2025 National Junior Classic: Young guns to watch
From Australian and state representatives to family members of former national team stars, there will be a host of rising basketball stars on show at the National Junior Classic. See who to keep an eye on.
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A host of Australia’s best basketball talents are set to descend on Melbourne this long weekend.
They’ll battle it out at the National Junior Classic, hosted by Basketball Victoria, across three days of action.
In all, 128 boys and girls teams from Victoria and across the country will travel to compete with live stream details available on the Basketball Victoria website.
Among those in action will be Australian and state representatives.
We’ve picked out some names to keep an eye on and with the help of clubs, we’ve learnt a little bit more about them.
U12 BOYS
Levi Biscette, Norwood: Another dynamic guard with flair, Levi can put lots of pressure on the ball and also push out in transition regularly. Also playing with a great read on the game- his passing and flair for the game will be on show at Classics.
Kyan Brooks, Sturt: Is a long and athletic wing who brings a rare blend of versatility and power to the court, comfortably playing all five positions. Known for his dominance in transition and ability to impact the game on both ends, making Kyan a matchup nightmare for opposition teams.
AJ Deng, West Adelaide: Younger brother of our U16 SA Metro rep, Daniel Deng, AJ is on a journey to follow in his brother’s footsteps. The gentle giant with a great heart for competition, AJ has come along in leaps this year. With an effective mid range jumper and improving touch around the rim, it will be exciting to see him rise to the challenge of competing against kids his own size at the Classic.
Lachlan Lemezs, Sandringham: A great finisher around the basket.
Orlando Miza, Sandringham: An explosive athlete.
Kase Mucha, West Adelaide: An explosive point guard with skills from an NBA highlight reel, Kase is a pocket rocket to keep an eye on. With a heap of talent, you’d be forgiven for stereotyping him as a score only young point guard – but Kase sees the floor well and makes great decisions to get his teammates involved. Can score at all three levels already.
Hamilton Ng, Sturt: A dynamic, young point guard is turning heads with his ability to score at all three levels. With sharp court vision, relentless energy and a fearless approach to the game, Hamilton is one of the most exciting prospects in junior basketball.
Chizara Nwachuk, Norwood: ‘Chizi’ is a fast, dynamic guard. He plays the game with speed on both ends of the floor, mixed with a large amount of flair for the game. His x-factor like skills and abilities can often be the difference in tight games down the stretch.
Flynn Ross, Melbourne: A great all around player around the basket on both ends who excels at rebounding with his strong body. Has a high IQ.
Lenny Ryan, Sandringham: An exciting young point guard.
Matthew Su, Melbourne: Amazing ball handling skills, great decision making skills and understanding of the game, elite IQ for his age group, an elite scorer and great leader.
U12 GIRLS
Suzannah Bell, Sturt: Niece of Olympian Laura Hodges, has ball skills and court vision which are up there with the elite in her age group and should up be for the challenge this weekend against the full court defence of the Melbourne teams.
Mila Craddock, West Adelaide: A bottom ager with poise beyond her years. She has taken the handling of the point guard duties for this group in her stride and has a developing outside shot that is sure to be deadly in the future if she continues on this same trajectory of improvement. Coach Dion Grieger has worked hard this season to find ways to challenge and push this little star. A thirst for knowledge and an analytic brain.
Cleo D’Andrea, Melbourne: An elite scorer with a great ability in getting to the basket. Incredible one-on-one defender in the full or half court. Great leader
Mae Holmes, Sturt: The daughter of former Boomer Jacob Holmes. She is a defensive weapon who is developing into an elite talent on the Sturt roster at both ends of the floor now combining her elite defence with an exceptional shot.
Amelia Jasniach, Sandringham: A long, athletic wing. Strong driver to the basket and can score a lot quickly.
Tessa Jennings, Traralgon: Talented guard who has X factor and is a strong defender and scores well in transition. Great team player with excellent passing ability.
Elka Kennedy, Sturt: Has had an outstanding season in SA so far, she’s hungry for the ball and always finds a way to the rim.
Philippa Lonsdale Coates, Sandringham: A great rebounder and finisher around the basket.
