Here are five talented Aussies who have transferred to a new school ahead of their second year, thus facing the challenges of breaking into a new roster, albeit with perceived advantages of increased minutes or a higher profile school.

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Adam and Jacob cover every NBL team’s current roster construction with just over two months until the start of the regular season.

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It means that the playoffs are just around the corner. So who are the key contenders and outside chances in each division of every conference?

Here are all the teams you need to watch, plus the ones that haven’t had the seasons they had hoped…

SOUTH

WOMEN

Lead Contenders…

It was a little over eager to say the Raiders would go through 2026 undefeated, however they are hitting their straps at the perfect time. With just three regular season games left, Knox sits on top of the ladder and in the midst of a 10-game win streak.

Currently Eltham have an identical record, with the two set to play each other on the run home. Lil Dart is well and truly in the MVP race and has been incredible for the Wildcats throughout 2026.

Sandringham and Keilor will be dangerous when their Opals players return, whereas it’s a tough result for Casey, with their MVP candidate Dallas Loughridge likely to join her new Michigan teammates before the NBL1 season ends.

Dark Horse…

The departure of Zitina Aokuso led many people to write Melbourne off, however maybe they shouldn’t be so quick to rule the Tigers out of it. They’ve won three in a row and four out of their last five, and Shuyu Yang has the ability to really blow a game wide open.

Tough year for…

In the preseason it looked as though Ringwood we’re putting together an outfit that might have been in the realm of their 2022 championship side. An ACL injury to Lily Scanlon in the preseason, then one to Annabel Deerbon in their home opener dampened those hopes in a hurry. Emma Clarke has been mostly unavailable due to 3x3 commitments and nothing has quite gelled for the Hawks. Not a year they will want to look back on.

MEN

Lead Contenders…

This season feels like the most open in a few years in the men’s South division. Melbourne, Eltham, and Nunawading lead the ladder and all look in good form as we approach the business end of the year

Photo credit: Rachel Louise Photography

The Tigers are probably the standout pick as they look to avenge their grand final defeat from 2025. They are currently on a six-game winning streak with a winnable game against Sandringham before they play the second-place Wildcats in their final regular season game for the year.

The Spectres are brilliantly coached and the addition of Ben Gristci has been a big one, while Eltham have enjoyed life just fine after the departure of long-time import Josh Sykes.

Dark Horse…

It feels weird to say, but Sandringham look to be the dark horse this season. Despite their stacked lineup they are only going to just scrape into the top 10. However, they are not a side you'd want to face in straight knockout games. Fairytale run coming?

Tough year for…

Normally a perennial contender, the Mt Gambier Pioneers just didn’t have it in 2026. Despite putting together a solid roster, they suffered a nine game losing streak during the year leaving them on the outside of the top 10 looking in.

EAST

WOMEN

Lead Contenders…

Manly or Norths? The run home features what looks like the closest to a grand final preview as we’re going to get across the country.

Jaz Shelley and her Bears have been sensational. Unbeaten at the time of writing and answering every challenge that comes their way. Of course, Shelley will have Geelong’s 2025 in the back of her mind, losing their only game of the year in the grand final.

The Sea Eagles are the clear top challengers, having also seperate themselves from the rest of the pack. We deserve a Norths vs Manly grand final, but we know ANYTHING can happen in playoff basketball.

Dark Horse…

Albury-Wodonga are hitting form at the right time and could surprise some people in the postseason. They’ve won five in a row and the combination of Emily Lytle and Unique Thompson is a force to be reckoned with. The Bandits also showed in June they can compete with the top tier teams, matching it with Manly for most of what ultimately ended as a loss.

Tough year for…

The Bulls are going to end this season winless. Their final two games of the regular season are against Norths and then Manly. Brutal.

As a team Inner West just haven’t been able to match it with anyone. The closest they got was early in the season against Penrith. However, despite keeping the Panthers to just 58 points they still went down by nine points.

MEN

Lead Contenders…

Illawarra and Norths look to have locked up the top two spots in the men’s division of the East. They have both been stunningly strong at home, combining for a 16-1 record when hosting in 2026.

The other side worth noting is Sutherland. They’ve won six straight to turn their 5-6 mid-season record to a formidable 11-6 position. The other standout for the Sharks is their ability to win away from. They are 8-2 on the road this season and will have to keep winning games in opposition venues if they want to win the title.

Dark Horse…

Never write off a champion.

The Gunners might be in the midst of a five-game slide but they have a couple of very winnable games to end the season and we all know what they are capable of doing in a postseason.

They will need someone to come with Will Mayfield, but there are plenty of options who have the ability to do so on any given day.

Tough year for…

It will be difficult for Hornsby Ku-ring-Gai not to think what could have been if Davo Hickey played the entire season. He averaged 20 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists across his six games, helping the Spiders win three of their games, which makes up half of their victories in 2026.

CENTRAL

WOMEN

Lead Contenders…

A second championship in five years? It’s a real possibility for West Adelaide, who have been near-on untouchable so far this season. They are the top scoring team in the country, averaging a ridiculous 97 points per game thanks to the offensive firepower of Morgan Yaeger, Alex Ciabattoni and Co.

Sturt are the only team really in their stratosphere, having put together a strong season that has them essentially locked into second place.

Dark Horse…

They say defence wins championships and Forestville have one of the best in the country. They rank in the top 15 in both points allowed per game and defensive rating. The Eagles are also the only team to beat West Adelaide at the moment so don’t write them off.

Tough year for…

It seems a long time ago that the Eastern Mavericks were 1-1 to start the season. Since then they have lost 15 straight games and have lost touch with the rest of the league. A brutal 2026.

MEN

Lead Contenders…

It was a shock that the Eagles didn’t win the championship last season, but 2026 looks to be their year. They’ve only lost two games and their top players are all looking strong in their roles.

Sturt and South Adelaide make up the rest of the current top three and both look capable of going all the way.

Dark Horse…

Woodville have had an up and down year, but they are an elite defensive unit anchored by Bennett Sherry and Leverenzel Booth Jr who are both averaging just under two blocks per game. If they can find a better rhythm offensively they could wreak some havoc in the postseason.

