THE Australian presence is as prominent as ever in the NCAAM, with a large number of Aussie imports playing a part in the 2022/23 season.
One of the bigger contributors was Max Mackinnon, who suited up for the Elon Phoenix in his first season at collegiate level. A highly touted youngster and development player with the Brisbane Bullets in the NBL, there were some fairly high expectations for Mackinnon coming into the system, and luckily, he delivered.
The guard was given plenty of opportunity in his first season as a college athlete, benefiting from signing with a lower-profile side. He averaged just over 29 minutes per game, slotting into the starting lineup nicely and ensuring his impact was felt as much as possible.
The freshman had played as a forward during his junior career, but was shuffled into the backcourt against some bigger bodies at college level. Standing at six-foot-five, the Brisbane native offered size at the guard position, and was a tough matchup for the opposition at times. It is a trend that is becoming more frequent for Aussies heading overseas after facing off against some bigger bodies.
In his first season in the college system, Mackinnon delivered solid numbers and looked at home as a member of the Phoenix. He finished the season with averages of 11.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
Mackinnon was able to average double-digits on the back of some solid efficiency from the field. He made 49.3 per cent of his shots on the season, and was a reliable avenue of scoring for much of the fixture.
One area of his game that requires improvement is his shooting from behind the arc, making just 28 per cent of his shots from three-point territory. It is a common theme for Aussies heading overseas in their first season, but Mackinnon still has the foundation of a smooth shooting motion.
His scoring numbers got better as the season rolled on, becoming a more frequent member of the double-digit club later in the fixture. Although he had two 20-point performances in the span of three games early in the season, he was much more reliable for 10 or more points later on, doing so in eight of the last 11 games of the fixture.
Mackinnon certainly showed enough in his first season in the system, and should only look more and more comfortable in the seasons to come. He was confident enough in his own game to post solid numbers and will likely boost those in his sophomore campaign.
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