Estelle Lucas, West Adelaide: An explosive scorer for this group – Estelle uses her size and athleticism to her advantage to finish tough on the rim. With the illusion of floating around the court, you often get caught off guard with how much effect Estelle has had on the game. She can score in bunches and she can score quickly. As she starts to feel comfortable in her abilities and she matures, we think she’ll have an impact in multiple SA jerseys across her journey.
Isla Meakin, Sandringham: A left-handed shooter and driver with great skill.
Audrey O’Brien, Sturt: Is a dynamic up and coming player from country SA who has a diverse skill set and should shine in Melbourne this weekend.
Emily Oliver: A great one-on-one defender who is also a great rebounder. She excels in the open court and can score consistently. Makes the right decisions.
Estelle Wissmer, Traralgon: Athletic guard who can run all day. Possesses great ball skills and brings defensive pressure. Reliable player with a team first approach.
Lillian Zanella, Traralgon: Can influence both ends of the court and plays with composure and makes great decisions. Never gives up.
U14 BOYS
Stirling Byrt, Sturt: Can score from all three levels. Whether that’s out of pick and roll or creating off penetration or behind the 3-point line. Stirling can create his shot for himself or others. Another skill is hit ability to be a PG and initiate offence and get us organised. Understanding time and score and to what offence we should be in.
Ryder Drinan, Sturt: A strong powerful player who can play both ends of the floor. Ryder has the ability to score in bunches with his athletic play and then can defend the full court going the other way. Ryder impacts the game at both ends.
Saxon Gorman, Westgate: A rising shown who has shown rapid growth in the Imperials program. Known for his versatility and ability to find the basket, he stands at a dominant 6ft plus, Saxon has been impressive and delivered consistent performances in just his second season in the VJBL.
Harry Lawson, Westgate: Consistently has demonstrated his scoring prowess, leadership and team ethics on the court throughout his time with the club. Known for his high basketball IQ, court vision, and scoring ability, Lawson continues to be a key player for the Westgate Imperials.
Lenny Mitchell, Sturt: Takes pride in being efficient on both ends of the floor. Being a leader, Mitchell knows when scoring is needed or initiating the offence and can take over the game when needed. He also takes pride in defending and can guard multiple positions. Lenny has a high basketball IQ taking pride in our structure and concepts and knowing time and score.
U14 GIRLS
Holly Bowman, Kilsyth: A players who has great skills. She sees and reads the play very well.
Eva Deguigne, Pakenham: An off guard who is strong, loaded with speed and loves to play defence. Like her teammate Mann, she was part of a country Victorian side earlier this year.
Maria Hanley, Melbourne: Has a top level ability of getting to the rim off the dribble, is a great scorer. A very active defender.
Emma Herbert, Norwood: A young prospect, very tall who impacts both ends of the floor well.
Jessica Loveday, Norwood: Jess is a great scorer of the ball. Her ability to shoot and stretch defences helps to keep the driving lanes open for her teammates. In her previous classics tournaments- she has always found a way to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Kaylee Mann, Pakenham: The captain of her team, she is a point guard with great poise, footwork and court vision who makes others on her team better.
Newcastle said: The Newcastle Falcons U14 Girls are set to make their mark at this year’s National Junior Classic, heading into the tournament as a tight-knit unit with a reputation for playing hard and playing together. The Falcons pride themselves on doing the little things right – diving for loose balls, boxing out, and making the extra pass. Their balanced approach and all-in mentality have made them a tough matchup for any opponent. Secured a Grand Final win at the 2025 Coastal Classic pre-season tournament after six tough games across two days. The girls have shown steady growth throughout the season, rising to every challenge and embracing high-pressure moments as opportunities to learn and compete.
Amaraka Nwachuk, Norwood: A defensive beast- Amaraka has a rare mix of size, speed and athleticism. Her on-ball and off-ball defensive pressure is amazing to watch. She is just a disruption machine. Mixed with her speed and ability to push the ball in transition- she’s a tough matchup.
