The Messenger names top 20 young South Australian athletes to watch in 2023
SA’s next generation of sporting talent is already making its mark domestically and around the world. We’ve picked 20 emerging local stars to keep an eye on this year.
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SA’s rising sport stars at the top level or on the cusp of making it are among the 2023 list of The Messenger’s annual top young athletes to watch.
From a variety of sports, we’ve picked 20 fast-emerging talents to keep an eye on this year.
Last year’s selections included AFL and AFLW draftees Isaac Keeler and Keeley Kustermann, as well as San Diego Padres MLB prospect Riley Yeatman.
Here are the names to keep an eye on this year.
ELLA BRUCE (HOCKEY)
A 15-year-old star for the Forestville Hockey Club, Bruce has made significant strides in her career recently.
Bruce is a talented player who can produce strong and consistent performances across the field and has represented the state at U16 and U18 level.
If the rising star continues along her current trajectory, she will be a reliable top tier player for club and state for years to come.
TOM BRUNET-GRESEQUE (JUDO)
At just 12 years old, Tom Brunet-Greseque accomplished all he could in the world of judo throughout 2022.
The young gun from Adelaide Uni Judo Club won seven gold medals in various weight classes during state and national tournaments last season, including gold in the U40kg section of the Judo Australia National School Championships in the Gold Coast.
Brunet-Greseque also earnt a spot in Maribyrnong College’s sport Academy for 2023 and should continue to make a big name for himself in the sport.
MAGGIE CLARK (CRICKET)
Clark has exploded on to the cricket scene for SA and Australia during the current season.
At just 15 years old, the Jamestown and West Torrens product has become a truly dominant pace bowler.
Recently had an outstanding Women’s U19 T20 World Cup campaign in South Africa, taking 12 wickets in matches against England, India, Sri Lanka, USA, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
LACHIE DAVIS (GYMNASTICS)
One of Australia’s brightest young artistic gymnasts, Davis has made waves representing SA and Australia at just 16 years old.
The teenager’s 2023 got off to a fast start last month when he won silver with Australia at the Winter Beach Blast in Galveston Island, Texas.
Davis specialises on the horizontal bar and has shown signs of becoming a top gymnast across Australia.
JACK DELEAN (FOOTBALL)
Delean has emerged as one of SA’s top AFL draft prospects heading into the 2023 season.
A big target who will look to develop his game up front this season, 17-year-old Delean has been selected to the 2023 AFL Academy and should see plenty of playing time for South Adelaide in the SANFL.
TEJAS GILL (CRICKET)
Gill has been an emerging young star in the SA cricket scene for years and looks set to continue his upward trajectory through 2023 and 2024.
Adelaide High School’s captain and a regular opening batter for Adelaide in SACA Premier Cricket, Gill has also impressed with his performances for SA, making strong totals against QLD Country and Tasmania in the U19 Championships this year.
BRYCE HAMMOND (HOCKEY)
Another young star out of the Forestville Hockey Club, Hammond has become a reliable attacker for his club and the SA U18 side.
Coming out of Port Lincoln, Hammond has made huge strides in his game at Forestville and for the state and scored multiple goals in last year’s national championships.
COREY HICKS (LAWN BOWLS)
17-year-old Hicks has been competing in his first senior season for the Adelaide Bowling Club in 2022-2023 and has been a standout player across the Adelaide Metro Bowls Association.
The teenager has enjoyed significant success through the past year, most recently finishing runner-up in the Australian U18 singles championship in 2022 and runner-up in the open level club singles championships.
ANGUS HINCKSMAN (ATHLETICS)
One of Australia’s top para-athletes, Hincksman is coming off of a standout 2022 season and has already started 2023 with a bang.
Specialising in distance running events, the 17-year-old from the Southern Athletic Club has set two national records in the summer, breaking the men’s U20 T38 state and national records over the 1500-metre and 800-metre distances.
Recently took gold in the 800-metres at the 2022 Australian All Schools Track and Field Championships.
NESTORY IRANKUNDA (SOCCER)
Irankunda has recently established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in the A League.
Having only just turned 17 years old last week, Irankunda has become a star prospect for Adelaide United, recently scoring a dramatic winner against the Brisbane Roar to take the Reds well into the finals picture.
