Australian U19 Men's Squad | Training Camp Roster
The Australian U19 Emus squad have begun their training camp at the Basketball Australia National Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Canberra, with CoE Men's head coach Adam Caporn taking the reigns of the team.
The extended 21-man squad will be narrowed down to 12 for the FIBA Oceania U19 Championships - a tournament that will act as a qualifier for the more esteemed FIBA U19 World Championships in Crete, Greece, starting in June, 2015.
The squad, which consists of a mixture of U17 and U19 representative players, will have a number of training sessions throughout the week and will end with scrimmages against the Wollongong Hawks and the Sydney Kings.
The 2013 Australian Emus Squad
Training Camp Roster
Callum Barker | Tasmania | 6'8 | PF
Barker is coming off an impressive performance at the 2014 adidas Nations Global event as a part of the Asia Pacific squad. He was a member of the Australian U19 squad in last year's Pacific Championships, averaging 5.2 ppg & 5.7 rpg over 6 games.
George Blagojevic | Victoria | 6'8 | F
A CoE scholarship holder, Blagojevic has seen his development grow immensely. He averaged 5.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg & 1.8 apg in last year's U19 squad at the Pacific Championships, starting all 6 games.
Kyle Clark | Tasmania | 6'7 | F
Clark was the 6th man for the silver medal winning Australian U17 squad, averaging 5.9 ppg & 2.9 rpg in significant minutes off the bench. Clark also had an impressive SEABL season this year, posting 10.7 ppg, 4 rpg & 35% 3pt for NW Tasmania. He has verbally committed to St Mary's.
Harry Froling | Queensland | 6'9 | PF
Froling was another member of the Australian U17 squad that provided big minutes off the bench, averaging an impressive 7.1 ppg & 3.1 rpg in 7 games. He is the youngest member of this training squad and only 1-of-3 1998-born athletes. Froling has recently received offers from Washington St and Boise St.
Isaac Humphries | NSW | 7'0 | C
Humphries is coming off an extremely impressive showing at the FIBA U17 World Championships, averaging 18.9 ppg, 11.6 rpg & 3.3 bpg on 58% FG & 83% FT en route to all-tournament team honours. Humphries' recruitment has picked up in the past few months - Arizona, Kansas and Illinois all offering the Aussie 7-footer. Despite Humphries' eventual transfer to La Lumiere School later this year, he is expected to be available for the FIBA Oceania qualifiers - should he make the team.
Isaac Humphries | Photo courtesy FIBA - via Basketball Australia
Jordan Hunter | NSW | 6'9 | PF/C
Jordan Hunter is experiencing his first taste of national team basketball after a very impressive showing in the NSW Waratah Junior Metro League, leading Norths to a championship. Hunter recently visited the CoE to train with the current scholarship holders and didn't look out of place so this camp is a huge step in his development.
Matthew McCarthy | Victoria | 6'9 | PF
McCarthy is another athlete who has visited the CoE recently to train with the current squad and be evaluated by the coaching staff. He was a member of the Waverley Falcons, the team that won this year's State U23 Victoria Youth League Men's Championship.
Jack McVeigh | Queensland | 6'7 | SF
Jack McVeigh experienced his first taste of senior national squad action in this year's Sino Challenge, coming off the bench for the Australian Boomers squad. McVeigh is one of the most senior members of the CoE squad, averaging a team-high 14.1 ppg, 4 rpg & 1.8 apg in SEABL competition.
Jack McVeigh | Credit: Kangaroo Photos/Basketball Australia
Joel Smith | Victoria | 6'4 | SG
Smith was a member of the Australian U19 squad in last year's Pacific Championships and was one of the key players coming off the bench, averaging 10.3 ppg & 3.3 rpg on 49% FG. Smith was also a member of the Australian squad that attended the 2014 Nike All-Asia Camp in June.
Rhys Vague | Western Australia | 6'8 | PF
Rhys Vague was one of the only legitimate big-men for the Australian U19 team in the Pacific Championships last year, averaging 10 ppg, 4.5 rpg on 50% FG. Vague was also fortunate enough to be invited to represent the CoE squad in a number of SEABL games earlier this year.
Dejan Vasiljevic | Victoria | 6'1 | SG
Vasiljevic was a key member of the Australian U17 squad the the FIBA U17 World Championships, averaging 17.4 ppg & 6.6 rpg on 36% FG & 37% 3pt and gaining all-tournament honours. He is one of the more refined young guards in the CoE squad and has seen his recruitment take a huge leap since the World Championships, recently being offered by LSU and St Mary's.
Dejan Vasiljevic | Courtesy FIBA via Basketball Australia
Michael Wearne | Victoria | 6'1 | PG
Wearne was a key member of the Victoria Metro squad that won the 2013 U18 Australian Junior Championships. He also a member of Dandenong during this year's SEABL campaign, averaging 3 ppg, 2 rpg & 1.2 apg over 20 games.
Jack White | Victoria | 6'6 | SF
Jack White's development took a huge leap after a stellar performance at the 2014 U18 Australian Junior Championships, leading his Victoria Country side to a 3rd place finish. White averaged 1.9 ppg & 1.1 rpg in limited minutes off the bench for the Australian U17 squad at the FIBA U17 World Championships. His great play has seen him receive a scholarship to attend the CoE.
