Young Australian star in the NCAA

The consistent number of Australian players reaching the United States reflects the history of the basketball path, which continues to bring talent from across the state and territories to the highly competitive American university system.

The 2026 cohort will have a variety of journeys, with many developing their games through high-quality, representative and school-based programs in the place Down Under.

STATE (& TERRITORY) OF ORIGIN

There is a representative from every state and territory in the country, with basketball sources Victoria and New South Wales leading the representation volume.

NCAA Men | Origin

NCAA Women | Origin

CoE TO THE USA

The Center of excellence based at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra is renowned for developing Boomers & Opals, but also plays a vital role for athletes progressing from high school to college/university.

Specialized CoE staff work with athletes to prepare for all aspects of attending a US university, basketball, education and otherwise (see LEVEL UP).

The specialization of the CoE curriculum has resulted in an incredible conversion rate for NCAA basketball programs. There are 33 former/graduate athletes who participated in the CoE or NBA Global and participated in the 2026 NCAA Season.

Center of Excellence | Gentlemen

Senior
Max Mackinnon (LSU), Harry Wessels (St Mary’s).

Junior
Alex Condon (Florida), Bowyn Beatty (La Salle), Rory Hawke (St Mary’s), Joshua Hughes (Evansville), Yaak Yaak (Oregon St), Bol Dengdit (UC San Diego).

Sophomore
Carlin Briggs (Portland), Joshua Dent (St Mary’s), Alex Kovatchev (Florida), James O’Donnell (Portland).

Freshman
Abass Bodija (Fordham), Ethan Elliott (Northern Ky), Roor Akhuar (Fordham), Jacob Furphy (UConn), Emmett Adair (Loyola Maryland), Luke Fennell (Syracuse), James Dyson Merwe (Evansville).

Center of Excellence | Women

Senior
Alana Goodchild (Santa Clara), Charlise Dunn (Davidson), Last-Tear Poa (Arizona St).

Junior
Nebraska, Chea Evans, UC Isnson.

Sophomore
Rubi Gray (Sacramento St), Isla Juffermans (Louisville).

Freshman
Opal Bird (Wake Forest), Sarah Portlock (TCU), Savannah Metcalfe (Wake Forest), Sienna Harvey (Washington), Lara Somfai (Stanford), Monique Williams (Vanderbilt), Bonnie Deas (Arkansas), Emilija Dakic (Florida), Jade Crook (Colorado).

AUSTRALIA-U

Every major NCAA conference features an Australian, with the West Coast Conference (WCC) continuing a historic connection.

At Saint Mary’s college, six Aussies, including Boomers Asia Cup debutant Harry Wessels, carry a long Gaels tradition.

St Mary’s is the alma mater of Boomers head coach Adam Caporn, Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova, Kate Gaze and Jock Landale. A total of 23 Australians have played for the Gaels since the 2001 season – the most of any school.

There could be an emerging frontrunner for the next Australia-U, with Hawaii and Portland stacking up Aussies for the 2026 NCAA season.

Hawaii (7)
Teyahna Bond, Ella Collins, Kira-May Filemu, Danjiela Kujovic, Jade Peacock, Kyra Webb, Harry Rouhliadeff.

Portland (6)
Dyani Ananiev, Jada Kennedy, Carlin Briggs, James O’Donnell, Lily Scanlon.

St. Mary’s (CA) (6)
Edie Clarke, Emily Foy, Amy Kurkowski, Joshua Dent, Rory Hawke, Harry Wessels.

Oregon St. (5)
Katelyn Field, Keira Lindemans, Lizzy Williamson, Yaak Yaak, Lily Hosking.

Florida (4)
Emilia Dakic, Sarah Deng, Alex Condon, Alex Kovatchev.

Central Arkansas (4)
Paris Santacaterina, Bree Stephens, Harrison Payne, Lani Milne.

Evansville (4)
Joshua Hughes.

Davidson (4)
Emilie Bessell, Katie Donovan, Charlise Dunn, Mackenzie Wotton.

Shout out to Florida and Alex Condon who became the first Australian to win an NCAA Division 1 title in the 2025 season.

Fellow West Australian Alex Kovatchev joins Condon at the Gators in ’26, joining Eastern Arizona transfer Sarah Deng and CoE graduate Emilija Dakic in the women’s program.

The NCAA basketball action continues with a daily schedule of games. Go here to follow NCAA Men – Division 1 and here for NCAA Women – Division 1