Top 25 young South Australian athletes to watch in 2024
SA’s next generation of sporting talent is already making its mark domestically and around the world. We’ve picked 25 emerging local stars to keep an eye on this year. See who made the cut.
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SA’s rising sport stars at the top level or on the cusp of making it big are among the 2024 list of our annual top young athletes to watch.
From a variety of sports, we’ve picked 25 fast-emerging talents to keep an eye on this year.
Last year’s selections included AFL draftees Jack Delean and Ashton Moir, as well as Adelaide United star and soon-to-be Bayern Munich player Nestory Irankunda.
Here are the names to keep an eye on this year.
AKON BAAK (TAEKWONDO)
14-year-old Baak has excelled in taekwondo recently, representing Australia at the Taekwondo Cadet World Championships in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She won silver in that tournament to become the first ever South Australian to medal in taekwondo at the world championships level.
Baak was also named the Australian Taekwondo Junior Female Athlete of 2023.
FINLEY BENNETT (VOLLEYBALL)
A star attacker, Bennett has experienced a number of major successes in the past year.
An athletic and dangerous player for USC Lion, the 17-year-old was named the 2023 SAVL men’s rising star and also led his club to the U19 championship.
Bennett has also represented SA in a number of tournaments and will be one to watch on the national and international stage in the near future.
JACK BUSHELL (BASEBALL)
Aged 18, Bushell recently made his mark as a star right-arm pitcher for Australia in the U18 World Baseball Classic.
Also a development player on the Adelaide Giants roster, the teenager will be one to keep an eye on in coming seasons as he continues to progress.
ALEX DODSON (BASKETBALL)
17-year-old Dodson has emerged as a basketball star of the future throughout recent seasons and is set to take his game to another level in 2024-2025.
The Norwood Flames and Team SA forward produced standout performances on the national stage in 2023 and was also one of the top players in the national schools championships for Glenunga International High School.
SID DRAPER (FOOTBALL)
The younger brother of Arlo Draper, Sid has already been named as an SA gun to watch ahead of the next AFL draft.
Draper stars as a midfielder for South Adelaide, playing in the club’s winning U18 grand final last season and earning best on ground.
SPENCER GAZE (BASKETBALL)
Nephew of Australia basketball legend Andrew Gaze, Spencer remains one of SA’s top prospects.
A skilled guard for the state and for Central District, Gaze has produced some of his best ball at the national level and will be one to watch as he looks to take the next step this year.
COCO HODGES (BASKETBALL)
Another rising star in SA basketball, 16-year-old Hodges has had a spectacular year in the sport.
The athletic guard helped SA Metro to the U18 national championship in May and was also a member of the triumphant Australian Sapphires side which won gold at the U16 women’s Asian Championship in Jordan.
LUKA JOVANOVIC (SOCCER)
An 18-year-old forward for Adelaide United who has come through the National Premier League side, Jovanovic made his A League debut at the end of 2022 and showed significant progress through 2023.
He scored his first senior goal for the Reds last March and has also represented the Australia U18s.
RUBY KERRISON (GYMNASTICS)
15-year-old Kerrison had a standout 2023, competing in the Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships in Birmingham and also winning silver at nationals hosted in New Zealand in July.
Kerrison trains with the Gymnastics SA High Performance Program and was selected in three junior Australian teams last year.
CLANCY LUSCOMBE (SWIMMING)
A Team Australia representative at last year’s Youth Commonwealth Games, Luscombe has become one of Australian swimming’s hottest prospects.
Coming through the Marion Swimming Club, Luscombe also won two gold medals at the 2023 Australian Age Championships in the men’s 400m medley and 200m butterfly.
ANDREW MAENDA (ATHLETICS)
At just 16 years of age, Maenda has announced himself as one of Australia’s most promising sprinters.
In 2023, Maenda broke both the U18 (10.57) and U16 (10.79) state records in the 100m, and made it through to the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Youth Games, finishing fourth with a time of 10.82.
CHARLOTTE MCAULIFFE (ATHLETICS)
The 16-year-old out of Pembroke Athletics Club has been a standout in Australian athletics in recent years, dominating as an impressive runner.
McAuliffe won both the U18 and U20 400m title at the 2023 Australian Athletics Championships and also represented the nation in the Commonwealth Youth Games, making the final and falling short of a bronze by 0.07 seconds.
TABITHA PACKER (NETBALL)
A budding star out of Contax Netball Club, Packer has the ability to play a number of rolls across the court.
The 18-year-old’s most recent achievements include winning the U19 Australian Netball Championships and being named grand final MVP as well as being named to the U19 Australian squad.
