COMING off a magnificent Freshman season with the Portland Pilots in the NCAAM, Melbourne native Austin Rapp is set to enter the transfer portal, having made a name for himself with a productive campaign.

Formerly a development player with the SEM Phoenix in the NBL, Rapp made the move to the college pathway in hopes of reaching his NBA dream, signing with the Portland Pilots. Several Aussies have played for the Pilots in the past such as Zac Triplett and Alexandra Fowler, making a name for themselves in a big way.

Rapp’s talent has always been on display, playing with the Knox Raiders in the NBL1 South early in his career while also representing Australia to close out a successful junior career on local shores. Catching the attention of several college sides, he left the NBL for the United States, and could not have started his career any better.

>> AUSTIN RAPP PLAYER FOCUS <<

In his first season with the Pilots, Rapp posted seriously impressive numbers of 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.5 blocks, making an immediate impact for Portland and proving he belongs at college level.

He was named WCC Freshman Player of the Year for his efforts, and emerged as one of the better first year prospects in the country as well. His strong offensive play led Portland to 12 wins, although he was missing support on the offensive end at times.

A stretch power forward, the 19-year-old steps into three-pointers with such confidence, helping create scores in transition as he looks to push wide on fast breaks. Standing six-foot-10, his ability to shoot the three ball at a 35 per cent clip was seriously impressive, and not the only strength he brings to the table as a player.

Defensively, he is a talented paint protector, proving an immovable force under the hoop at times, and making the opposition question their drives into the low block if he is standing in the way. Averaging a block and a half a game, Rapp is a serious two-way threat, and is capable of switching onto guards and holding his own.

For his size, Rapp is also a capable playmaker, and can link up his guards with high catches and well timed passes. The Pilots looked to play through him more often than not, and when he naturally drew tough defensive attention, the Aussie had the smarts to make the right pass out of the coverage.

His consistency was also a big tick for the Pilots, scoring double-digits in 24 of his 31 outings, and this became a more common occurrence as the season rolled on. Portland could simply rely on Rapp finding the bottom of the net, even as opposition teams became more aware of his offensive potential.

Now looking to move teams, Rapp should garner attention from some of the biggest schools in the country. Should he continue on his upward trajectory on a side with more coverage and attention, the Aussie could seriously move into draft contention, and is one to watch in the coming years.