The NCAA basketball fixture is in full swing as our Australian athlete’s head to the halfway point of the collegiate schedule.
The Australian basketball pathway is shining in the USA with Australian stars growing in representation with 187 Australians on college rosters across the NCAA.
Men’s Team Snapshot
Numerous Australians are contributing to championship contending teams, perhaps none more so than Oscar Cluff of the 16-1 Purdue Boilermakers. Cluff is averaging the team's second most rebounds per game, adding a major contribution to the top ranked team in the Big Ten.
The Arizona Wildcats have been touted as championship frontrunners following a perfect 16-0 start to the season. Victorian born guard Anthony Dell’Orso is getting major minutes for the #1 ranked ESPN program contributing with an impressive shooting percentage (42.1 FG, 87.9 FT) through the halfway point of the season.
Despite a slow start to the season for the 12-5 Florida Gators, the reigning NCAA champions still loom as a threat to the championship race. Returning for his third season as a Gator, Australian Alex Condon has picked up where he left off in 2025, currently averaging the second most points and rebounds per game for Florida.
Men’s Player Snapshot
Joshua Dent:
St Mary Gael’s long lasting Australian connection has once again returned with New South Welshman Joshua Dent leading the team in assists per game as the starting point guard. Dent joins fellow Australian’s Harry Wessells and Rory Hawke on the Gael’s roster which has progressed to a 16-2 record, currently topping the table in the WCC.
Harry Rouhliadeff:
Leading the way for the Golden Rainbows in Hawaii has been Harry Rouhliadeff. Entering his third season for the program, Rouhliadeff is the team’s second highest leader in points per game, with healthy shooting percentages demonstrating his ability to spread the floor.
Roman Siulepa:
Queensland product Roman Siulepa's first season of collegiate basketball has been a major tick, with the freshman playing every game as a forward for the 7-9 Pittsburgh Panthers. Siulepa has impressed through the mid-way point of the season with his explosiveness serving as a feature for the Panthers.
Austin Rapp:
The Wisconsin Badgers have had a solid start to the season progressing to a record of 12-5. The 6’8” Victorian Austin Rapp is proving beneficial on both ends of the floor for the Badgers following his transfer from Portland entering the 2025/26 season.
Max Mackinnon:
Following multiple program changes over his college tenure, LSU Senior Max Mackinnon has been making waves in the SEC. The Tigers have shown glimpses of being a true contender with a record of 12-4 with the starting guard having a prolific impact for the team from beyond the arc. Playing in every game for the team thus far throughout the season, Mackinnon has the team’s highest three-point percentage with 14.4 points per game.
Women’s Team Snapshot
The women’s NCAA fixture has been heating up with clear frontrunners falling into place at the half-way point of the season. UConn rose as the clear favourite holding a perfect 17-0 record whilst South Carolina, UCLA, Texas and Vanderbilt aren’t far behind all holding the top five in the ESPN rankings as of round 11. Australia’s Jessica Petrie is leading a contending Nebraska program that is currently holding 24th place in the ESPN rankings.
Women’s Player Snapshot
Bonnie Deas:
Bonnie Deas’ stocks have skyrocketed following the freshman’s frenetic start to the NCAA season. The Victorian has taken over her 11-8 Arkansas Razorbacks team, leading the roster in rebounds, assists and steals.
Charlise Dunn:
Entering her third season at Davidson, Charlise Dunn is in the middle of a career best season in her senior year by overcoming her career averages in every department thus far in 2025/26. The 12-6 Wildcats have heavily relied on Dunn, who leads the team in all but one key stat, as the guard tops the team in minutes, points, rebounds, steals, blocks per game and free throw percentage.
Rubi Gray:
Tasmanian born Rubi Gray has been a key cog on both offense and defence for the 8-8 Sacramento State Hornets in 2025/26. Despite the team’s down season, Gray has risen to the occasion in her sophomore year, leading the team in points per game and rising from averaging 13 minutes per game in 2024/25 to 32.3 in 2025/26. Gray’s progress has been a stark jump as she’s taken the reins in Sacramento.
Jessica Petrie:
Living up to the preseason hype, 6’2” Queensland forward Jessica Petrie has made a name for herself in the Big Ten for the 14-3 Nebraska Cornhuskers. Petrie leads the Cornhuskers in blocks and is the team's second highest leader in points and rebounds. Now in her third season at Nebraska, Petrie has steadily lifted her averages to be a major leader in Nebraska.
Hannah Wickstrom:
Having played 12 of the first 15 games of the season, sophomore Hannah Wickstrom has stepped up in 2025/26 leading the UC Riverside team in points, rebounds and steals per game. Hannah has pushed to become the starting guard for the team and the integral piece on the roster.
