THE NCAAM season has wrapped, and although there was plenty of attention on some of the homegrown heroes from the United States, there were a few Aussies making a name for themselves in the 2022/23 season.
There were plenty of eyes on Geraldton native Alex Ducas as he suited up for the Saint Mary’s Gaels in his senior season with the team, having shown gradual progression during his first three years.
Ducas joined the Gaels in 2019, and has taken more responsibility as each year has gone on. Now in 2023, he has established himself as a core member of his team’s lineup and delivered career-best numbers for Saint Mary’s in the fixture that recently wrapped.
Across 35 appearances in the 2022/23 season, Ducas averaged 12.5 points per game, which is 2.2 more than last season. He is one of the most consistent bucket-getters for the Gaels at this stage in his collegiate career, and has fully proven himself as a damaging offensive player in the NCAAM.
One of the biggest factors in Ducas getting his points total higher on a yearly basis has been his progression as a shooter, particularly from behind the arc. He has one of the sweetest jumpshots going around, and when given the space, he can hurt the opposition.
Ducas shot 41 per cent from behind the arc, which is efficient for someone that shoots from downtown as much as he does. The team looked to get the ball in his hands on the perimeter, and when they did, Ducas showed no hesitation in firing off a shot. He has gotten much better at being unfazed by the contests from the opposition, often shooting over hands or arms in his face, and looks unstoppable at times.
Over a two-month span, Ducas delivered double-digits in 15 out of his 17 appearances, showcasing the consistency he displayed during this time. It was during this patch that he looked at his most dangerous, working extremely hard off the ball to find space, and knocking down shot after shot.
As for the future, Ducas will be staying in the United States for one more year, taking advantage of a ‘pandemic exemption’, which allows him to stay with the Gaels for a fifth and final year. He was helped off the court with a back injury in his final game of the season, so this rule sets up Ducas for one last ride with Saint Mary’s, who will be hoping to win it all next year.
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