Basketball Australia would like to announce on behalf of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) the most recent group of athletes to receive scholarships for 2020.
The CoE is a program that brings together the best young players from around Australia to live and train together in a high-performance environment with the assistance of elite coaches.
Congratulations to our two NSW players Chyra Evans (Newcastle Basketball Association) & Ruby-Belle Macdonald (Illawarra Basketball Association) on their selection into the CoE program. Both Chyra and Ruby will be joined by returning alumni Millie Prior plus Banjo Talbot and Biwali Bayles.
The Women’s Head Coach Kristen Veal said that 2020 looks to be an exciting year with the four talented additions to the women’s program.
“We have a diverse young group of four athletes that will add to a vibrant and intelligent returning group,” said Veal.
“We have no doubt that Ruby, Chyra, Charlie and Katie will flourish in the CoE daily training environment, will work hard academically and will transition well in to the CoE’s first season competing in the new Waratah 1 League.”
“The CoE Women’s program will play 24 home and away games across the Waratah 1 season, providing key game play for the girls to test themselves against senior women.”
The men’s program will return in the new year to compete at the Canberra Classic on Wednesday January 22, before all athletes are released to play for their states at the U20 Australian Junior Championships from February 5-9.
Women’s New Scholarship Holders:
| NAME: | STATE: |
| Charlise Dunn | Victoria |
| Chyra Evans | New South Wales |
| Kate Deeble | Queensland |
| Ruby-Belle Macdonald | New South Wales |
Women’s Returning Athletes:
| NAME: | STATE: |
| Kelsey Rees | South Australia |
| Jade Melbourne | Victoria |
| Olivia Pollerd | Victoria |
| Emily Sewell | Victoria |
| Millie Prior | New South Wales |
| Lauren Wise | Tasmania |
| Shaneice Swain | Queensland (NBA Global Academy) |
Men’s Returning Athletes:
| NAME: | STATE: |
| Hunter Clarke | Australian Capital Territory/Tasmania |
| Blake Jones | Australian Capital Territory |
| Banjo Talbot | New South Wales |
| Biwali Bayles | New South Wales |
| Lucas Schmidt | Queensland |
| Tamuri Wigness | Queensland |
| Keanu Rasmussen | South Australia |
| Taran Armstrong | Tasmania |
| Josh Bannan | Victoria |
| Joshua Giddey | Victoria |
| Wil Tattersall | Victoria |
| Patrick Ryan | Victoria |