Young gamechangers: Qld’s top 23 U20 hoopers who shone in ‘24
Who are Queensland’s brightest basketball prospects? The top 23 under the age of 20 are named here and they are bona fide excitement machines from all corners of the Sunshine State.
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The level of basketball talent being churned out of Queensland has never been greater as we look at some of the state’s best performers in 2024.
Named here are the top 25 Queensland basketballers under the age of 20, males and females, who stood out from the pack this year representing their club, school state and even, for rookies like Olivia Olechnowicz, Isaiah Jorgenson, Emma Petrie and Indy Cotton, Australia.
From sharp shooting guards to sons and daughters of guns, there are rising stars emerging from every corner of South East Queensland.
BASKETBALL TOP GUNS UNDER THE AGE OF 20
Alice Dart
She’s tough!
Currently in the States sinking buckets for Washington State University, Queenslander Alice Dart has committed to College hoops for four years.
A Moreton Bay College alumni, Dart darted to the cup in a recent match played against Texas and scored an impressive lay-up through contact to get the bench on their feet.
A lefty who loves to get to the rim, Dart was an offensive machine for Queensland’s junior teams who will do just fine in America with her three-point-stroke also efficient and effective.
Hilary Fuller
Fuller followed suit of her Queensland teammate Dart by moving abroad to continue her basketball development in the Belmont Bruins basketball program.
The robust forward, with elite athleticism despite being 188cm tall, has the makings of a top-flight basketball player and she is in the place to make it happen.
A match-up nightmare, the dominant Fuller has a pinch too much pace for bigs, while possessing enough size to take advantage of small defenders.
Crashing the glass, sinking threes and slamming it home are areas where Fuller is in full effect.
Monique Bobongie
A class act.
Bobongie has long been a revered guard in her age group and nothing has changed.
The Canberra Capitals youngster, who was blooded in the WNBL aged 18, is an offensive machine possessing a smooth stroke and even smoother handles.
A product of the Centre of Excellence, Bobongie is like a young veteran. It seems she knows the ins and outs of basketball and evidently has a high IQ.
She does a bit of everything.
Teyahna Bond
Bobongie’s partner in crime coming through the ranks playing for Queensland’s representative teams, Bond stands out as a defensive menace capable of arresting momentum with her harassing defence.
Ridiculous is the word that would come to mind watching the plucky Bond apply full court-pressure.
Is there a more prolific player in transition than Bond? She is at times unstoppable because of her speed and decisiveness.
While she could make a living playing defence, Bond’s timely cuts, improved deep shooting and V8 engine is what makes her a real package of pain for her opponents.
The Queensland Under-20s select has committed to the University of Hawaii.
Roman Siulepa
A freight train in transition, big Siulepa could be anything.
The towering 18-year-old from Brisbane State High gave GPS audiences a glimpse into his special athleticism, natural talent, and competitive edge in both First V basketball (2023) and First XV rugby (2024).
The outstanding basketball prospect scored points for fun representing BSHS last season before giving the best forwards, and backs a run for their money in the 2024 rugby season where he led BSHS to the unofficial grand final against eventual three-peat premiers Nudgee College.
The young gun’s next move is in limbo but expect a move toward the hardwood not a rugby paddock, despite the mobile 201cm teen phenom being one of Queensland’s best in the 15-a-side code.
Mason Honeyman
One of the most prolific First V basketballers in the AIC competition this decade.
Honeyman came up trumps in Villanova College’s premiership seasons (2021,2022,2023) before going on to have a breakout year in the NBL1 playing for the Spartans this year.
The crafty combo-guard is in his element running the point, but playing as a No. 2 he is a fine three-point flamethrower whose deceptive athleticism also allows him to leave his mark attacking the basket.
The son of Queensland basketball legend Aaron, Mason has overcome significant injuries to his back over the years and looms as a potent threat for the Queensland Under-20s.
Rocco Zikarsky
Over 5000 fans were on deck last Sunday when 18-year-old Sunshine Coast centre Rocco Zikarsky the best game of his fledgling professional career.
The NBL Next Star had 13 points along with seven rebounds in a 19 minute performance that thwarted the Perth Wildcats who came close before the Bullets pulled away late.
The NBA awaits.