Tough year for…

The Southern Tigers are another team in the NBL1 that just been unable to maintain pace with the rest of their division. At 2-5 they didn’t seem that far off the rest of the competition, but 10 straight losses has them fixed to the bottom of the ladder.

NORTH

WOMEN

Lead Contenders…

Most of the talk throughout the year was around Cairns and their incredible unbeaten run, but now top spot in the North has been taken by Logan, a place they are very familiar with.

Last year’s champions have once again been brilliantly led by coach Aja Parham-Ammar and captain Mikhaela Cann. Between them and the Dolphins it feels as though the North will have their champion.

Dark Horse…

They do sit in third place so it’s difficult to place them as a dark horse, but the Spartans are a strong defensive unit who have a proven record on the road. They are unbeaten (7-0) when playing in enemy territory and with Jess McDowell-White always on triple-double watch, don’t rule them out.

Tough year for…

At 2-4 through the first six games, the Brisbane Capitals might have thought 2026 was salvageable. However, they then lost seven of their next eight games, leading them to the equal-worst record in the league.

MEN

Lead Contenders…

Always tough to go past an undefeated team. Cairns are having a season to remember and are clearly the team to beat heading into the playoffs. Kody Stattman has been playing at an elite level and his support cast of Kobe McDowell-White, Luca Yates, and Amarco Doyle are top tier.

The rest of the top four remain a threat, but let’s not kid ourselves, Gold Coast, Logan and Sunshine Coast are the chasers and will need to cause an upset to secure the championship.

Dark Horse…

Across their last seven games, Mackay’s only two losses have come at the hands of Cairns. They are a team that does it by committee, plenty of contributors all capable of stepping up when their number is called. Keep your eye on them.

Tough year for…

It just never quite clicked for Northside this season. They have shown plenty offensively, with Quinton Dove and Tyler Williams delivering on that end of the floor. However, the team’s defence just hasn’t provided the same output, ranking inside the bottom 15 teams across the country.

WEST

WOMEN

Lead Contenders…

Did someone say back-to-back?

Cockburn have lost just the two games this season, mostly thanks to their high-powered offence which ranks inside the top 10 across the NBL1.

Warwick are one of the two teams to beat them in 2026 and should be a serious factor in the postseason. Chloe Forster has once again done plenty for the Senators, but she’s had plenty of help in an outfit that is capable of winning it all.

Dark Horse…

If they can sneak into the finals, Joondalup could cause some headaches in the postseason. They are the other side to beat the Cougars and have shown glimpses of brilliance across the season. If Kimberley Pierre-Louis is dominating they could cause some upsets.

Tough year for…

Perth are hitting some great form, but it might be a case of too little, too late. They still need to win out the rest of the season to sneak into the finals, and even then it will be a tough hill to climb from there. And then of course there is the thought of what could have been if Anneli Maley stayed the whole season, but of course she went onto bigger things in the WNBA.

MEN

Lead Contenders…

Since starting the season 3-2, Geraldton have been on an absolute tear. They now sit 13-3 and with Devondrick Walker building into the playoffs nicely.

Rockingham and Joondalup make up the rest of the top three, but the Buccaneers look to be the slight favourites.

Dark Horse…

Marley Sam has been one of the stories of the NBL1 this season and his ability to get hot in a hurry has the Eastern Suns marked as a danger team as we head into the postseason.

They also are one of just three teams to knock over the Flames this year, meaning they are more than capable of claiming a big scalp.

Tough year for…

Sadly for the South West Slammers they find themselves disconnected from the rest of the league. They sit bottom of the ladder, three wins behind the next closest team. Philmon Gebrhiwet has had a solid year but hasn’t had much help, leading to just a 2-17 record.

Image credit: Aaron Camua/@aaron.camua

Coming off a strong WNBL season with the Geelong Venom, where she averaged 12.96 points and 4.09 assists per game, Jaz Shelley has kept the momentum rolling into her NBL1 season with NBL1 team Norths Bears, where she is averaging 24.12 points per game and 43.58% on three-pointers.

It’s a stellar start to her move to Sydney. Shelley says she was won over by Norths coach Renae Garlepp, who also coaches the WNBL team she will join next season, the Sydney Flames.

“She just pitched to me that she’s going to really focus on my development and help me reach some of the goals that I have for myself,” Shelley tells The Pick and Roll.

“She really wanted to give me a cool experience in Sydney, and I thought it was a good opportunity for my NBL1.

“Obviously, I’ve now signed with Sydney Flames, but I was kind of focused on what’s best for me right now, and I thought then I’d figure out my WNBL process from there.

“I think it’s been a really good move to be able to learn Renae’s system and how she coaches and how she helps develop. It gives me a little bit of an upper hand going into the WNBL season, and with the players we have for the Flames at the moment, I’m super excited to start working with them too.”

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Photo credit: FIBA

This time last year, Jacob Furphy was leading the Australian Emus at the Under-19 World Cup. A year later, he’s starting his tenure at Boston College after a season with the UConn Huskies.

Unrelated to Indiana Pacers forward Johnny Furphy, Jacob grew up in Tasmania and has been draped in green and gold in countless youth teams as well as being selected for the Boomers at the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers. He has found himself at Basketball Without Borders, both Asia and Global, as well as the NBA Global Academy, where he first crossed paths with UConn.

UConn just made it to the pointiest end of March Madness but fell short to the Michigan Wolverines. That Wolverines team had three of its players selected in the top 12 of the 2026 NBA Draft, with their head coach Dusty May also ascending to league as the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. That’s what it took to beat UConn by six points.

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Adam and Lukas discuss Jade Melbourne signing with Bendigo, the WNBL schedule release, the Tasmania Jewels’ first season, and the WNBA’s recent skirmish between Indiana and Phoenix.

Unwrapped is presented by C2C Sport. Get 10% exclusive discount on your initial order, use code PICKROLL on the checkout page at c2csport.com.au. Valid for custom orders. Contact sales@c2csport.com or call 02 6581 1558 if you need help.

Here’s what each team is still needing for a run at the title.

