Riverview Year 12 student Bailey Hanson has taken another major step in his basketball career, signing with the Sydney Kings as a Development Player for the 2026–27 NBL season. 

The 18-year-old guard will join the Kings' professional program, training alongside the senior squad under head coach Brian Goorjian. The Development Player pathway gives emerging players the opportunity to train and develop in a full-time NBL environment while competing for future opportunities on a senior roster. 

For Bailey, the signing caps an outstanding year. He recently represented Australia at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup, helping the Australian Emus complete an unbeaten tournament and defeat China 89–79 in the gold medal game. Bailey produced one of his best performances when it mattered most, finishing the final with 17 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals. Across the tournament he averaged 10.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game, including an impressive 13-assist performance in Australia's semi-final victory over Korea. 

Closer to home, Bailey has also been playing senior basketball with the Norths Bears in NBL1 East, including a 24-point performance against Bankstown earlier this season. His move to the Kings also continues a small but distinguished Riverview pathway to professional basketball. Fellow Old Ignatian Jordan Hunter (OR2014) joined the Sydney Kings in 2019 after four years of NCAA Division I basketball at Saint Mary's College in California. Hunter went on to become a key NBL centre and was part of the Kings' back-to-back championship teams in 2022 and 2023, before continuing his career with the South East Melbourne Phoenix. 

Archie Woodhill (OR2019) followed an even more similar pathway. A member of Riverview's 2019 GPS Premiership team, Archie joined the Sydney Kings as a Development Player in 2020, progressed to his NBL debut and was part of the Kings' 2023 championship squad. He has since played with the Tasmania JackJumpers and continues his NBL career. Both Old Ignatians who preceded Bailey ultimately became NBL champions with the Sydney Kings. 

Bailey will officially become an Old Ignatian when the Class of 2026 leaves Riverview later this year, but his next chapter is already taking shape. From the Gartlan Centre to representing Australia and now joining one of the country's leading professional basketball organisations, it has been a remarkable year. 

We look forward to following Bailey's progress as he begins the next stage of his basketball journey with the Sydney Kings.