Cooper Rowlings
Similarly to Zikarsky, Rowlings has always been a giant among his peers and he has used it to swat away shots or just be an all-round disrupter.
A Centre of Excellence athlete out of St Peters Lutheran College, Rowlings was one of the last players AIC First V basketballers wanted to come up against in the 2023 season.
His size, mobility defensively, athleticism and motor came together to cause headaches for his opposition.
The former Brisbane Capitals gun has upside.
Jaylen Pitman
Pitman was a menace for The Southport School’s First V when they snared GPS premierships in 2022 and 2023 and he is still that pesky two-way guard who gave his schoolboy opponents nightmares.
Now a key player for Cairns in the NBL1, Pitman returned home from the Coast to Cairns where he remains an electric talent.
While he is sound on offence, it is his defence that changes games.
He showed just how good he can be on that end in the NBL1 this season, Pitman a stifling defender who showed glimpses of his offensive bag throughout the 2024 campaign.
Ben Tweedy
Pitman’s right hand man on the courts at TSS, Tweedy took the GPS competition by storm as a schoolboy sensation.
In 2022 he was something special and in 2024 he maintained the rage on his way to averaging a near triple double.
He recorded a handful of 40-point games. All the while he was dishing assists left and right and grabbing important rebounds.
Like Pitman, he has returned to his roots and is leaving his mark with Rockhampton in the NBL1. The starting point guard led the league in assists.
Taryn Bond
There must be something in the water in Queensland’s Far North - especially in the Bond household.
The Indigenous basketball prospect is the 465-day younger sister of Teyahna and is just as impressive on the court with her speed and soft touch up there with the best.
The emerging athlete from Cairns Basketball club, of both Torres Strait Island heritage and the Taepadhighi mob of the Cape York, is an extremely talented scorer who has been selected for Basketball Australia’s 2025 National Performance Camp.
The other Queensland girls picked for this camp included: Cheyenne Bobongie, Isabel Smith, Jade Sherrington, Lily Mapp, Mya Moke, Olivia Olechnowicz and Violet Johnson.
Issac Weldon
He is just 16 but you’d be hard pressed to find someone who is taller on a regular day’s march around Townsville.
He is also mature beyond his years when using his footwork putting on moves in the post.
He is a difference-maker on both ends, Weldon a host-blocker whose presence along would instil confidence in his teammates to apply pressure on defence. Knowing Weldon is waiting would be a blessing for those teammates.
Emma Petrie
Potential oozes from this Australian Under-17s basketball selection and there is little wonder why.
Emma’s parents Anthony and Sarah were high-class NBL and WBNL hoopers back in their day and now it is Emma’s time to soar.
The 184cm forward did just that in the winter donning the green and gold in Mexico City at the U17 FIBA World Cup.
Her footwork, high IQ, three-point shooting and versatility on defence are where she separates herself from the pack.
Prasayus Notoa
A silent assassin, Notoa lets her actions on the hardwood do the talking.
The humble Brisbane State High Year 11 student was among the top two players glimpsed at the under-18 nationals earlier this year when she represented Queensland South’s under-18s.
There were countless things Notoya did which caught the eye during that tournament. These included her elite IQ, versatility, height (185cm) playing as a guard, hustle rebounding the ball, flashy passing and crafty handles.
The Aussie Sapphires ace just gets it. In her age group she brings the ball up as a guard but in the NBL1, makes her presence felt as a power forward.
The 16-year-old played more than 30 minutes a game in that competition where her vision and speed playing as a big was eyebrow raising.
Indy Cotton
Entering 2025, Cotton remains one of the best prospects in the under-18s age group after another year of firsts.
The combo-guard has been at the Centre of Excellence plying his trade and getting even craftier.
A creator off on-ball screens, Cotton is a whiz kid in transition and much improved deep shooter.
The 17-year-old can take over a game offensively with his drives to the cup so hard to defend.
Jack Tweedy
Tweedy was TSS’s First V prime mover in the 2024 season, playing almost every minute of the season and performing well under fatigue and double teams.
The Rockhampton product is a showstopper when his confidence is up and when he catches fire, he can really hurt teams.
He has learnt plenty from his older brother Ben and father Neal.
Isabel Smith
A left-handed magician from Mackay.