Photo credit: Dan Cowley / Images by Dan

Adelaide Lightning: Imported Goods

New GM Tess Madgen has been busy since taking the helm of her hometown team, bringing in Opal Zitina Aokuso, Gemma Potter and Jess McDowell-White, as well as re-signing Tayla Brazel to pair with former league MVP Steph Talbot. The loss of Betty Watson Breakout Player Dallas Loughridge will sting, but I’m told the club is now eyeing two imports to fill out its rotation: Shay Ciezki will take the reigns at point guard, while they’re also set to land an elite big. Adding in an international playmaker, as well as a capable frontcourt partner for Aokuso could empower Aja Parham-Ammar to lead the Lightning to its first serious run at finals in years.

Bendigo Spirit: Pick your Poison

If you think about it, the blockbuster arrival of Jade Melbourne basically brings together the best of Bendigo’s past two seasons. You’ve got reigning MVP Izzy Borlase and breakout big Liv Pollerd running it back from last season, while the addition of Melbourne fills the void left by Sami Whitcomb in the club’s championship run. Holdovers like Casey Samuels and Abbey Wehrung fill out the Venn diagram bridging both eras. Borlase and Melbourne is an NBA-Jam caliber partnership, opens up all sorts of possibilities on offense. The big question: do they chase another big to cover Mariana Tolo following the birth of her first child, or more shooting to empower the most explosive backcourt in the league? Either way, shutting down the Spirit will be a lethal task for most teams this season.

Canberra Capitals: Reinforcements

The Caps had been the laughing stock of the league for some time, but last season they finally showed some serious intent. The mix of Nyadiew Puoch, Sara Blicavs, Aokuso and Melbourne never quite worked out, but the team has gutted the house, and will now build around one foundational piece in Puoch: one of the competition’s most tantalising talents. Puoch’s potential seems limitless, especially as she evolves in the WNBA in real time, and will become a focal point for the first time in the WNBL. Amy Atwell is an ideal running mate, and a massive coup for the Caps, but more help is needed. Sharne Robati and Charlotte Whittaker will bolster the frontcourt, but project as complimentary pieces. Upgrades at guard, centre, and to help Puoch on the wing are all still on the table.

Geelong Venom: More Winners

There’s nothing quite like getting the band back together. The newly appointed Cheryl Chambers is reimagining her championship roster from Southside, with Bec Cole and Maddy Rocci making the move down the Princes Highway. It’s a promising start, with all three knowing exactly what it takes to climb the summit. Who else can help them get there? Chambers has a history of luring big names and big imports. She’ll no doubt be on the hunt for more if the Venom are finally going to make some noise in the finals.

Perth Lynx: Organic Growth

Having come up short in multiple seasons now, the winds of change are blowing in Perth. Wilson and Atwell have both departed, while retaining Han Xu is no certainty. But securing Sami Whitcomb is a paradigm shifting get, and with foundational pieces in Maley and Ciabattoni still in place, there’s still plenty to like in the wild west. While more signings are still in the works, the growth of Nya Lok (from Southside) and Steph Gorman are crucial for the club’s title hopes. If Lok can build on her breakout, and Gorman’s continues her evolution into an elite 3+D wing, the Lynx won’t lose much of a step.

Southside Flyers: An Identity

Geez, what a difference a year can make. Gone is Kristi Harrower, and marquee names like Rocci and Bourne. In comes Slammin’ Sam Mackinnon, who’s wasted no time reshaping the roster. Saffron Shiels is a fascinating addition at the one. She boasts as much upside as any player in the league, but missed the entirety of last season. Now 20, is she ready to make the leap? Additionally, Hannah Hank returns after a year abroad, and could be an early frontrunner as Breakout Player of the Year. Beyond that though, what is this team’s identity? With a number of spots to fill, it could be anything.

Sydney Flames: The Right Big

Credit to Renae Garlepp and Hoops Capital. In the past month, they’ve reunited best friends Jaz Shelley and Issie Bourne in the Harbour City, poached Alex Wilson from Perth, and signed Chinese star Shuyu Yang. Add that group to a core of Loz Nicholson, Shaniece Swain, and Agnes Emma-Nnopu, and you have a seriously supercharged seven. But while Bourne’s star continues rising, she needs help on the front line. Spending big on a top-tier import could put this team into a new stratosphere, but the right role-player could do the same. Fit is everything with such a deep group, so it’ll be fascinating to see how Garlepp harnesses the talent at her disposal.

Tasmania Jewels: Diamonds in the Rough

While new teams in the WNBA benefit from concessions such as expansion draft choices and additional picks, Tasmania has had to build its entire roster from scratch. With Steph Reid as the centrepiece, they have a bona-finde star to build everything around. Offense and defense are one thing, but having someone who can set standards and drive culture is equally as important. Keeley Froling and Darcy Garbin are an excellent frontcourt combo, especially regarding Reid’s skillset. But how do they fill the rest of the roster? Taylor Mole’s homecoming doesn’t move the needle massively, while Andie Smith is still just 17. With many Australians already under contract at the close of last season, the Jewels will need to continuing search far and wide to find locals who can exceed expectations and bolster the club’s burgeoning core.

Photo credit: Dan Cowley / Images by Dan

Townsville Fire: A Cherry on Top

The pieces are already in place for the reigning premiers: Woods, Sowah, Ellis, Fowler, Froling. That’s as good a five-player unit as you’ll find anywhere. Chloe Forster adds continuity, while the addition of Emma Clarke is intriguing. The 26-year-old didn’t quite stick with the Spirit at short notice last season, but has been an insaitible force for the Gangurrus in recent tournament play. Her rare combo of size and shooting could see the rich get even richer. Still, it’s unlikely Shannon Seebohm is done tinkering. The addition of an import - or two - that compliments his core will likely see Townsville as the team to beat in 2026-27.

For the NBL’s clubs, though, the offseason is no time to rest. Championships aren’t won in the winter months, but there’s no doubt that the foundations for success, or for failure, are laid. There’s still more than two months until NBL27 tips off, but already, teams are making the moves that could define their season. As the countdown to round one continues, we’re taking an early look at three of those signings that could pay off in a big way.

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Here are five teenage seven footers who could shape the Boomers’ front court of the future, potentially facing off against behemoths like Victor Wembanyama (France) and Chet Holmgren (USA).