He also dominated for Australia’s U17 Asian Cup side last year, playing three matches and scoring seven goals on the wing and as a striker.
JEMMA KELLY (NETBALL)
At just 16 years of age, Kelly became the youngest player signed to a Netball SA Premier League squad for season 2023, committing to the Metro Jets.
A fast-emerging talent in SA, Kelly can play in key positions at both ends of the court and was named in the Australia U15s and the 2022 U17 Development Squad in 2022.
She was also recently part of the state’s U17 team.
SIENNA LEHMANN (BASKETBALL)
15-year-old Lehmann has recorded achieved major success throughout her recent years in basketball.
The teenage guard from Waikerie has made waves in both SA and on the international stage, recently representing Australia in the U15 Oceania Championships in Guam last November.
She also participated in the NBA Global Academy in Atlanta during July of last year after returning home from the U16 nationals in Perth.
BELLA MASTERS (EQUESTRIAN)
Having started the sport at just two years of age, 15-year-old equestrian star Bella Masters has already achieved big things.
The teenager from Stirling took out the top spot at the 2021 Junior Grand Prix at the SA Jumping State Championships and followed her efforts in 2022 by being selected for the 2022 Barastoc Horse Junior Squad.
Masters looks set to reach more goals with horse Samsonite in 2023.
ASHTON MOIR (FOOTBALL)
Moir also sits as one of South Australia’s top AFL draft prospects heading into the 2023 footy season.
A star forward for Sacred Heart College and Glenelg in the SANFL, Moir has all the tools to take the next step, including athleticism, a strong mark and a reliable kick for goal.
The 17-year-old kicked 30 goals in 10 U18 games for Glenelg in 2022 and should be an even bigger force for the Tigers this season.
MARLEY RAIKIWASA (ATHLETICS)
Raikiwasa has already compiled a remarkable throwing resume at 16 years old, dominating for SA and Australia in recent athletics seasons.
The Northern District Athletics Club product represented Australia in discus at the World Athletics U20 Championships last year and qualified for the final round.
She also won gold at the Australian Track and Field Championships in U18 and U20 discus and holds state records for the U18 shot put and U20, U18 and U16 discus.
HUGH WINTER (TENNIS)
16-year-old Winter recently competed in the Australian Open Junior Championships to cap off some brilliant form to kick-off this summer of tennis.
The teenage tennis sensation currently ranks inside the top 400 juniors worldwide and performed at a high level throughout the championships in December, achieving a finals push as the two seed with dramatic wins, including a dramatic two-hour match against Victorian Daniel Jovanovski 7-5, 3-6 (10-6) in the quarter finals.
JASMYN WRIGHT (GYMNASTICS)
A star youngster from Tea Tree Gully Gymsports, Wright has been a consistent member of the Gymnastics SA state squad throughout the past year.
The 16-year-old specialises in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics and experienced a successful national championships in 2022.
Competing in the level 9 category, Wright finished second on the bars, second on the beam and second all-around, and should produce more impressive displays for the state and even Australia in 2023.
ELIM YAN (TENNIS)
Ranked at number 200 in the world for junior women, SA 17-year-old Elim Yan continues to dominate the tennis scene.
Coming off of a strong 2021 during which the exciting prospect won the Junior International championship for SA against Queensland, Yan again impressed in the 2022 Australian open Junior Championships.
She is also an accomplished State League player for Seacliff.
YAAK YAAK (BASKETBALL)
South Australia’s top rated basketball prospect, Yaak Yaak has developed into a dominant big man after joining the NBA Global Academy last year.
The former North Adelaide Rockets young gun currently stands at 210 cm tall and was one of the stars of the U19 World Cup for Australia last season.
Yaak has garnered attention from various colleges in the USA and is set to make a move on his future after the upcoming national basketball championships.
LAUREN YOUNG (FOOTBALL)
Returning from a torn ACL sustained at the end of the 2021 SANFLW season, West Adelaide superstar Lauren Young is set to take the competition by the scruff of the neck again in 2023.
Young won the competition’s best and fairest award in 2021 at just 15 years of age after dominating in the middle and up front, and was also part of Port Adelaide’s Next Generation Academy.
She was selected to the AFLW Academy for 2023 and has been impressing on the track in pre-season for West Adelaide.
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