Basketball Australia Under-20 National Championships men’s preview 2025: Talented Victorian squad title favourites
With the brother of an NBA rising star leading the charge, not even a string of big late outs is enough to stop defending champs Victoria from U20 nationals favouritism. Read the men’s team previews.
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Victoria’s Basketball Australia Under-20 National Championships squad has been hit hard by injury, with four elite talents ruled out of next week’s tournament.
But, so rich is the vein of up-and-coming hoops prodigies in the state, the likes of Melbourne United NBL Next Star Dash Daniels, South East Melbourne Phoenix development player Luke Fennell and unique pair Marcus Vaughns and Che Brogan ensure the Vics remain favourite to claim back-to-back titles.
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Long-limbed defensive dynamo Mading Kuany, rapidly developing monster in the middle Sa Pilimai, raw but exciting wing Roor Akhaur and 2024 Victorian Male Player of the Year Harrison Beauchamp have all been ruled out with injury.
All four represented Australia at last year’s FIBA U17 Junior World Cup, leaving a massive hole for the Vics to fill in Ballarat.
Originally named in the Navy squad, hulking 6’10” power forward Harry Nielson has been elevated, while his Sandringam clubmate Oscar Humble and reigning CBL North East grand final MVP Lochlin Harvey received late call ups.
So deep is the talent pool in the state that Austin Foxwell, younger brother of South East Melbourne’s Owen and Melbourne United’s Joel, gold-plated point guard Ryder Cheesman and Joel Robinson – the second-leading scorer at last year’s U18 nationals at nearly 20 per game – have all been named in the Navy squad.
U20 + IB NATIONALS HUB: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, LIVE STREAM LINKS, FULL SCHEDULE
Daniels, though, the younger brother of Boomers Olympian and Atlanta Hawk NBA guard Dyson Daniels, is the jewel in the crown for the Vics. He might be the youngest player in the tournament, having just turned 17 in the middle of last month, but he arguably has the most experience.
“I’m excited for the nationals,” Daniels said.
“Unfortunately, we’ve had a couple injuries, so we’ve had to make change and we’ll adjust, but we’re looking good.
“We’ve got a lot of good guards, a couple of good bigs and some really good wings.”
The Bendigo baller had his first taste of U20 action in 2023, called up to the NBA Global Academy when he was just 15 to take go up against some opponents five years his senior.
“I wasn’t even at the Academy yet and they invited me to just come over and play U20 Nationals with them so that was a great experience,” he said.
“I was very young and I didn’t really know what I was doing but it was good to get out there with the bigger bodies.”
Daniels’ development, in every way, has been remarkable.
When he hit Geelong in Victoria for that 2023 tournament, he was already tall for his age at 170cm.
This year, he’ll walk into Wendouree’s Selkirk Stadium an imposing 198cm – and growing, in charge of a Victorian team tipped to go deep.
ACT
Squad: Stirling Musgrove (1), Solomon Duggan (3), Owen Nihill (4), Aleer Chol (5), Cohen Stonham (6), Damian Cooney (7), Dante Bruton (8), Antony Simovski (10), Seliano Melekiola (13), Ajak Nyuon (14), Oliver Dyason (21), Josh Buchaniec (30)
Coach: Reece Kaye
After failing to secure a win in 2024, a fresh looking ACT squad will be intent on turning their fortunes around. Only Owen Nihill and Dante Bruton return with coach Reece Kaye set to have plenty of fresh faces at his disposal. Bruton, the son of basketball legend Cal, didn’t take the court last year but expect him to see some court time at his second U20 champs. Meanwhile, BA Centre of Excellence talents Aleer Chol and Ajak Nyuon will provide the ACT great presence inside on both ends of the court. Nyuon is coming off a tournament-high 19 blocks at the School Championships in December and is not afraid of the big moments.
NBA GLOBAL ACADEMY
Squad: Bol Diing (11), Sebastien Emenalo (13), Myles Barry (14), Emmanuel Ahamefule (15), Tamatoa Isaac (16), Austin Prosser (17), Aki Langford (18), Ladji Coulibaly (21), Ike Davids (22), Jongkuch Mach (23)
Coach: Nathan Brereton
Another talented NBA Global Academy squad will be out to impress in what’s likely to be their last time competing at the tournament following the news it’s doors will close later this year. English forward Sebastien Emenalo returns from last year’s squad who finished second in Pool B behind eventual runners-up Queensland and is joined by countrymen Ike Davids and Emmanuel Ahamefule. Towering centre Jongkuch Mach made waves at the 2024 U18 nationals and coach Nathan Brereton will no doubt look to unlock every bit of the West Australian’s 225cm frame to form a potent frontcourt alongside high-rated Mali big man Ladji Coulibaly.
NEW SOUTH WALES
Squad: Steven Hall (5), Jesse Edwards (6), Harry Liubinskas (7), Charlie McBeath (8), Ethan Marten-Coney (9), Dylan Tea (10), Flynn Pavely (11), James Dyson Merwe (12), Goc Malual (13), Bradley Ballinger (14)
Coach: Reece Potter
It was a mixed showing at the U20 champs last year for New South Wales, showing strong signs before bowing out at the quarter-finals to SA in one of the games of the tournament. Athletic forward Goc Malual and explosive wing Charlie McBeath should play big roles while young gun Dylan Tea impressed in last year’s tournament, averaging 9.14 points and 3.14 assists, Another to keep and eye on will be Illawarra Hawks-contracted forward Bradley Ballinger. The 18-year-old also performed strongly at last year’s champs and is coming off an impressive NBL1 season where he averaged 11.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
NEW SOUTH WALES BLUE
Squad: Jesse Weinstein (20), Brian Ansuh-Yeboah (21), Henry Lau (22), Bailey Macarthur (23), Luka Cuda (24), Nicholas Kimball (25), Simon Troup (26), Charlie Whale (27), Tom Parsons (28), Eric Downes (29)
Coach: Patrick Williamson
New South Wales will double its attack on the title in Ballarat with the addition of a second team at this year’s U20s champs. Two players the Blue side will look to for a spark are Henry Lau and Luka Cuda. Lau may still be 17 but the talented young gun was signed as a development player with the Sydney Kings this year in a sign of how highly he is regarded in NSW, while Cuda is fresh off a strong showing at the Australian Junior Country Basketball Cup earlier this month.