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Adam and Matt look into the future to discuss who could make the FIBA World Cup squad for Australia, as we approach one year to go until Qatar 2027.

Unwrapped is presented by C2C Sport. Get 10% exclusive discount on your initial order, use code PICKROLL on the checkout page at c2csport.com.au. Valid for custom orders. Contact sales@c2csport.com or call 02 6581 1558 if you need help.

From selection drama, to blowing a 24-point lead against the eventual bronze medallists Serbia, the 2024 Olympics were somewhat of anti-climax after the highs of Tokyo.

However, it’s time to move on, with the Boomers next major tournament just over 12 months away.

If qualifying continues on its current path, Australia will find themselves in Qatar for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The tournament presents itself as a changing of the guard for the Boomers, with new coach Adam Caporn taking over from Brian Goorjian and long-time stalwarts Patty Mills, Joe Ingles and Matthew Dellavedova likely to be on the outer.

So who will be fronting up for the Boomers?

Well, we’ve had a crack at putting a squad together…

Photo credit: FIBA

Josh Giddey

This is now 100% Josh Giddey’s team.

There was was some debate heading into Paris about the old guard vs the new guard, but come the 2027 FIBA World Cup, the Bulls guard will have the keys and the pressure will be on him.

We’ve seen Giddey perform well at FIBA level and if he can manage his turnover numbers (five per game in Paris), Australia can go a long way and he will be an tournament All-Star Five contender.

Over to you Josh.

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Image credit: Supplied/NBA Rising Stars Invitational

After their wins in the NBA Rising Stars Invitational Australian Qualifiers in Melbourne this May, Berwick College (boys) and Rowville Secondary College (girls) will represent Australia in the event at Singapore’s OCBA Arena from June 23 to 28.

12 teams will compete in each division, including winners from qualifying events in Japan, Taiwan and Thailand. Opals legend Lauren Jackson will host a clinic at the event, while NBA champions Jeremy Lin and Mitch Richmond and Los Angeles Laker Rui Hachimura are all special guests.

Brent Hobba, a former NBL player and SEABL champion, is coaching the Berwick boys’ team. He says the Australian qualifiers were a huge success. “I think the qualifiers were probably one of the most elite tournaments that have been run for the top basketball academies and high schools in this country. All the schools and players are seeing it as the pinnacle of school basketball.”

While Berwick is making their second trip to the event, it’s new territory for Rowville Secondary College, led by former Olympian and NBL champion Adam Gibson. While they haven’t played at this event before, he says they’ve got plenty of experience on the road. “Every year, we take our teams to the Gold Coast for Nationals, and a lot of our girls have been overseas with other teams. We’ll tick all those boxes, and we’ll be ready to roll.”

At the Melbourne event, two of the team’s best contributors were twin sisters Tesloch and Tiedore Puoch. “They’re great, full of personality, and they play that way as well,” Gibson says. “Sometimes they give me a bit of grief, but they’re great to be around, like all the girls.”

Gibson says Makayla Craven, who starred in the qualifier final with 30 points, has a bright future in the game. “She was incredible. Her game’s grown so much in the last year and a half. I’m relying on her to play big minutes, and along with Vanessa Tavete, she’ll be one of our leaders.”

In the boys’ tournament, Berwick’s Boris Rosner was the star of the final with 27 points and 12 rebounds. Hobba says Rosner was a “sleeper” coming into the event.

“He’s never made state teams or anything like that, but we’ve always known he’s a very talented kid,” says Hobba. “We’re really happy that the spotlight’s been put on him in regards to opportunities for his future. If he keeps tracking the way he’s going, he can definitely get more out of basketball after his junior rep days, and hopefully he takes up that opportunity.”

Berwick’s depth was also a major strength, with bench players contributing a combined 55 points in the final. “We found it really difficult when we initially picked the team because there were 14 kids that put in a strong bid and stuck their hands up to make that team,” Hobba says.

“It was really tough to pick the initial 10, knowing that there were even who had made it last year that missed out and that were fully capable of contributing to this team. We’ve got four Year 12s, two kids at Year 10 age and the rest are Year 11s. Everybody contributed during the tournament, and we expect the same going into Singapore. Being deep is a really important thing for us.”

Hobba says team captain Lachie Pickering and point guard Parker Rivet have been great on-court leaders for the team. “It’s a really unselfish group, and I think they’ve all shown good leadership traits that will help us reach our end goal.”

Since the Australian qualifiers, neither team has had much time to train together, as the young player-athletes balance other commitments.

“It’s been disjointed because our seniors have had exams,” Gibson says of Rowville. “We just had a tournament today; they won a little tournament. We haven’t had too much time on court, but our girls play that much basketball and know each other’s game really well, so we’re not too concerned.”

Similarly, Berwick hasn’t had a proper training session since they qualified for the event. “The kids have just had numerous things going on at the school with assessments, work experience, exams, other tournaments, they’ve got their VSSC (Victorian Secondary Schools Challenge) finals this week,” Hobba says. “It’s been a hectic month, but in saying that, the boys do play a lot of basketball outside [the school team] and they’re raring to go.”

Scouting is another challenge heading into the tournament. Speaking a couple of days before flying to Singapore, Gibson had seen “absolutely zero” footage of the other competing schools but was still hopeful of tracking down some footage. “I know a lot of these schools, they’re good shooters, they’re fast and move the ball well, so we want to make sure we defend the three-point line. We’re probably more worried about ourselves.”

Berwick has also been more focused internally, having only seen some social media snippets of their opponents. “It’s been difficult to even tell which high schools are from which countries,” Hobba says. “Everything is going to be new to us, but like I say to the kids, those who can adapt quickest to what’s going on in the game are usually the ones who get the win. Our boys are pretty good with that, and hopefully we can adapt to all different styles.”

Hobba grew up in Kalgoorlie and says there was no high school basketball to speak of, let alone an international event like this. “I pretty much just had a domestic comp, and I was lucky to go through and play for WA Country at State; that was what I looked forward to. In a small country town, there weren’t the opportunities that kids can get these days.”

