"MVP-type": Coach praises electric guard

After falling one game short of the Hungry Jack's NBL Championship Series in back-to-back seasons, the South East Melbourne Phoenix are desperate to take that next step this campaign.

To do so, they've retained core pieces like Nathan Sobey, Angus Glover and Jordi Hunter while recruiting Tanner Krebs, Dash Daniels and Hunter Goodrick from rival NBL teams.

Mix in the addition of D'Shawn Schwartz and reported signing of Yannis Morin by ESPN's Olgun Uluc, and the Heartland club appear set for a massive year on the hardwood.

But Phoenix Head Coach Josh King believes it is another one of the team's imports that will be the key to their season.

"I hate singling out guys, but I'm going to single out Skylar [Mays] here," King said to Phoenix Media.

"He's a very talented player, and I've said this one time before, and I think he would say this to us as well: he's probably not coming off his best year or two.

"But he's a guy that I feel like has tremendous potential to be an MVP-type candidate.

"I'm really excited to get him in the gym, as he's a tremendous player who's really gonna help our team this year."

It's not just people inside those four walls of the Phoenix that believe in Mays too, with NBL commentator Jack Heverin believing in the 114-game NBA veteran.

"South East Melbourne Phoenix are nearly done [with their roster build], and this group is starting to very much take shape," Havering said on The Marketplace, presented by Paywise.

"They're led by Skyler Mays, who I think is going to be one of the signings of the off-season."

The Phoenix open their NBL27 season at RAC Arena against the Perth Wildcats on Saturday, September 19.