Lucy Onley, West Adelaide: A defensive juggernaut – Lucy wins over hearts of coaches with her gritty mindset towards lockdown D – such a rarity in this day of Tik Tok highlights. Standing all of five foot nothing, Lucy has no problem putting her body on the line and making the life of any assignment tough. We know any coach watching on the sideline will fall in love with this workhorse. A high IQ and understanding of how to exploit the defence will help her on her journey as she grows into her body.
Paige Schroeder, West Adelaide: The lengthy pass first point guard has been working hard in her first year of U14. After two years under Dion Grieger in U12, Paige plays with great knowledge and understanding of how to include her teammates in the game. She is lethal on the rim and has no problems going both ways with her length. A developing three ball and a developing understanding of the balance between passing it and scoring it. Active with her lengthy arms in D, we are excited to help her develop through the challenge of the NJC and then the U14 Club Champs later in the year.
Aleksija Stajic, Melbourne: An elite shooter especially in the mid-range and from deep. Great leader who has the ability to defend one-on-one. Has great length for a guard.
U16 BOYS
RJ Brown, West Adelaide: Son of ex college and pro athlete, Raheim Brown, RJ is already working on reaching his 6’10 father’s height in the next few years. Playing the point guard for us, RJ is crafty with the ball and while he isn’t explosive, he has a change of pace and momentum out of the ball screen that is a difficult match up. A scorer at all three levels, it will be exciting to watch our NBL1 Men’s coach, Dean Nyberg, and RJ pair up in a foreshadow of what could be to come in a few years time.
Daniel Deng, West Adelaide: Older brother of our U12 gentle giant, AJ Deng, Daniel has just made his second U16 SA Metro state team and will head to Ballarat with that group in July. Classics should be a great lead in. A strong four/wing man, Daniel likes to get downhill and compete. With the developing three ball looking pretty consistent, we’re keen to see where that versatility now leads for him at the Classic this year.
Jacob Fox, Newcastle: A leader and key organisers of his team. Fox is a NSW state player who plays impressive defence, shoots well and has an exceptional work ethic.
Vlado Ivkovic, Knox: Reliable combo guard who was recently selected to the Vic Metro U16 team. Ivkovic is an on-court general who can dictate the tempo of a game.
Kadin Johnston, Knox: Underrated and consistently high performer for his team. Excellent three-point shooter and energetic defender with a team first mindset.
Lugh Kavanagh, Melbourne: Can play in any position on the floor. A great decision maker on both ends and can be a difficult matchup for any opponent.
Sam Silenge, Melbourne: A great athlete with incredible speed. He is a great scorer and passer who possesses a super quick first step and ability to get top the basket. Is extremely good in open court.
Jarrah Van Den Berg, Newcastle: Described as a “great shooter” who can make plays on offence. A team first player who has represented the state.
U16 GIRLS
Olivia Elliott, Norwood: A sharpshooting guard- Liv can blow games open with bursts of scoring. Her finishing in and around the paint is also improving over time. Coming from a basketball family, Liv will be looking to have a huge impact at the Classics Tournament.
Lara Gribben, Norwood: Lara is a very mobile big who has just had a very amazing past 18 months of development. Being invited to an Aus Camp was the highlight for the talented big. Lara’s ability to play inside and out has made her a tough matchup. Her defensive prowess is also on show as she also can patrol the paint and reels in boards at will.
Georgia Kaskani, Melbourne: Extremely quick with a great ability to get to the rim. A very good scorer. Fantastic one-on-one defender.
Sienna Katsis, Melbourne: A very good scorer and defender. Capable of lighting it up from deep.
Jasmine Jones, Kilsyth: A point guard in the U16 Vic Metro team. Can do it all on offence and is one of the best players in Victoria. This week, she was named in the Australian U16 squad.
Eliza Parr, Melbourne: A great athlete with elite speed. A very good long distance shooter and elite defender.
U18 BOYS
Luke Atacador, Knox: Atacador is a dynamic point guard with acrobatic rim finishing and a knockdown shooter. Also a member of the Knox Men’s Youth League squad, he has elite speed and court vision.