Gibson says the event is a unique chance for his student athletes to shine, “With the NBA name attached to this, eyes will be on it. These kids will be looking to go to college and play WNBL and WNBA. To represent your country on any international stage is very special.”

Hobba agrees. “It’s an amazing opportunity,” he says. “I think the kids have realised that with this platform, a lot more people are watching and looking at the socials. It’s endless what kind of opportunities can come from this type of tournament.”

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Rowville Secondary College Team: Tiana Bajic, Makayla Craven, Aorangi Harding, Bridgette Kata, Dynahia Masters, Jordyn Phillips, Tesloch Puoch, Tiedore Puoch, Vanessa Tavete

Berwick College Team: Jack Dawson, Zach Morrell, Lachie Pickering, Parker Rivet, Boris Rosner, Jake Shaw, Stevan Tasic, Aiden Turkkan, Oliver Van Den Brink, Zane Windsor

(Photo credit: FIBA.basketball)

The 2026-27 NCAA season is going to start before you know it. Australians continue making their mark across the United States, with next March Madness shaping up to feature even more Aussies than this year. At this juncture of the college calendar, young Australian hoopers trade out a month of American summer for a slice of Aussie winter, with some of those players returning to a different school.

The full list of college transfers is available at the bottom of this article, but first, let’s take a look at some of the more interesting themes playing out here.

Freshmen graduating

Really, this could easily be read as “2025 Under-19 World Cup representatives” graduating, with a slew of boys and girls changing deck after their freshman year. Bonnie Deas, Emilija Dakic and Sienna Harvey all transferred from good to great programs, with opportunities likely to match.

Dakic and Harvey will be meeting at the Iowa State Cyclones, a school that rose to notoriety on the back of Audi Crooks. Crooks followed the ever-growing theme in college basketball transferring to Oklahoma State after three years at Iowa State. A new dawn beckons for the Buckeyes with Dakic and Harvey having the ability to shape it.

The former spent her freshman year at the Florida Gators who went 18-15 and missed out on the tournament. Harvey’s Washington Huskies were 22-11 and won a game in March Madness before falling to Olivia Miles’ TCU Horned Frogs, which is also Somfai’s new home. Neither of Dakic or Harvey started last year, but they were in the rotation and gameplan in their respective situations.

Although Lara Somfai wasn’t part of that Gems team, it feels like she was, plus she very conveniently bolsters the argument. Somfai was an instant starter for the Stanford Cardinals. She averaged a near double-double as a freshman with 10.8 points and 9.1 rebounds, with a few tantalising statlines sprinkled throughout. It’s hard to go past her monster 15 point, 23 rebound, eight assist, five stocks (steals plus blocks) performance against Pitt in February.

Somfai raised the standard at Stanford as one of the most consistent contributors during a 21-14 season that didn’t include a March Madness berth. Opportunities have opened up at TCU after Miles and Marta Suarez were selected in the WNBA draft. The pair were top two in scoring and assists, as well as making up two of the top three in rebounds. These are massive holes that will need to made up by committee, but Somfai tracks to provide a bit of everything. Her passing game was not much of a feature last season, by design of the Stanford offence, but it would be welcomed at TCU. At 19-years-old, she might not be the biggest part of TCU’s rotation right away, but she’s found herself in the right ecosystem for the next three years.

Her roommate at the CoE, Bonnie Deas, is in the same situation having transferred from the Arkansas Razorbacks to the UCLA Bruins. The parallels don’t stop there, with each player notching 32 games, all as starters, and Deas a fraction behind in points and rebounds, at 10.2 and 9.0. The Razorbacks finished with a 12-20 record but Deas clearly did enough to get noticed by one of the biggest programs in the entire NCAAW.

UCLA went on a tear last year, going 37-1 en route to the NCAAW championship. They had six, count them, six players selected in the WNBA draft with five in the first round and the sixth coming at the start of the second round.

What’s true of both UCLA and TCU is that they have proven track records of developing world-class basketball players. If a player puts in the hours at either of those schools, the opportunities will come. Deas and Somfai have always appeared to be on track for a professional career with Deas already getting her start in the WNBL. Although that might have always seemed like the case for both, this step appears to be the most substantial in attaining that goal. Whether it’s in the WNBA, WNBL, Europe or anywhere in between, these two CoE roommates have set themselves on the path for greatness.

We haven’t even flipped to the Emus side of the coin yet.

(Photo credit: FIBA.basketball)

Emmett Adair, Luke Fennell, Jacob Furphy and Roman Siulepa found new homes with all of them ostensibly moving to bigger schools except for Furphy. He’s made the move from UConn to Boston College after a freshman year in which he had 14 appearances for 35 total minutes. Two of UConn’s starters clocked more than that in their final game of the season against Michigan, with a third starter one minute behind at 34.

It’s an interesting dynamic that has been playing out in college basketball over the past few seasons. Historically, hitching your wagon to a big, reputable program for your entire college career would set you up for a professional career. In recent times, however, players have opted to start at smaller schools for the opportunity to showcase their game and move to the bigger school after.

Where Furphy’s situation gets even more interesting is that Boston College just hired a new head coach, Luke Murray, who was an assistant at UConn with Furphy last season. Murray has been a longstanding assistant to Dan Hurley, one of the most successful college basketball coaches ever. He was with Hurley at three different stops with the past five seasons at UConn being the most potent by far. They rebuilt the college back into a powerhouse with Hurley attaining his five best win-loss records when Murray was copilot. This included three runs to the NCAA men’s final which UConn turned into two championships.

Now, Murray is in the chair and he’s bringing Furphy with him. The two will embark on a new chapter for Boston College together. Furphy might not burst out the gates this season but it’s safe to say he will see a consistent role on the team. However you want to chop it, Jacob Furphy will have one of the most intruiging stories in college basketball next season.

He and Siulepa were by far and away the most relied upon contributors for the Emus in the under-19 World Cup last year and the latter will make his way from Pitt to Ole Miss. Both of these schools have shortened their names from Pittsburgh and Mississippi due to lore that is well above the understanding and, frankly, care, of an Australian.