QUEENSLAND
Squad: Kynan McMahon (6), Zachary McDowell-White (7), Emerson Juhasz (8), Indy Cotton (9), Cooper Rowlings (10), Travis Drinnan (11), Jasraj Gill (12), Roman Siulepa (13), Kurt Siwek (14), Jacob Miles-Wrency (22)
Coach: Christopher Cedar
After making it to the final in 2024 only to be beaten in the dying seconds, Queensland will be out for redemption this year. That quest to secure a national title will be aided by a seriously talented line-up that includes the likes of Indy Cotton, Zachary McDowell-White, Roman Siulepa, Emerson Juhasz and Jasraj Gill. McDowell-White, the younger brother of former New Zealand Breakers star Will, and Siulepa will be key to their chances with the latter averaging just over 24 points per game last year. As will livewire guard Cotton, whose high IQ and handles have earned him the title of one of the best young prospects in Australian basketball.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Squad: Alex Dickeson (3), Patrick D’Arcy (5), Emre Fisk (7), Spencer Gaze (8), Deng Manyang (9), Jackson Bowden (10), Lachlan Dennis (12), James Mackenzie (13), Rio Bruton (17)
Coach: Will Smith
Three players will return to a South Australian side that fell to eventual champions Victoria in a semi-final last year, giving plenty of hope they can improve on that showing this time around. Walking highlight reel Deng Manyang has the athleticism and X-factor to ignite a side while sharpshooting wing Patrick D’Arcy can really stretch the floor. They, along with Alex Dickeson, Rio Bruton and Spencer Gaze – the nephew of Australian great Andrew – will ensure SA has plenty of firepower.
TASMANIA
Squad: Emig French (4), Lewis Rattray (5), Ty Withers (6), Jacob Furphy (7), Nash Walker (8), Campbell Jones (9), Josh Vimpany (10), Astyn Vinen (11), Logan Gibson (12)
Coach: Hayden Zasadny
Highlighted by star duo Jacob Furphy and Nash Walker, Tasmania look to once again be a contender following a strong bronze medal showing in 2024. Expect a big tournament from rising star Furphy, who made his Boomers debut in November. The prolific scorer averaged 20 per game at last year’s nationals and will need to display all his class to help replace the output of 2024 tournament points leader Kye Savage.
VICTORIA
Squad: Ned Renfree (6), Luke Fennell (7), Jesse Mcintosh (8), Harry Neilson (9), Dash Daniels (10), Marcus Vaughns (11), Henry Sewell (12), Ben Waller (13), Truman Byrne (14), Che Brogan (15), Lochlin Harvey (20), Oscar Humble (21)
Coach: Zach Moult
After taking home all four national titles last year, all eyes will again be on Victoria. They’ve put together four star studded line-ups but arguably none more so than the men’s outfit led by star young gun Dash Daniels. Daniels, the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons NBA star Dyson, will take the court for Victoria fresh off signing a Next Stars deal with Melbourne United. US college-bound star Luke Fennell will also be a player set to draw plenty of eyeballs after averaging 15 points in 2024. Suffered some late outs through injury but, with the likes of Marcus Vaughans and Che Brogan also set to feature, the Vics will be running deep once again.
VICTORIA NAVY
Squad: Ryder Cheesman (4), Austin Foxwell (5), Lachlan Kanngiesser (6), Xavier Adams (7), Owen Dowel (8), Edward Brammall (10), Jett Garnham (11), Bano Koster (12), Marcus Krasnadamskis (13), Josh Little (14), Joel Robinson (15)
Coach: Darren Best
While the Victoria Navy side is internally regarded as their ‘development side’, expect this outfit to cause plenty of headaches in Ballarat. Fresh off a dominating display at the U18 Club Championships in 2024, Austin Foxwell will be a likely standout. The young gun averaged over 29 points a game and produced a stellar 37-point showing against West Adelaide midway through the tournament. The Navy squad also features the likes of Ryder Cheesman and Joel Robinson.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Squad: Jack Pitt (4), Dylan Jorre De St Jorre (5), Isaac Averill (6), Kai Kabugua (7), Austin Crowe-St Jack (8), Jonah Palelei (10), Max Bucknell (11), Harrison Fitzgerald (12), Timothy Ibukunoluwa (13), Joshua Brabazon (14)
Coach: Jamie O’Loughlin
After crashing out in a hefty defeat to Queensland in last year’s quarter-finals, Western Australia will be intent on putting in a better performance. That mission will be aided by the form of two young guns in Timothy Ibukunoluwa and Harrison Fitzgerald. Ibukunoluwa starred at the 2024 U18 National Championships, averaging 18.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 1.6 steals and 3 assists per game, while sharpshooting Fitzgerald’s impact can be just as damaging. The long-haired point guard balled out at the Under-18 National Championships for WA Metro, before backing up with a team-of-the-tournament nod at the inaugural Under-18 Club Championships in September.
Originally published as Basketball Australia Under-20 National Championships men’s preview 2025: Talented Victorian squad title favourites
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