NCAA college basketball is back and once again there’s a strong representation of Australians with 187 competing across NCAA programs; 68 men and 119 women in total.
The steady number of Australian players making it to the USA reflects the pedigree of the basketball pathway - which continues to funnel talent from across the State & Territories into the highly competitive US college system.
The 2026 cohort have a variety of journeys with many crafting their game through high-performance, representative and school programs in the place called Down Under.
STATE (& TERRITORY) OF ORIGIN
There’s a representative from every State & Territory in the country with basketball wellsprings Victoria and New South Wales leading the volume of representation.
NCAA Men | Origin
|
State |
Count |
|
VIC |
22 |
|
NSW |
17 |
|
QLD |
9 |
|
TAS |
6 |
|
SA |
5 |
|
WA |
4 |
|
ACT |
2 |
NCAA Women | Origin
|
State |
Count |
|
VIC |
36 |
|
NSW |
23 |
|
QLD |
17 |
|
WA |
9 |
|
SA |
6 |
|
TAS |
4 |
|
ACT |
2 |
|
NT |
1 |
CoE TO THE USA
The Centre of Excellence based at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra is well known for developing Boomers & Opals but also plays an essential role for athletes progressing from secondary (high school) to college / university.
CoE specialist staff work with athletes in preparation for all components of attending a US college, basketball, education and otherwise (see LEVEL UP).
The specialisation of the CoE curriculum has resulted in an incredible conversion rate to NCAA basketball programs. There are 33 past / graduated athletes that attended the CoE or NBA Global competing in NCAA Season 2026.
Centre of Excellence | Men
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).
Freshmen
Abass Bodija (Fordham), Ethan Elliott (Northern Ky), Roor Akhuar (Fordham), Jacob Furphy (UConn), Emmett Adair (Loyola Maryland), Luke Fennell (Syracuse), James Dyson Merwe (Evansville).
Centre of Excellence | Women
Senior
Alana Goodchild (Santa Clara), Charlise Dunn (Davidson), Last-Tear Poa (Arizona St).
Junior
Jessica Petrie (Nebraska), Chyra Evans (Utah), Summah Hanson (UC Irvine).
Sophomore
Rubi Gray (Sacramento St), Isla Juffermans (Louisville).
Freshmen
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 has an Australian featured 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-standing Gaels tradition.
St Mary’s is the alma mater of Boomers head coach Adam Caporn, Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova, Kate Gaze and Jock Landale. In total, there’s been 23 Australians suit up for the Gaels since the 2001 Season – the most of any school.
There may be an emerging front-runner for the next Australia-U with Hawaii and Portland stacking Aussies for NCAA Season 2026.
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.
Saint 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)
Emilija Dakic, Sarah Deng, Alex Condon, Alex Kovatchev.
Central Arkansas (4)
Paris Santacaterina, Bree Stephens, Harrison Payne, Lani Milne.
Evansville (4)
Georgia Cox, Jelena Savic, James Dyson-Merwe, 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 Season 2025.
Fellow West Australian Alex Kovatchev joins Condon at the Gators in ‘26 alongside 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. Head here to track NCAA Men - Division 1 and here for NCAA Women – Division 1