Siulepa was the third best contributor for a 13-20 Pitt team and was only outplayed by two seniors, both of whom have been invited to pre-NBA draft workouts by multiple teams. The future for Pitt looks challenging, but that isn’t Siulepa’s problem anymore. He put up 10.0 points and 5.5 rebounds while leading the team in offensive boards at 2.9. This would place him fifth in the ACC, two spots behind Cameron Boozer and three spots above Caleb Wilson, both of whom are touted in the infamous top-4 prospects in the 2026 NBA draft (ESPN, yahoo!, The Ringer, Tankathon, CBS, nbadraft.net, NBA Draft Room, honestly add anywhere you get your basketball news).

It’s great company to keep and hopefully a sign of things to come for Siulepa. Not only did Ole Miss have a better record than Pitt last year, they did so in a harder conference as the SEC had 10 features in March Madness while the ACC had eight. Siulepa was not only able to get reps in his freshman year as a starter, but he’s hardened by the level of competition he has been in.

Emmett Adair sits in his own category, which seems to be the case for a lot of the Aussie freshman class. He transferred from Loyola Chicago to George Mason, which is a substantial step up. Adair was in and out of the starting lineup throughout the year before commanding a starting spot for Loyola’s last 10 games of the season. The school went 12-20 as a whole and 4-6 in this last stretch. Adair would average 20 points on 47% from the field, 37% from deep and 95% from the free throw line in these games, garnering attention throughout the NCAA.

George Mason had a very good season last year but narrowly missed March Madness due to their play within the A-10 conference. The two schools who made it to the tournament were Saint Louis and VCU who both went on to win their first games in the tournament. Adair’s previous conference, the Patriot League, had one school (Lehigh) invited to the first four who lost, unable to clinch a berth.

This leaves Luke Fennell, who’s the perfect segue for another major theme in this transfer window.

Hawai’i and Saint Mary’s

Now, why would these schools heavily feature for Australian collegiate basketballers during the transfer window?

It’s great to see how substantial the roots are that have been planted within the NCAA/W. Of the transfers, the University of Hawai’i has three women moving on to bigger things and the Gaels have two. Each school has one man joining the fray.

Fennell is transferring from Syracuse to Saint Mary’s with shades of Furphy’s situation, minus the head coach moving. He joins Josh Dent and Rory Hawke who both notched minutes in March Madness last season, albeit in a loss. Harry Wessels also led Saint Mary’s last year but has since finished his college tenure. Flynn Pavely will join the Aussie barrage at Saint Mary’s as a freshman. The school, with a longstanding connection to Australia, is primed to return to March Madness. Fennell and co. will be tasked with making it out of the first round with an amended roster.

Bol Dengit transferred from UC San Diego to Hawai’i. He replaces Harry Rouhliadeff who was the captain at the college but now plies his trade with the Brisbane Bullets in the NBL. Hawai’i have long had an affinity to Aussies, which only grew stronger after appointing Patty Mills as their general manager last June.

Dengit keeps his own Australian connections up as he has played at a school with at least one other at every stop. Last year he was at UC San Diego with Erin Condron, albeit on the women’s side. Before that, Dengit spent two seasons with the Portland Pilots who have also become synonymous with Australia. As a freshman, he shared the court with Tyler Robertson who then graduated before the school added Max Mackinnon and Austin Rapp. All three of those players have risen in profile and Dengit has the opportunity to cease his moment as a senior with Hawai’i.

Foxwell and Wickstrom: What lies ahead?

Speaking of the Portland Pilots, they just came off one of the more interesting seasons in their history behind Joel Foxwell. He led the WCC in assists per game at 6.5 while leading Portland in scoring with 15.6 points. These are incredible numbers for a freshman but it should really come as no shock, considering he had already been signed to and played for Melbourne United in 2024.

He now makes the move to Arizona State in the Big 12. His role will look different at his new school with less of a demand to create for his team and for himself, allowing him to round out his overall game. In the NCAAW, Hannah Wickstrom is faced with a similar opportunity following her transfer.

Wickstrom’s 2025-26 NCAAW season will go down in Australian basketball history. She led the Big West conference in scoring at 23.4 points per game, which was good for fifth across the NCAAW. She outscored countless women who are now in the WNBA, granted they were in tougher conferences and sharing the court with other players who made it to the league.

She now sets her sights on the Purdue Boilermakers in the Big Ten where she will likely spend her last two college seasons. Both her and Foxwell will be players to keep tabs on as they enter situations where their roles will change and allow them to develop their games beyond being the main source of offence. This season for each of them could have implications for Opals and Boomers teams down the line.

Those are just a few of the storylines and dynamics to keep an eye on following the college transfer portal. There are a number of young Australians who are still within the portal and seeking a new opportunity, so this story is ever-evolving. And these are just the players who have transferred, it doesn’t mention the players staying with their teams or freshmen entering college for the first time.

