Like his brother, Melbourne Rebels star Campbell Magnay, Will Magnay was into Rugby Union as a teenager, playing for his school Nudgee College.
But after a collarbone injury, he was encouraged to take up basketball instead.
Will Magnay wasn’t an instant star on the court, he didn’t even make the under 14’s squad when he tried out for the Northside Wizards.
But one year later he made the division three team in the under 16’s.
And less than 10 years after that, he’s set to play in the NBA, snapped up by the New Orleans Pelicans.
Throughout his teen years, Will went from strength to strength, improving his game and growing fast – now standing at 2.08 metres.
From humble beginnings at the Northside Wizards, Will then spent a season playing for the University of Tulsa at Oklahoma in 2017, before coming back home to play for the Brisbane Bullets in the NBL.
It’s there he started turning heads.
In the 2019/20 NBL season he broke the club’s record for most blocks in a season.
The previous record was set by Bullets legend Leroy Loggins in 1985.
Will was also awarded the NBL’s Most Improved Player and nominated for the Best Defensive Player.
His starting club, the Northside Wizards, has wished him well on Facebook.
“We are so excited and happy for you and your family Will, you are a shining example to all our young players, achieving your NBA dream at the tender age of 22 years!”
“You’ve come such a long way since making our #3 team in U16’s and we are so very proud of you.”
