Rocco Zikarsky Scouting Report
Evaluation: Key Performances from 2024 Global Competitions
Rocco Zikarsky
Team: Brisbane Bullets (Australia)
Height/Position: 7’1" Center
Nationality: Australia
Birthdate: July 11, 2006
Level: Mid - High Major - NBA
Roles: Lob Threat, Rim Protector
Swing Skills: Outside Shooting, Passing
Rocco Zikarsky, the 7'3" Australian center, has generated significant buzz as potentially Australia's best big man prospect since Andrew Bogut. At just 17 years old, he played in Australia's physical and highly competitive NBL last season, where he showed flashes of his potential against seasoned professionals. This spring, Zikarsky's upside was on full display at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament, where he earned MVP honors by averaging 18.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting an impressive 73.1% from the field.
Zikarsky is a massive interior presence with great positional size and length, boasting a rare blend of agility and coordination for a seven-footer. He is a good athlete—light on his feet with a quick second jump—far from the slow, plodding big man stereotype, making him an ideal fit for the modern NBA game. He plays with a high motor and toughness, often showing a mean streak, especially when finishing around the rim, where he looks to throw down dunks against his peers. A left-handed, fundamentally sound big man, Zikarsky has a solid touch around the basket with both hands and is an efficient finisher in the paint. He is a big-time scoring threat as a roll man, providing a great lob target for playmakers due to his size and timing, and is effective at scoring on offensive rebound putbacks.
Zikarsky has also shown glimpses of developing low post moves and footwork, as well as some ball-handling skills on straight-line drives to the rim. Occasionally, he flashes passing instincts and court vision, hinting at potential as a big man who can punish teams for sending double teams his way. Defensively, he uses his length and size to impact the game as a rim protector, altering shots at the rim and contesting short-range jumpers.
However, there are areas of concern that Zikarsky will need to address to maximize his potential. He needs to get stronger and become more physical, as he tends to struggle with sealing in the post and can be easily pushed off balance by stronger opponents. This was particularly evident in the NBL last season, where he sometimes failed to go up strong in traffic against more physical defenders. Although he wasn’t much of a rim runner in the past and seemed to prefer a slower pace, he’s doing a much better job at filling the lanes, as he has the athleticism and tools to become a scoring threat in the open floor.
At this stage of his career, Zikarsky lacks a face-up game and doesn’t appear confident when left alone on the perimeter. He also struggles with his hands, often bobbling passes and bringing the ball down low in traffic, which puts him in a position to be stripped by smaller guards. His decision-making needs work, as evidenced by his assist-to-turnover ratios—just 4 assists to 17 turnovers in 29 NBL games last season, and 0 assists to 13 turnovers at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament.
Overall, Zikarsky's combination of size, athleticism, and skill set makes him an intriguing lottery prospect for the 2025 NBA Draft.
Rocco Zikarsky, an Australian 7-footer, stands out with his great positional size and length, coupled with a rare blend of agility and coordination for a player of his stature. Left-handed and fundamentally sound, Zikarsky is a throwback big man who serves as a big-time scoring threat, particularly as a roll man. His size makes him an excellent lob target for playmakers, scoring most of his points on lobs. He has a decent touch around the rim and plays with toughness and competitive fire, always looking to finish with a dunk. Zikarsky shows glimpses of low post moves and solid footwork, as well as passing instincts and court vision, indicating his potential to punish teams that send double teams his way.
However, Zikarsky has some areas for improvement. He has slow feet and may struggle with lateral movement when defending in space. Lacking explosive, quick-twitch vertical pop, he needs to get stronger and more physical, as he currently does not seal effectively in the post and can be easily pushed off balance. Additionally, he is not much of a rim runner, preferring to play at a slower pace. Despite these concerns, Zikarsky's size, fundamentals, and competitive nature make him a promising prospect for college coaches looking for a skilled and determined big man. - 2023