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NCAA women’s transfers

Jemma Amoore, IU Indy → Kentucky

Olivia Bradley, UCSB → Utah

Tabitha Betson, Colorado → Michigan State

Sophie Burrows, Syracuse → North Carolina

Layla-J Cameron, Tulsa → Central Arkansas

Lily Carmody, Boston College → Northwestern

Hannah Chicken, Portland State → Illinois State

Edie Clarke, Saint Mary’s → Clemson

Ella Collins, Hawai’i → Robert Morris

Georgia Cox, Evansville → East Carolina

Jada Crawshaw, Georgia Tech → Seton Hall

Emilija Dakic, Florida → Iowa State

Pania Davis, Florida State → USC

Bonnie Deas, Arkansas → UCLA

Jasmine Fearne, Bowling Green → Wright State

Kira-May Filemu, Hawai’i → CSUN

Harriet Ford, Duquesne → Richmond

Grace Foster, Utah → Boise State

Claire Fraser, Northern Colorado → Seattle

Hilary Fuller, Belmont → Oregon

Mia Galbraith, Texas State → Northern Colorado

Rubi Gray, Sacramento State → Fresno State

Sienna Grieger, Santa Clara → Cal Baptist

Sienna Harvey, Washington → Iowa State

Amelia Hobson, North Dakota State → FGCU

Phoebe Holmes, Xavier → North Alabama

Keira Hudson, New Mexico State → USC Upstate

Mia Jordan, Northern Kentucky → FAU

Isla Juffermans, Louisville → Charleston

Danijela Kujovic, Hawai’i → Long Beach State

Amy Kurkowski, Saint Mary’s → North Alabama

Makayla Minshall, UC Riverside → Queens

Liz Murphy, Akron → UT Arlington

Jess Petrie, Nebraska → Indiana

Madeline Potts, Syracuse → Saint Joseph’s

Shorna Preston, Pepperdine → FIU

Emmy Roach, Rider → Gonzaga

Jelena Savic, Evansville → Sacramento State

Lara Somfai, Stanford → TCU

Nikki Stanic, New Mexico State → Houston Christian

Malia Tharpe, San Diego → FIU

Hannah Wickstrom, UC Riverside → Purdue

NCAA men transfers

Emmett Adair, Loyola Chicago → George Mason

Truman Byrne, Central Arkansas → Lipscomb

Ryder Cheesman, Missouri State → WT

Nate Deer, Oakland → Canisius

Bol Dengit, UC San Diego → Hawai’i

Luke Fennell, Syracuse → Saint Mary’s

Joel Foxwell, Portland → Arizona State

Jacob Furphy, UConn → Boston College

Tasman Goodrick, Siena → Syracuse

RJ Greer, Davidson → UNCG

Joshua Hughes, Evansville → USC

Josh Ibukunoluwa, High Point → Bradley

Chol Machot, Charleston → Georgetown

Jesse McIntosh, South Dakota → William & Mary

Noah Pagotto, East Texas → Northern Kentucky

Roman Siulepa, Pitt → Ole Miss

Rex Stirling, Wofford → Jacksonville

Ben Tweedy, Colgate → Manhattan

Marcus Vaughns, LSU → Arizona State

Yaak Yaak, Oregon → New Mexico State

Photo credit: FIBA

Observing an otherwise empty gym in Adelaide, there’s mostly silence as Luke Fennell stands at the arc of a three-point line, save for one sound on repeat.

Swish, bounce. Swish, bounce. Swish, bounce.

The loop continues as the supremely talented 20-year-old rinses and repeats, catching, shooting, and resetting his feet as he’s fed the ball. Fennell’s long frame is far from filled out, but he moves with a steady grace and calculated control. He’s light on his feet, able to easily shift his body in motion, and has the kind of sweet stroke that just looks right.

“I can shoot it. I can really shoot it. That’s my main thing,” he explains at the end of his workout.

It’s not a brag, a boast, or even bravado. Fennell is undoubtedly one of the most gifted young snipers in Australia. It’s why he was signed by South-East Melbourne as a teenager, and recruited to the powerhouse that is Syracuse to play collegiately.

It’s also why Saint Mary’s - arguably the most potent pipeline for Australians within the NCAA - were desperate to land the young star when he hit the transfer portal earlier this year. After only playing sparingly at Syracuse, a lot of casual observers might have slept on Fennell.

Could he be the next Australian star to come out of Moraga, California?

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Adam and Lukas cover off on the current WNBL rosters, as the preseason schedule is released.

Unwrapped is presented by C2C Sport. Get 10% exclusive discount on your initial order, use code PICKROLL on the checkout page at c2csport.com.au. Valid for custom orders. Contact sales@c2csport.com or call 02 6581 1558 if you need help.

If you haven’t played basketball’s newest craze 82-0, the big question is what on earth have you been doing.

Simply put, your task is to pick the best statistical team with selections taken from randomised teams and eras.

The rating of that team is based purely off the numbers, not reputation, awards, or championships. It boils down to points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game.

So if an NBL version of the game existed, what teams and players would you need?

We went through the archives to find a team to go 33-0.

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Instead, a new league is heading our way, one that aims to combine the passion for college hoops seen in America with the growing love for basketball in Asia, and that is hoping to transform the talent pipeline in the region.

The Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) tipped off last year, bringing together 12 of the biggest universities from across the continent for a week-long tournament in Hangzhou, China. This year, they’ll do the same again, with the second edition of the event running from August 2-9, but with plenty of change to boot; while defending champions National Chengchi University are one of six teams to return, six new universities will enter the fold, including Australia’s own University of Sydney.

“New markets are going to add a different style of play and a different kind of atmosphere, which we’re really excited about,” Greg Stolt, Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations at AUBL, told The Pick and Roll’s Unwrapped Podcast recently.

That shuffling of teams isn’t the only change on the horizon, with the league also preparing for an extended season with home and away games in the near future. With Australia now in the fold, that means there could be AUBL action on our shores as soon as October, giving Aussie hoops fans a new outlet and providing a huge opportunity for emerging players and coaches alike.

While Australia’s University Basketball League has steadily grown since its inception in 2021, it exists off to the side of the traditional pathways in the sport – local clubs feed state programs, which develop talent for the pro game and national teams. The AUBL aren’t shying away from the fact that they’re looking to shake up Australia’s basketball norm; in fact, they’re embracing the opportunity to be the ones to break new ground. “There is a little bit of a ‘this is what we’ve always done’ mentality in the college level in many of these markets, and since we’ve done it the last 50 years let’s continue doing it this way,” Stolt said.

Credit: AUBL

“From a basketball perspective and for the top league’s perspective, enhancing the college level, and obviously down to the high school level and to the grassroots, is only going to make your pro level better.”

“The goal and objective for us is to create a relevant, meaningful league, but it is going to benefit everybody – players, coaches, professional leagues, national teams.”

While university sports are a little more established in some of the league’s other markets across Asia, last year’s tournament was still a big leap. China’s sports academies, for example, have traditionally fed right into their professional ranks, but more and more young players are starting to look elsewhere for opportunities. “Now you see a little bit of a shift in the market, and really top talent in high school is considering going to college basketball instead of becoming pros at a younger age,” Stolt said.

That inaugural AUBL event was the first step to giving those players a high-level college option closer to home. “Basically what we want to do is take the existing infrastructure and enhance it, make it more meaningful and beneficial for players and coaches and anybody participating,” Stolt said.

