Did you know Scott Pendlebury has a basketball background?
The running joke has been doing the rounds for years, but he is not the best-qualified former baller to play in the AFL.
Far from it, actually.
Hugh Greenwood played four years of Division 1 ball in the states, starting for two seasons at the University of New Mexico.
Todd Goldstein represented Australia in Under 19s.
And Mason Cox has three years at the Div 1 Oklahoma State.
Does Pendles even get a look in as a starting five player?
Well, it’s the off-season… time to find out.
AFL Basketball Crossover All-Stars – Our 10-Man Roster
THE STARTING FIVE
Scott Pendlebury (PG, 6’0″, Collingwood)
AIS scholarship holder, Pendles replaced Patty Mills in the squad. With eyes in the back of his head and the slowest heartbeat in sport, he would be an ambidextrous finisher.
Strength: Elite vision and change-of-pace deception.
Weakness: Age (38 in 2026) and average vertical leap. Has he ever taken a speccie?
Yeah, he gets a gig because he is the best-equipped passer on the squad, as evidenced by his 316 goal assists (originally spelled as “gaol” assists… I’m not sure how many he helped into gaol, for the record).
Pendles has had his credentials talked up for years, but he did possess high-levels of talent before opting for footy. And here you were thinking he just shot hoops in his driveway, huh?
I kind of kid.
Hugh Greenwood (SG, 6’3″, Retired)
A four-year NCAA D1 starter (New Mexico), Greenwood shot 37% from downtown during his college career, and guarded All-Americans nightly. Ab elite pick-and-roll operator, he is tough as nails, and with an AFL-hardened body, would be a tough man to muscle out of the way.
Strength: Genuine high-level balling IQ and perimeter defence.
Weakness: Turning 33 in 2026; lateral quickness has slowed a tick.
Make no mistake, Greenwood would be the star of this team. Knows the game inside and out, and was courted by NBL teams before opting to switch up and play footy upon returning from college. Imagine having that decision? Bloke is a flat-out athlete! Amazing that his accomplishments were barely acknowledged by commentary teams, huh?
Jesse Hogan (SF, 6’7″, GWS Giants)
Tasmanian junior basketball star who dominated state U16 and U18 championships. Regularly posted 25-30 point games in local leagues, and earned interest from US colleges and NBL clubs before footy’s marking contests stole his heart. Elite body control in traffic, soft hands, and a 35-inch vertical that still shows up when he climbs packs.
Strength: Contested finishing and rebounding instinct.
Weakness: Perimeter defence and lateral quickness are average; might get exposed on switches and could be a little foul-happy from footy habits.
He’d be a dominant inside/outside force. Strong down low, with the ability to step out and hit a jumper. Might be called for travel a little… unless the refs are from the NBA. Do you see what blokes can get away with these days? Hell, five steps are the new two steps. Jesse’s set shot/free throw prep might need some tweaking.
Luke Jackson (PF/C, 6’9″, Fremantle)
Luke Jackson grew up in Western Australia as a genuine two-sport prodigy. He represented WA at U16 and U18 national basketball championships, captained WA’s U18 side in 2018, and won All-Tournament honours as the dominant big man.
He also had multiple US college offers on the table before Melbourne took him at pick three in 2019
At 24, he’s still in his athletic prime, and at 6’9″ with a big wingspan, soft hands, and a buttery mid-range touch that still shows when he shoots free throws or fadeaways in warm-ups. You could see him running the floor like a deer, finishing above the rim, and has real pick-and-roll-weapon feel about him.
Strength: Modern big-man skill-set, would roll hard to the basket, or keep defences guessing as he pops for 15-footers. Would also be an excellent rebounder.
Weakness: Foot speed defending stretch fives; footy habits make him reach too much on perimeter D.
A gamebreaker. Fast, athletic, and able to take a hit in traffic and keep on going. Jackson brings a bit of everything to the table, and averaged 13.7 points and 13.7 rebounds in the 2018 FIBA Under 17 world cup.