Tom Wilson | Victoria | 6'4 | SG
Wilson was the captain of the Australian U17 squad that won the silver medal at the FIBA U17 World Championships, averaging 12.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg & 1.7 apg. He's a key member of this year's CoE squad and won the 2014 U18 Australian Junior Championships with Victoria Metro.
Tom Wilson | Photo courtesy FIBA – via Basketball Australia
Kai Woodfall | Tasmania | 6'0 | PG
Woodfall was the starting point guard for the Australian U19 squad at last year's Pacific Championships, averaging 9.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg & 1.5 apg in 6 games. Woodfall was another player who was fortunate enough to play for the CoE squad for a few games this SEABL season.
Reserves
Kouat Noi | NSW | 6'7 | F
Noi was the starting power forward for the Australian U17 squad at the FIBA U17 World Championships, averaging 9.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg & 1.3 apg. Noi continued the trend of elite Australian athletes moving to the US to play high school basketball, transferring to Montverde Academy for his junior year.
Joseph Owens | Queensland | 6'7 | PF/C
Owens was a member of the Australian U19 squad at last year's Pacific Championships, averaging 4.3 ppg & 2.3 rpg off the bench. Owens was amongst those who played for the CoE squad sparingly during this SEABL season.
Jock Perry | Victoria | 7'1 | C
Perry has been a member of the CoE squad for a few years and has been unfortunate to be hit with a number of injuries this past year, keeping him off potential U17 squads. His most recent national action was with the U17 squad in last year's FIBA Oceania Championships, averaging 2.7 ppg & 2 rpg in limited minutes off the bench.
Tad Dufelmeier | ACT | 6'1 | PG
Dufelmeier was a member of last year's U19 squad at the Pacific Championships, averaging 8.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg & 2.5 apg on 52% FG. He was a key member of this year's Canberra squad in SEABL competition and will be attending Salt Lake City College.
Geremy McKay | Victoria | 6'7 | PF
McKay was one of the key members, and starting power forward, of the U19 squad in last year's Pacific Championships - averaging 9.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg & 1.2 apg on 52% FG. After an impressive 2013, McKay committed to the University of Albany.
Geremy McKay | Credit: Kangaroo Photos/Basketball Australia
Kai Healy | NSW | 6'4 | SG
Healy was the 6th man for the Australian U19 squad at the Pacific Championships, averaging 10.7 ppg, 4 rpg, 1.5 apg on 56% FG off the bench. He had a stellar showing at the 2013 Australian Schools Championships and is currently in the midst of his commitment to Santa Clara University.
Jayden Hodgson | NSW | 6'1 | PG
Hodgson was a member of this year's Australian U17 squad at the FIBA U17 World Championships, averaging 1.1 ppg & 1.3 apg off the bench. Earlier this year he led NSW Country to a silver medal at the U18 Australian Junior Championships.
2014 Australian U17 Squad | Courtesy FIBA via Basketball Australia
Players unavailable for camp
A number of the players selected for camp attend high school in the US so they're unable to attend this camp due to scheduling conflicts. Word is that communication with these players has been minimal, but both Basketball Australia and the coaching staff are expected to work toward making these players available for this U19 campaign. A potential training camp in the US has been discussed yet nothing has been put into place as of yet.
Deng Adel | Victoria | 6'7 | G/F
Adel has seen his stock skyrocket over the summer after impressing in AAU competition. He was a member of the Asia Pacific squad at the 2014 adidas Nations Global event and recently committed to the University of Louisville.
Deng Adel | Credit: adidas
Jonah Bolden | NSW | 6'8 | F
Bolden is one of the most intriguing junior players in Australia - a brilliant showing at the 2013 U18 Australian Junior Championships led to an offer from UCLA, which he took. After attending esteemed prep schools Findlay Prep and Brewster Academy, Bolden's stock soared. He was recently deemed ineligible for the upcoming college season, increasing the chances of his involvement in this U19's campaign.
Tanner Krebs | Tasmania | 6'5 | G
Krebs was a starting guard for the U19 squad in last year's Pacific Championships, averaging 10.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg & 1.8 apg. The St Mary's signee also had an impressive SEABL season, averaging 12.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg & 1.8 apg for the CoE squad.
Thon Maker | WA/NSW | 7'1 | PF/C
Thon Maker has had a whirlwind of a summer. He exploded on the AAU scene and received offers from every college imaginable. He made the controversial move to attend the Athletes Institute in Ontario, Canada - putting into question where his national team allegiance lies. Sources have told me that Maker will remain loyal to Australia but nothing is 100% confirmed as of yet.
Will Mcdowell-White | Queensland | 6'5 | SG
Will McDowell-White is amongst the youngest members of this camp, yet he is one of the most talented. He had a breakout performance at this year's adidas Nations Global event, averaging 13.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg & 3.5 apg on an outstanding 72% from the field.
Ben Simmons | Victoria | 6'9 | F
Simmons has solidified his place as the best high school player in the world, being ranked atop both the ESPN 2015 Rankings and the Rivals 2015 Rankings. The LSU commit had a dominant showing on the AAU scene and is expected to have another stellar year at Montverde Academy. Simmons was a member of the 2012 Australian U17 squad, averaging 9 ppg & 5.4 rpg.
Ben Simmons - Credit to Max Prep/Jim Redman
The 2014 FIBA Oceania Under 19 Championships is in Suva, Fiji from 1-6 December.
Make sure to check out our Aussie High School Prospects: Mens list that features players from this squad, as well as some of the other elite Australian junior prospects.