ONE of the most exciting parts of the 2022/23 collegiate season was the number of Aussies that took a step forward in their individual games, continuing to make a name for themselves on the big stage.

After spending the first two years of his collegiate career showing glimpses of a strong player, Jayden Stone took his game to another level in his junior campaign, stepping up to be a key cog for the Detroit Mercy Lions.

The guard delivered the best numbers of his short career in the season that just wrapped, and emerging as one of the strongest backcourt players from down under.

Offensively, not many players on Detroit Mercy’s list took a bigger leap forward than Stone, jumping from an occasional bench player to one of the stars on his team.

It all started with an increase in his minutes, with the Perth native going from eight minutes a game last year to 31.4 in his junior year with the team. The departure of some key names in between certainly helped his cause, but Stone made sure to take the opportunity with both hands.

Stone’s biggest advancement came as a scorer, a facet that has always been one of the strengths of his game. Despite having limited court time in the past, he still showed glimpses of a strong scorer.

During the 2022/23 season, Stone averaged 13.9 points per game, which is nearly 11 more than last season in a drastic increase. He was given a license on the offensive end by the coaching staff and did not waste it.

From the field, the guard made 49.2 per cent of his shots in an accurate display, looking a strong chance to find the bottom of the net every time he fired off an attempt. His accuracy was even more impressive from behind the arc, where he made an eye-catching 51 per cent of his attempts. Although it was not always his preferred method of scoring, he was still a deadly long range shooter when left open.

Although his season ended in January, Stone finished in style with back to back 24-point performances for Detroit Mercy. Both were strong shotmaking showings, with minimal trips to the free throw line.

It was a season to remember for Stone, who firmly established himself as a strong scorer and has set himself up perfectly for his upcoming senior campaign with the team.