Basketball Australia is excited to announce the latest group of incoming athletes across both the BA Centre of Excellence (CoE) and NBA Global Academy.
“These young men have already excelled on the national stage and demonstrate the character and work ethic to continue carrying our programs and Australian basketball forward,” said Jan Stirling, General Manager of High Performance.
“There is great athleticism and versatility across this group which fits with many current international trends on both sides of the ball and fits within our national identity.
“The recent launch of the NBA Global Academy has even further enhanced the residential programs at the AIS with improved daily training environments, resources and holistic growth.
“The rewards for Australian basketball are only just beginning.”
CoE Incoming Athletes
Isaiah Lee
A point guard out of NSW Metro, Lee is coming off a strong Under-18 national Championship where he helped his team to a bronze medal while finishing second for the tournament in assists.
The son of former NBL import Jerome, Lee is regarded as a hard worker and quality team mate who has the quickness and vision to be a strong addition to future back courts of Australia. Competing for the Crocs at the Under-17 Oceania Championship, he averaged 7.4 points and 3.6 assists while shooting 50% from the field.
Kyle Bowen
Having put in a terrific body of work over the past 18 months, WA Metro wing/forward Bowen has participated in two Australian Development Camps at the CoE, performed well at the Under-18 nationals this year where he averaged 13 points per contest and helped the Crocs win the Under-17 Oceania Championship with a 36-point performance against Guam in the Semi-Final when he shot 17-19 from the field.
Bowen’s versatility and ability to impact all areas of the court is sure to make him a valuable asset in international basketball and while he has predominantly played as a post player, his work at the CoE will see him develop his perimeter game as well.
Aiden Krause
The third member to help Australia to a Oceania Championship title earlier this month, Krause averaged 18.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and three steals over five games while shooting 67% from the field. His recent success dates back to the Under-18 nationals as well when he helped Queensland North claim the silver medal and his traits as an elite defender and competitor will suit Australia perfectly.
His speed with the ball and ability to attack the rim make him a devastating transition player and a valuable competitor at both ends of the floor.
NBA Global Incoming Athletes
Anyang Garang
An SA Metro wing, Garang has showcased his talents at the Australian Development Camp, CoE Talent Identification Camp as well as at this year’s Under-18 nationals. Supremely athletic and dedicated, Garang will continue to develop his body at the CoE and make the transition into a perimeter player.
Alexander Ducas
Ducas also starred at the CoE Talent Identification Camp and at the Under-18’s this year where he averaged 16.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. A fearless competitor for WA Country, he has great physical attributes and is multi-skilled at both ends of the floor where he can defend and attack a number of positions as shown during his time in the SBL with Geraldton.
Hunter Clarke
Returning home after a stint in the USA, Clarke played for Tasmania at the 2017 Under-18 nationals and scored 17.9 points and five boards per contest as a bottom-ager. An elite shooter, Clarke is a prototypical international guard with a great size and feel for the game already and he comes to the CoE as a son of former AIS/CoE scholarship holders Marty and Julie.
In the spirit of reconciliation Basketball Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.