Yahya Basaran, Knox: A legitimate 7ft forward-centre from Turkey who adds rim protection and interior post moves. Still growing, Basaran has adjusted seamlessly to his new home at Knox. As a bottom age player in the U18, he is on the radar for higher representative honours in the future.
Tom Dammers, Nunawading: An extremely talented point guard who can get to the rim at will and pressure opponents in the full court. After numerous successes with national and state teams you would expect it to go to his head but it just hasn’t and he continues to be a great role model for younger athletes.
Aidan Grieger, West Adelaide: Younger brother of NBL1 and past Classics rep sharp shooter, Sienna Grieger, you can expect more of the same from Aidan. While a lot lengthier, Aidan can push Sienna in a shoot out. He is a true PG with a great poise and understanding of the pace and intricacies of the game. Look for him to find great options out of the ball screen – be it him or his teammates and for him to control the pace of the game like an experienced pro. Don’t lose him on the perimeter or he’ll punish you for it. One of our developing NBL1 Prospects in our inaugural NBL1 Pathway Academy, Aidan is a promising talent that we are excited to see make the transition to senior basketball next year.
Kaleb Johnson, Sandringham: A great shooter. Emergency for Vic Metro U18 in 2025.
Liam Keogh, Kilsyth: A forward in the Vic Metro U18 Boys team. Crafty player that can get to the rim at will.
Josh Louis, West Adelaide: An explosive wing who came to us from Centrals for his bottom age 18s year, Josh is coming off a successful U18 SA Metro campaign and looking to continue this form. An explosive an athletic scorer, Josh’s unpredictability is his strength. Competing with athleticism, he is sure to be a challenge for defences across the Classic.
Spencer Mitchell, Sandringham: Has great vision and is an impressive passer. Excellent shooter and floor general.
Jarvis Neal, Knox: Neal is a hardworking rebounder who can score freely inside and outside. A member of the Vic Metro U18 team, Neal will be a high impact player at the Classic.
Max Pavey, Sandringham: A great shooter/scorer. Emergency for Vic Metro U18 in 2025.
U18 GIRLS
Madeline Angus, Sandringham: An U18 Vic Metro representative in 2025. Possesses great athleticism and shooting touch.
Rose Bond, Newcastle: Bond’s explosive speed and scoring ability have made her a constant threat and a key contributor to the Falcons’ success this season. Her standout performances have earned her both an NBL1 call-up and selection in the NSW Country U18 Girls team — a testament to her rising star status.
Alek Deng, Norwood: Alek’s 6’4 size and length has brought much a much needed interior presence to this group. Her ability to contest shots and pull down huge rebounds has been a massive asset.
Annaliese Elliott, Norwood: Coming off several state teams and Aus camp appearances- Annaliese is a proven scoring guard who can play on and off ball with huge impacts on the game. When she gets going- she’s very hard to guard.
Lily Exton, Kilsyth: A member of the Vic Country U18 girls. A premier big in the competition who is doing very well in the VYC Big V this year. Big time rebounder and scorer.
Caitlin Hardin, Norwood: Known for her intense on-ball defence- Caitlin is a workhorse who simply never tires. Her shooting ability has continued to improve over the years- making her a valuable asset at both ends of the court.
Abbey Jones, North Adelaide: The captain of her side and is a real leader on the floor. She is an SA Metro U18 representative.
Madison Ryan, Sandringham: Selected for Australian Gems under-19s for the FIBA World Cup in 2025. Will play FIBA Asia Cup later in 2025 for the Sapphires. Already playing in Sandringham Sabres Women’s NBL1 squad as a 16-year-old. She has outstanding vision, great passer, great shooter does it all. Excellent athlete. Plays beyond her years.
Sarah Warner, North Adelaide: An exciting talent who is the vice-captain of her squad. Played in SA Metro’s silver medal winning team at the U18 national championships.
Ella Wickstrom, Sandringham: A tough aggressive defender.
Lucy Wilsmore, Newcastle: Wilsmore’s versatility across multiple positions has been a game-changer for the Newcastle Falcons, providing reliability and spark wherever she’s needed on the court. Her outstanding form and adaptability have earned her a well-deserved call-up to the NBL1, marking a major milestone in her development.
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