Smith is a schoolgirl sensation from the Bobcats club in Mackay who made her presence felt on the national stage where she averaged 14.4 points per game on 60 per cent shooting at the FIBA U15 Oceania Cup.
The Australian U15 Sapphires standout was in her element during that campaign and before that for Queensland at the under-16 national championships.
You name it, three-level scorer Smith can pull it off
An elite athlete, Smith’s change of pace, sharp footwork, height (180cm) make her so hard to guard.
One second she is in front of you and the next she has blown right by on her way to the rim. From behind the arc Smith can be just as devastating as she is in the post and in transition.
Olivia Olechnowicz
Queensland had another young star coming through the ranks in John Paul College rookie Olivia Olechnowicz.
She has been on a tear over the past 12-24 months, spearheading JPC to winning the champion basketball school title two years running.
Improved three-point-shooter Olechnowicz is the type of player who is going as hard in the 40th minute as she is in the first. Her work ethic, effort and athleticism enables this.
The ants pants of this age group, Olechnowicz leads with her words and actions as a great, vocal leader.
Indeed she can get to the rim at will.
Jade Sherrington
From the Gold Coast, Sherrington has been making waves as a quick-between-the-ears guard who can shoot the lights out at times.
Considered tall for a point guard, Hillcrest Christian College weapon Sherrington was rewarded for her role in helping Queensland win the under-16s national title by gaining selection in the champion U15 Sapphires team.
The Gold Coast Rollers rookie has made a difference on numerous teams this year with her court vision, passing ability and jump shooting.
Isaiah Jorgenson
It is safe to say Nudgee College forward Isaiah Jorgenson, 15, will be a frightening prospect when he enters Year 12.
The talented Year 9 student is already pushing the 200cm mark and is nimble despite his size.
An elite rebounder, Jorgenson played GPS First V basketball last year and took his game up a notch in 2024 to be one of Nudgee College’s main options each game.
He was consistently good, showing other team’s why he was crowned the defensive player of the tournament at the under-16s nationals and is considered one of Queensland’s very best in this age group.
The rangy youngster from the Northside Wizards club has a soft touch around the rim which produced 10 points per game for the under-15 national team during the Oceania Cup.
Andrew Watene
Year 9 point guard Andrew Watene has a special ability to read the game and make a play. As the baby of the team, Watene played a key role in Churchie’s First V that went through the GPS undefeated this season.
The Rockhampton Basketball junior did the little things right off the bench as a team player - although at times it was a one-man show when he got going and let it fly.
His bag is deep, with three-point shooting, plucky defence and a dazzling layup package apparent for the Crocs (Australian under-15s), Churchie and the Logan Thunder.
He has the ball on a string with his handling as well.
Trae Dombroski
Are we looking at the best player in the under-16s age group in the country?
The up-and-coming Logan Thunder weapon would well and truly be in the conversation and would have a spot in the top three.
From Brisbane State High, the tall Tombroski is at times a class above with his athleticism, strength, skills and vertical leap to the fore.
The right-handed Mr Versatile plays above the rim with ease despite his age and will be back hungry for more in 2025 once he has recovered from an achilles injury.
Sharni Reisinger
Last but certainly not least is Sharni Reisinger, another exciting hooper coming out of the productive Brisbane State High basketball program.
The Logan Thunder terror is a class act with her length and V8 engine a deadly combination in the NBL1. She was just 16 making an impact for the Thunder in a testament to her hustle and natural talent.
She played more than 30 minutes a game in that competition and the Year 11 student sure held her own, locking down supreme offensive players and nailing timely threes.
Cutting away from the ball, Reisinger was also at her best. But it was her uplifting attitude which makes her somewhat of a glue girl on and off the court.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
+ Keahn Tuakura (Toowoomba Grammar, Queensland North under-18s)
+ Vahayliah Seumanutafa (Brisbane State High, Queensland South under-18s)
+ Emerson Juhasz (Brisbane Boys’ College, Queensland South under-18s)
+ Oskar Olechnowicz (Churchie, Queensland South under-18s)
+ Noah Kirk (Churchie, Queensland South under-18s)
+ Mya Moke (Southern Districts Spartans, Queensland South under-16s)
+ Cheyenne Bobongie, Lily Mapp and Violet Johnson
Who did we miss? Leave a comment below
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