Meet the Bros
Koen Sapwell
Koen is a professional basketball player, currently in his 2nd season overseas playing for the Dresden Titans in Germany. Koen’s playing career has taken him all over Australia, playing in the NBL for South East Melbourne Phoenix and the Brisbane Bullets. He’s had tremendous success at the NBL1 level, averaging 24ppg over his last two seasons.
Though he’s said in the past that he will be the ‘best basketball player to flip burgers for a living’, Koen has a degree in Communication and Media Studies, and is also half way through a teaching degree. Koen is now fully employed as a basketball player, a dream he always saw for himself.
Koen’s journey has been one of true grit and unwavering self-belief. When he graduated Year 12 at Trinity College, Koen was a 5’10”, a scrawny 160lb floor spacer. He was known as a SHOOTER, but that was it. Koen was still a great player, however, averaging over 26ppg at schools nationals, but his identity was one-dimensional.
He was picked up by a school in Northern California called Cal State Monterey Bay, where he played three seasons to wavering levels of success. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he trained harder than ever. Weights sessions, plyometric exercises and famous midnight shooting sessions by himself, Koen transformed over this period, and when he returned home, his old friends could hardly recognise him.
Now standing 6’4” and weighing 210lbs, turned himself into a pro-athlete. His body caught up to his skills and his career followed suit. He began travelling the country, training with NBL teams and signing professional contracts:
His journey is outlined here:
2020: Cairns: 20 years old
Training Player at the Cairns Taipans (NBL)
Cairns Marlins (NBL1)
2021 Melbourne and Hobart: 21 years old
South East Melbourne (NBL Development Player)
Hobart Chargers (NBL1) [45% 3pt, best team in the league]
2022 Brisbane and Ballarat: 22 years old
Brisbane Bullets Injury Replacement Player
Ballarat Miners (NBL1) [16ppg]
2023: Brisbane and Germany: 23 years old
Southern Districts Spartans (NBL1) [team MVP, 26ppg, 53% FG]
Dresden Titans (Barmer 2) [14ppg, 3a in 20mpg]
2024: Adelaide and Germany: 24 years old
Central District Lions (NBL1) [22ppg, 6r, 4a]
Dresden Titans (Barmer 2) [14ppg, 43% 3pt]
2025: 25 years old
Dresden Titans (Barmer 2) [15ppg, 54% 3pt]
His journey has been filled with ups and downs, but sticking with it, Koen has achieved the life he has always dreamed of, playing basketball and travelling the world. He looks forward to fostering the growth of the next generation of aspiring hoopers, teaching them the keys to being a great shooter, a professional and having unwavering confidence while doing so.
Follow Koen on Instagram @koensapwell
Kalani Sapwell
Kalani is 22 years old and in his eighth season playing in the NBL1 for the Central District Lions. He is the youngest team Captain in the league and has the most experience in the NBL1 for players under 23. He had a successful high school career, winning four straight SAAS championships (Year 9-12) and 3 straight State Championships (Year 9-11). As a Year 10, Kalani led his school to its first ever National Championship, where he led the team in points in the Championship Game (21) and led the nation in 3pt makes (27) and 3pt percentage (47%). He holds the record for most 3-pointers made an Australian National Championships which he set in 2016 with 36 makes over six games. Kalani Had success in the State Programs, representing South Australia 5 times between Under-16s and Under-20s. Unlike Koen, Kalani was fully grown by the time he had graduated, and he went to College at 6’3” 205lbs.
Kalani spent a year in college, playing for Lewis-Clark State Warriors, the Conference Champions. Due to a large roster size, and new COVID-rules which allowed every player in the country to stay another year, Kalani saw it best to return home, and gear up for a solid NBL1 season. During this time, Kalani began training with the Adelaide 36ers, guarding the nations best players, many who had an NBA court. He was given an opportunity in 2023 to try out for a Development Player contract, but missed out. Though is hopeful that his time will come.
Kalani has focused on things outside of basketball, without giving up on his dream of being a Pro. He was on the Honor roll at LCSC, where he was studying Neuroscience, and, upon return, he switched to Psychology, earning his way into the Honors program where he is in his 3rd year (of 4), with the goal of becoming a Clinical Psychologist. Kalani is also halfway through his Personal Trainer certifications (Cert III-IV), after which he will be able to program gym-specific training for his athletes at The Breakfast Club. Kalani’s ultimate goal is to provide a service which integrates both mental and physical health for his clients, and in the coaching realm, he hopes to create an environment which fosters a great community and friendship between players, boosting their confidence and sense of belonging. Kalani’s knowledge of the ‘Mental Game’ derives from theory and practice as an academic and an athlete, and he aims to espouse this to his athletes.
Whilst on this academic journey, Kalani still trains like a mad-man, and hopes to push for a professional contract in the next two seasons.
Kalani’s Journey
2018 Adelaide: 16 years old
Central District Lions (NBL1)
National Champions
2019 Adelaide: 17 years old
Central District Lions (NBL1)
2020 Adelaide: 18 years old
Central District Lions (NBL1)
Graduated from Trinity a 7x Open SAAS/State Champion
2021 Adelaide, Tasmania, Idaho: 19 years old
Central District Lions (NBL1)
Devonport Warriors (NWBU)
Lewis Clark State Warriors (NAIA)
Training Player at the 36ers
2022 Idaho, Adelaide: 20 years old
Lewis Clark State Warriors
Central District Lions starting SG (NBL1)
Training Player at the 36ers
2023 Adelaide: 21 years old
Central District Lions starting PG (NBL1)
Training Player at the 36ers
2024 Adelaide: 22 years old
Central Districts Lions starting PG (NBL1) [10p, 4.5a]
Made the Honors stream for Psychology at UniSA
2025 Adelaide: 23 years old
Central Districts Lions Captain (NBL1)
Will finish Undergraduate Degree and PT certifications
Follow Kalani on Instagram @ksap.4