TAYTE RYAN (CYCLING)
Ryan was named the SASI Junior Male Athlete of the Year after winning a world championship in the junior men’s 1000m at the 2023 UCI Junior Track World Championships.
The 17-year-old star had a breakout year in 2023, earning Australian representation and numerous podium finishes around the world.
NAHLA SALLEY (TENNIS)
One of the highest ranked tennis players in SA at the U12 level, Salley’s achievements in the sport throughout 2023 were major.
The 12-year-old was one of only eight girls nationally to be invited to an exclusive 2023 Australian open camp after her impressive performances which included success for SA at nationals as the highest ranked U11 Oceania player early last year.
She won direct entry into the Australian hardcourt U12 nationals and also earned a Masters academy invite.
ELLEN SAMPSON (SAILING)
The 2023 SA female sailor of the year and SA youth sailor of the year, Sampson had a brilliant 2023.
The 16-year-old prospect won dozens of events and was selected to compete at the 2023 Pacific Games for Australia.
She also finished first overall among females in the 2023 Tasmanian Youth Sail Regatta.
HAYDEN SCHILLER (CRICKET)
17-year-old all-rounder Schiller has done it all for Northern Districts and SA in the past year.
A dangerous fast bowler who can also produce with the bat, Schiller has represented SA’s U19s and U17s recently and is also a regular in Northern Districts’ A Grade Premier Cricket side.
POPPY SCHOLZ (FOOTBALL AND NETBALL)
The younger sister of Port Adelaide AFLW listed Matilda Scholz, Poppy has emerged as a top young talent in SA footy and netball.
The 16-year-old has been a star midcourter for Oakdale and took out the 2023 Netball SA Rookie of the Year award.
She has also impressed as a standout midfielder for Glenelg in the SANFLW and has been touted as one to watch ahead of the next AFLW draft.
KATIE SHARKEY (HOCKEY)
A SASI member and a young star for the Adelaide Fire and Seacliff Hockey Club, 18-year-old Sharkey emerged as one of SA’s top young talents in the sport last year.
A talented player who can fill a number of roles, Sharkey was also selected for the Jillaroos side in the Junior Women’s World Cup which took place in Chile last November.
DYSON SHARP (FOOTBALL)
If 2023 was anyone’s year in SA footy, it was 16-year-old Dyson Sharp’s.
The emerging Central District phenom had a spectacular season through the midfield and was also a standout for SA, eventually being named an All-Australian and SA MVP after averaging 27 disposals, including 15 contested, seven clearances and seven score involvements as captain.
His year with the Bulldogs was highlighted by an incredible 52 disposal game for the U16s as well as a best on ground performance in a winning grand final.
CAMERON TIDD (GYMNASTICS)
Tidd battled through a back injury to have a spectacular 2023 season in gymnastics, representing Australia at the top level of the 2023 Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships at just 17 years of age.
He was also the first South Australian to compete in the double mini trampoline event at the World Championships in more than 18 years.
LUCAS TOONEN (HOCKEY)
Toonen was part of the U18 and U21 SA teams in 2023, as well as the Adelaide Fire, and impressed so much with his performances that he was selected to be part of the U18 Australian Futures squad.
He also received the Hockey SA rising star award and is a SASI scholarship holder.
LUCY VOYVODIC (NETBALL)
A star senior netballer at Scotch College and for Matrics, 18-year-old Voyvodic captained her school’s side in 2023 and was named Best and Fairest at the end of the season.
Voyvodic has dominated for SA at national level, winning gold at U19 nationals and MVP for her team in that tournament.
Success for the state led to international achievements, the star player earning selection into the U19 Australian team and winning gold at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Trinidad and Tobago.
BILLY WHITE (GOLF)
State champion at the U12 and U14 level last year, White has well and truly put himself on the map.
Boasting a handicap of 6.5 at the Royal Adelaide and Grange golf clubs and often playing as a number one, White finished top 10 in the 11/12 age division and top four in the 10/11 age division of the Australian Junior Age Championships.
He was also selected as part of the Australian junior team which travelled to New Zealand to compete in the trans-Tasman Cup.
CAMERON ZAJER (VOLLEYBALL)
Zajer helped USC Lion to a silver finish in the League Women’s 2023 SAVL competition but this wasn’t all the rising star achieved.
A fluid athlete who is adaptable on the court, the 17-year-old also secured a silver medal with Australia at the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games and was a gold medallist at the U18 Girls Australian Youth Volleyball Championships and the Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships.
Was also the winner of the Emerging Athlete of the Year at the 2023 SA Sports Awards.
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