By all measures, the tournament was a huge success and a promising start towards that goal. On the court, over half of the 24 total games, including every playoff game, were decided by 10 points or less, with a high standard of play on display night after night. Off the court, the numbers were just as impressive – over 30,000 live attendees, 1.55 billion online impressions, and more than 200 million live broadcast views.

The on-court product is the lifeblood of any sports league, and the AUBL is confident in its ability to put forward a high-quality competition with high-level players. That fan engagement, though, was an even bigger tick in their favour, as they gained immediate cut-through and found fans quickly. “One of the things that I love about China and basketball in China, and I’ve spent about 14 years here, is it doesn’t really matter who’s playing, there’s always an interest in the game and watching the competition,” Stolt said.

They’re hoping that built-in interest in China will again come to the fore during this year’s tournament, but that alone won’t be enough once they spread further abroad in their first full season. It’s another built-in group of fans that they’ll be hoping to tap into, one that is unique to college sports and has long fuelled the passion seen in the NCAA. “These are all major universities in the region and globally, they have alumni everywhere… ultimately, the connection and access to the alumni base and the fanbase is a big piece, and it’s a little bit different than pro sports,” Stolt said.

“That’s the beauty of college sports, it’s the pageantry and passion of the fanbase and the alumni base. Whether or not it’s the best basketball or not, that’s irrelevant – it’s this is our program, they’re representing us, we want to support them, and we’re going to be there for them.”

In markets like Korea and the Philippines, where the game has huge popularity but the national leagues sit below the likes of Australia’s own NBL and Japan’s B.League, that college connection could provide a real point of difference. Fans there watch the NBA, sure, but it’s hard to create a genuine connection from afar, as Stolt well knows after 12 years working for the NBA in China. “Now I’m in this new world of creating a product that’s based here in Asia,” he said, “and it’s going to be for the people here that can watch it in real time, with every year having teams and players that they can support.”

Credit: AUBL

That connection won’t truly be complete, of course, until teams are playing games on their own home turf. The same goes for the AUBL as a whole – while a week-long tournament each year is a start, they know it’s not enough to fulfil the potential they see for the league, both on and off the court. “We really felt like to create something meaningful for basketball it needs to go on more consistent throughout the year… for us to really build this and make it important for basketball and create a business out of it, it needed to be bigger and a little bit more over a period of time,” Stolt said.

While exact details will be announced following August’s event, the blueprint is in place for what that will look like. Tipping off in October, teams will travel across the region in a full regular season, aiming to qualify for championship finals in April 2027. Just as six new teams have entered the fold for the second tournament, Stolt says the lineup of universities could still change before October’s tipoff – “we think it’s really important to have the most compelling basketball teams out there, so that’s the first goal for us” – but with Australia now a part of the league through the University of Sydney, it seems like a safe bet that games will be heading down under.

Having previously played professionally in Australia, including a stint under current JackJumpers assistant coach Mark Radford in Burnie, Stolt knows the potential that is here. “I know a lot about Australian basketball from my playing time and of course watching the great players that have come out of the system, so we’re really excited about having [the University of Sydney] as part of this and really helping us grow the platform,” he said.

He also knows what the current basketball landscape in the country looks like, with the NBL and the NCAA fighting for the top young talent. The AUBL isn’t looking to upend or compete directly with either, but rather give even more opportunities to more people across the whole basketball pipeline. The end goal is to help everyone, from top to bottom – more players will have a high-level competition to compete in, more coaches will have jobs and chances to develop, more fans will be able to access games, and more money will come into the sport.

“I think ultimately the more funding that goes into sports, it’s going to help grow basketball, make it a better experience for those players, staff, and people involved in it,” Stolt said.

“Instead of having a coach that’s working part-time because he can’t earn enough as a coach, you hire a full-time coach, you hire a full-time staff, you’re building your facilities, you travel more often to get high-level competition.”

Long-term, the league is open to any and all ideas. Could the number of teams be expanded? Could a women’s division be introduced? What do broadcast rights look like if their brand continues to grow? For now, though, the focus is on putting on the best show that they can over the next year and showing it to as many people as possible. Big crowds are expected in Hangzhou once again, games will be live streamed into all participating countries, including Australia, and there’s plenty of reason to be excited about the action on the court.

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“I think year one was explaining to people what we were doing, and the challenge was we hadn’t done anything yet, but now we did something,” Stolt said. “The ones that experienced it saw how good it was and how good it can become, and so for us the really exciting part is we’re just getting started.”

Credit: @DiscoveryOne_Photography / Greg Francis

Fa’ale averaged a team-high 17.8 points in that tournament, proving to be a bright spot as the Aussies came out second best against New Zealand. The Victorian has been afforded plenty of opportunities to play against grown men this year, suiting up for Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in the NBL1 competition. He has emerged as the team’s standout player, setting the scene for a future that could include collegiate basketball, NBL among others.

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Adam is joined by Jordan Hutchinson to discuss Australia’s performance at the recent 3X3 FIBA World Cup.

Unwrapped is presented by C2C Sport. Get 10% exclusive discount on your initial order, use code PICKROLL on the checkout page at c2csport.com.au. Valid for custom orders. Contact sales@c2csport.com or call 02 6581 1558 if you need help.

Marena Whittle in action against the USA. Photo credit: FIBA 3x3

With only one win to their name after three games, the women’s Gangurrus team looked to be under the pump as they vied to return to the podium at this year’s FIBA 3x3 World Cup in Warsaw, Poland.

They may have only just survived the group stage, but this team, comprising Amy Atwell, Marena Whittle, Hannah Hank and Emma Clarke (and coached by Damon Lowery) were a resilient bunch with palpable chemistry. They didn’t just make it out of the pool stage, they came within one shot of winning it all.

Australia’s campaign began with a pool game against 10^th-seeded Mongolia. While the 21-15 final scoreline looks relatively comfortable, this was probably Australia’s least convincing effort, and despite a size advantage and some flashes of slick ball movement, they struggled to close out the game. Hannah Hank set the tone for her tournament by relentlessly hunting mismatches and finished with nine points and six rebounds, while Emma Clarke’s dominance on the boards (nine rebounds) helped Australia win this stat 26-16, and the extra possessions went a long way towards the win.

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