Every November, a select group depart as graduates from the Centre of Excellence (CoE). For six of the stars of the recent crop, that moment has arrived.
Jai Fa’ale, Reece Anticevic, Aspen Crase, Lily Mapp, Olivia Olechnowicz and Jade Sherrington will be celebrated with a ceremony in Canberra this evening as they move to the next chapter of their careers.
Jai Fa'ale joins Melbourne United ahead of NBL27, having made a significant impression during his time at the CoE. Emerging as one of the standout performers in the NBL1 East competition, Fa’ale led the team with 21.19 points per game, with his scoring ability being a feature of the program’s 2026 campaign.
Olivia Olechnowicz established herself as one of Australia’s brightest guard prospects in 2026 and she's already joined the Bendigo Spirit roster in the WNBL with a California venture planned for NCAA Season 27-28, joining fellow graduate Zara Russell at the program.
Well known for her defensive capabilities, Olechnowicz featured in both the Sapphires and Gems squads in the 2026 FIBA U17 World Cup and FIBA U18 Asia Cup.
In 2026 her performances were particularly impressive, being nominated as the Best Defensive Player at the FIBA U17 World Cup, and selected in the tournament's All-Star Second Team, with averages of 12.1 points and 3.3 steals per game.
For Lily Mapp, the CoE provided an opportunity to further develop her game and test herself against strong competition. Averaging 7.33 points and 8.48 rebounds per game in the NBL1 East, Mapp brought an interior presence on both ends of the court.
Her year also included valuable international experience with the Australian junior teams, collecting gold at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup and bronze at the FIBA U17 World Cup. Her plans for 2027 are yet to be confirmed.
Jade Sherrington overcame injuries in the early stages of her time at the CoE and came back at full speed with ten NBL1 East games in 2026.
Sherrington's hard work was further rewarded in 2026 with junior Australian representation. She featured in the gold medal winning Gems team at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup, as well as the bronze medal Sapphires at the FIBA U17 World Cup. Like Mapp, her next move for 2027 is still to be determined.
Having spent two years at the CoE, Aspen Crase leaves Canberra with plenty of development behind her and exciting opportunities ahead.
The South Australian has continued to make strides in her game, capping off her time in the program with a gold medal alongside the Gems at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup.
Crase will have the opportunity to test herself across two environments, joining both the Adelaide Lightning in the WNBL, as well as pursuing a college opportunity with Davidson in the United States.
Rounding out the graduating group is Reece Anticevic, who departs after one season at the AIS.
The West Australian will head home to join the Perth Lynx for the WNBL season and has committed to Oregon for NCAA Season 27-28. Anticevic will take her versatile skillset and championship experience from the FIBA U18 Asia Cup to the Lynx, Ducks.
