Aussie Invasion

SI Staff | Jan 23, 2008

Aussie Invasion /

Aussie Invasion

Ben Allen

As recruiting gets tougher every year, coaches are always looking for the next big thing. Thanks to forebearers like Luc Longley and Andrew Bogut, the Australian recruiting pipeline is stirring things up in college hoops. Here's SI's guide to the Aussie invasion, leading off with Allen, who averaged 2.2 ppg in his first two years at Indiana, Allen transferred to St. Mary's, where he has to redshirt a year according to NCAA rules.

Aron Baynes

Described to SI as "a beast" by one teammate, Baynes is averaging 12.1 points and 6.4 rebounds for the sixth-ranked Cougars.

Aaron Bruce

The 6-3 guard is an important part of a team looking for a revival -- he's putting up 10.8 ppg for the Bears as they hold strong at second in the Big 12.

Carlin Hughes

The junior guard is averaging 7.1 ppg for the 16-2 Gaels.

Aleks Maric

The 6-11 center is averaging 16.6 points and 8.2 rebounds a game.

Patty Mills

The youngest member ever of the Australian senior National Team, Mills is making himself heard as he averages 14.8 ppg for the Gaels. He's hearing the love from the fans too. In December he told SI.com, ""It is very warming to come to the game and hear the Aussie chant with Australian flags all over the place. You wouldn't know any difference from back home, and that's great for us. It is great to be in an environment that makes you feel like that."

Luke Nevill

The 7-1 junior is catching the eyes of NBA scouts as he leads the 10-7 Utes in scoring and rebounding.

A.J. Ogilvy

His given name is Andrew, but the Vanderbilt freshman told SI he's gone by A.J. since his older siblings gave him an Air Jordan hat as a toddler. He's earning the nickname too, as he serves as the perfect counterpart for vet guard Shan Foster for the 14th-ranked Commodores.

Hanna Zavecz

Wyoming coach Joe Legerski told SI, "I believe Hanna will go down as the best player in Wyoming history." The forward is averaging 15.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists a game for the No. 18 Cowgirls in the first year they have been ranked.

Gemma Koehler

Along with Jade Kennedy and Rebecca Vanderjagt, Koehler is part of the next generation of the Aussie wave that followed Hanna Zavecz to Wyoming.

Lucas Walker

The junior redshirted last season after transferring from Montana-St. Billings, where he averaged 11.8 ppg and had three double-doubles in his last season.

Adam Caporn

Caporn spent two years at St. Mary's before turning pro in the Australian National Basketball League.

Luke Schenscher

After earning all-tournament honors in the Final Four with Georgia Tech, Schenscher turned pro, floating between the D League, Portland and Chicago.

Andrew Bogut

The 7-footer out of Utah started the Australian Institute of Sport revolution when he was the No. 1 draft pick in the 2005 NBA draft.

Luc Longley

The first Australian to ever play in the NBA, Longley racked up three championship rings with the Bulls. Before his NBA days, he starred at New Mexico.

Daniel Kickert

A four-time WCC All-Conference player, Kickert had a few trials with the Lakers before signing with Leche Rio in the Euroleague.

Published Jan 23, 2008

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