The boy could play.
Mason Cox (C, 6’11”, Collingwood)
Three-year NCAA D1 player (Oklahoma State), soft touch to 18 ft, huge rebound radius, sets brick-wall screens.
Strength: Size and actual post footwork, plus a pick-and-pop threat.
Weakness: Slow feet on perimeter switches.
A no-brainer, here. The decision… not the player. Although… some may argue you could use either.
Got his glasses on, a la Kareem, and if he could start nailing a skyhook, name me an AFL defender that could stop him on the block?
No one, that’s who.
Would make a commanding presence down low, at both ends of the court.
THE BENCH
Todd Goldstein (C, 6’7″, Retired)
Australian U19 Boomers rep with Patty Mills/Joe Ingles. With veteran IQ, he is a slick passer, and years of taking contact would mean he’d roll to the basket without fear. Looks like he won’t do damage, which is probably his greatest asset
Strength: Screening angles and outlet passing.
Weakness: 221 years old, minimal lift left.
Did you not see this one coming? How often have you heard about Goldy’s background? Never, right? All bloody Pendles, all the bloody time!
Goldy’s soft hands would make him a good mid-range threat, stretching the defence and making opposing centres work hard to cover him.
I don’t expect him to win many races up the floor, though.
Mitch Wallis (PG, 6’0″, Retired)
Victorian junior hoops standout who lit up Keilor Thunder’s U12 and U14 state championship squads, earning rep honours and NBL scout nods before pivoting to AFL via the Dandenong Stingrays. He carved out a 12-year career as a versatile Mr Fix-It, with 100+ games. Underrated vision from his ball-handling roots – became a very good finisher and distributor when deployed forward later in his career.
Strength: Elite perimeter pressure and steal instincts; pesky defender who funnels into turnovers like a footy tagger.
Weakness: Limited scoring punch – more facilitator than bucket-getter, and footy bulk softened his pure quicks.
We need some reliable, nuggety toughness as a backup point guard, and Wallis fits the bill. Always unassuming, he is in the game to steady the ship and run a tight offence, whilst remaining a harassing presence on the opposition’s ball-handlers.
Reuben Ginbey (SF/PF, 6’7″, West Coast)
The former Wesley College basketball captain is still only 21, bouncy, strong, and still growing into his body. Always thought he’d be great on a switch, able to cover a guard, or drop in to body-up on a big man and get teh stop
Strength: Modern combo-forward tools, plus youth.
Weakness: Basketball feel still catching up to athleticism.
Ginbey was drafted to be a mid, but has settled into defence. He is getting bigger and stronger and could be a solid lockdown defender coming off the bench.
Stefan Martin (SF/PF/C, 6’6″, retired)
An elite Victorian junior, Martin grew up on basketball, not playing a game of footy until he was 19. A crafty lefty, with a high IQ, can play multiple positions.
Strength: A basketball natural.
Weakness: 36, retired and fitness unknown.
Stef offers some muscle off the bench, and can slot in at any of the three front court positions. Hopefully, Steven May isn’t setting picks for the opposition, right?
Known as a footballer, but basketball was his first love.
Christian Petracca (PG/SG, 6’1″, Melbourne)
Yeah, look… he played with Ben Simmons in high school – he might have picked up a thing or two. Silky lefty handle, ridiculous body control, sees angles no one else does.
Strength: Explosive first step and midair creativity.
Weakness: Never played structured 5-on-5 past U18s – decision-making can be termed as “AFL chaotic”.
Okay, this one is a stretch, I know… but maybe he could convince Ben to play a year in the AFL. Then he could team with Greenwood and we’d actually have a decent team.
So there we go – a 10-man roster built for… well, built for no apparent reason other than because I had nothing to do and decided this would be a good idea.
Who did I miss on the way?
As always, massive thanks to those who support this work. You can see the amount of care that goes into it. I love footy, I love writing about it, and I hope you enjoy reading it. Without you, this whole thing falls over. Sincerely… thank you – HB
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