AN EXPANDED role for Australian big man Oscar Cluff is proving dividend as the six-foot-11 centre is enjoying an elite start to the 2024/2025 season. 

The Queenslander is a traditional back to the basket, big, bruising centre who is an impressive rebounder and can block shots. He is shooting 67 per cent from the field through his first five games this season with the Jackrabbits on 18 points per game and 12 rebounds per game.

Cluff is an underrated passing big who has dealt out five assists on multiple occasions already this year. His old-fashioned post-up game means he gets to the free throw line often, where he has converted 34 of his 43 attempts so far. He has also made his only three-point attempt for the season, after also going 1/1 last year.

Cluff’s college career began at Cochise College, where he started all but one game in two seasons. He proved himself to be an efficient scorer, elite rebounder, and superb shot blocker. In his first season with the Apaches he averaged a tremendous 2.6 blocks per game, while in his second season he took his offensive output to another level, scoring over 18 points per contest and remaining highly efficient from the field. 

Cluff’s two outstanding seasons with Cochise allowed him to transfer to a larger university, and he was able to join Washington State. Last season with the Cougars though Cluff was limited in his minutes despite showing impressive flashes of his elite rebounding and shot blocking ability. He saw the floor even less in the Cougars’ postseason run where they bowed out in the second round.

Having joined a third team in four years, Cluff has been able to step into the starting role at South Dakota State and is now playing over 28 minutes per game, the most of his career. His numbers have been fantastic, and his impact has been felt. He has been entrusted with the most field goal attempts of any player on the team and is looking to lead his side further than they made it in the NCAA tournament last time out. 

In the 2023/24 season the Jackrabbits fell in the first round of March Madness to the Iowa State Cyclones, who funnily enough went on to defeat Cluff’s former side Washington State in the second round. South Dakota State finished last season with a record of 22-13, and with now sixth year head coach Eric Henderson at the helm, the side is off to a notable 6-2 start. 

The Jackrabbits are in the midst of a six-day break before they next face Dakota Wesleyan in early December and will seek to continue their winning ways in the new year, with the Sunshine Coast product Cluff leading the way. They currently lead the Summit League tied with the University of South Dakota, whom they will not clash with until late January, where the two powerhouses could play one of the most anticipated games of the college basketball season.