, CLAIM AWARDS

Daniels also spoke highly of this prestigious event, featuring plenty of the world’s top prospects.

“It [Eurocamp] is a great launching pad for many players around the world,” he said.

“It gives the players a chance to show themselves and others how good they are compared to the best junior players in the world, which you don’t get very often playing just in your own country.

“It’s got great competition and very good recognition, allowing us to play in front of many NBA scouts and even meet some high-level NBA players.”

Daniels was one of four Next Stars players, alongside Mac Mackinnon, Malique Lewis and Oscar Cluff, to be mentioned as tournament standouts by ESPN's National Director of Recruiting Paul Biancardi.

The Next Stars program has seen six players drafted in the first round across the last six NBA drafts, including LaMelo Ball (2020), Josh Giddey (2021), Ousmane Dieng (2022) and Alex Sarr (2024), all being selected inside the lottery.