The meteoric rise of Johnny Furphy

Here's how Johnny Furphy went from being a scarcely known Victorian wing, to a potential lottery pick in the upcoming 2024 NBA draft.

Johnny Furphy is the hottest Australian name on NBA evaluator lips right now. As a key contributor for one of college basketball’s biggest programs — as a freshman, no less — the sharpshooting Kansas wing is plastered across projected draft boards, currently considered a lottery level talent by The Athletic, among others.

As a 6’9 wing with high-flying athleticism and deep range, the sell seems pretty obvious. Yet as recently as 18 months ago, Furphy was barely recruited and scarcely regarded, even amongst the modestly sized Australian basketball community. So where did Johnny Furphy come from, and how did he come to be one of Australia’s most exciting young prospects?