Squad announced for selection camp ahead of Oceania Championships
AUSTRALIA’s next generation of basketballers are gearing up for potential selection for the upcoming 2025 FIBA Under-17 Oceania Championships, which is set to be held in Samoa later this year in an excellent showcase of young talent.
Australia will take both a men’s and a women’s team to the tournament and will be the favourites following the nation’s recent success at the FIBA U17 Asia Cup, with both sides bringing home the gold over the past few months to maintain their standing as the premier country in the region.
The tournament will be held in Samoa from the 8th-13th of December, with the top two sides automatically booking spots at the 2026 FIBA Under 18 Asia Cup and FIBA Women’s Under 18 Asia Cup next year.
Much like the Asia Cup, the Sapphires will be taking a balanced roster to the tournament, which was one of their biggest strengths in Mongolia last month. The Aussies simply had so many contributors that they were destructive against even their most dangerous opponents.
Madison Ryan and Marianela Fakalata are both back after proving standouts at the Asia Cup, and will again don the green and gold and will likely make an impact at international level having shown that ability in the past.
The Crocs were just as dominant during their Asia Cup campaign, proving so with a strong win over China in the decider in early September, having completed the tournament with a perfect record and some huge victories.
Again, there is plenty to like about Australia’s roster, with many of the big names returning, including Luke Paul, who has broken onto the scene after winning tournament MVP in Mongolia with an outstanding campaign.
He looms as a future star of Australian basketball, even drawing comparisons to NBA gun Joshua Giddey in a massive wrap for the youngster. Expect Paul to star for Australia once again as both he and the Crocs could add more silverware to the cabinet.
The teams will head to the Australian Institute of Sport next week for a selection camp, with the final teams to be announced shortly after.
Australian Sapphires squad
| Taia McMechan | VIC |
| Cheyenne Bobongie | QLD |
| Kaila Proctor | NSW |
| Taryn Bond | QLD |
| Isabel Smith | QLD |
| Olivia Olechnowicz | QLD |
| Mia Harvey | VIC |
| Nikki Parker | TAS |
| Rebecca Donnelly | NSW |
| Aspen Crase | SA |
| Sophie Richardson | VIC |
| Madeline Angus | VIC |
| Kira Juffermans | NSW |
| Madison Ryan | VIC |
| Lily Mapp | QLD |
| Abbey Jones | SA |
| Reece Anticevic | WA |
| Eliza Ashby | VIC |
| Andie Smith | TAS |
| Jemyma Manyok | QLD |
Australian Crocs squad
| Isaac Riddle | SA |
| Austin Prosser | NSW |
| Luke Paul | WA |
| William Hamilton | VIC |
| Yahya Basaran | VIC |
| Jai Fa’ale | VIC |
| Charlie Winks | QLD |
| Bol Diing | NSW |
| Harry Cook | QLD |
| Curtis Evic | NSW |
| Jamaal Osikoya | NSW |
| Guer Bar | VIC |
| Kale Matthews-Hampton | SA |
| Billy McRae | WA |
| Issac Weldon | QLD |
| Koby Moir | SA |
| Wieu Atuer | WA |
| Bailey Hanson | NSW |
| Jack Smith | TAS |
| Sonny Maxwell | VIC |
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