Australian connection fuels Davidson Wildcats

• James Janssen elevated to associate head coach of Davidson women's basketball
• Instrumental in establishing Australian recruiting pipeline for Wildcats
• Helped team achieve two consecutive winning seasons and A-10 quarterfinal appearances

James Janssen enters his eighth season with Davidson's women's basketball program, serving as associate head coach after being promoted in summer 2021. His impact on the team's success and recruitment strategy has been significant.

Janssen, from Melbourne, Victoria, has helped recruit five Australians to the Wildcats program:

• Charlise Dunn — Guard, 1.88m, Junior, Victoria Point, Australia
• Emilie Bessell — Guard, 1.75m, Freshman, Sydney, Australia
• Issy Morgan — Guard, 1.78m, Senior, Sydney, Australia
• Katie Donovan — Guard, 1.8m, Sophomore, Queensland, Australia
• Millie Prior — Forward, 1.88m, Senior, Sydney, Australia

Australian Connection Fuels Wildcats' Success

Janssen's Australian background has proven invaluable for Davidson's recruitment efforts. He has been the driving force behind bringing eight Australian players to the Wildcats, including standouts like Suzi-Rose Deegan, who earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year and First Team All-Conference honours in her debut season. The Australian trio of Deegan, Adelaide Fuller, and Cassidy Gould combined for an impressive 863 points during the 2019-20 campaign, averaging 27.8 points per game.

Under Janssen's guidance, the Wildcats posted back-to-back winning seasons in 2018-19 and 2019-20, reaching the A-10 quarterfinals in consecutive years. The 2023-24 season was particularly strong, with Davidson achieving an 18-8 record and a .692 winning percentage, the third-best in program history.

Senior Issy Morgan told the Davidson's Wildcats' website the NCAA program was a natural fit for Australian players.

"A huge part of my decision to attend Davidson was the coaching staff and style of play," Morgan said.

"This team loves to move the ball quickly up the court and is very similar to the Aussie playing style. After getting to know the coaching staff better, I was confident that they would be able to bring the best out of me and the team.

"When watching the team play, it is evident how in sync and together they are. Davidson also allows me to receive an incredibly high-quality education, that will push and challenge me both mentally and physically."

Australian players at Davidson in 2024-25

Charlise Dunn — Wildcats Profile

Charlise Dunn is a Junior (3rd year) guard from Victoria Point, Queensland

2023-24

• Appeared in 23 games with 16 starts.
• Ranked third on the team in scoring with 12.7 points per game.
• Tallied 6.1 rebounds per game ranking second on the roster.
• Averaged 1.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.
• Shot .417 from the field and .333 from the 3-point arc.
• Ranked second on the team in free throw percentage at .855.
• Averaged a team-best 30 minutes per game.
• Scored a season-high 27 points to go along with 10 rebounds while sinking 10-of-13 free throws and scoring eight field goals vs. Saint Louis (2/3).
• Grabbed a season-best 11 rebounds twice against Longwood (12/2) and UMass (1/24).
• Tabbed season-high’s of three blocks and three steals at St. Bonaventure (1/31).
• Registered two double-double performances against UMass (1/24) and Saint Louis (2/3).
• Played a career-high 40 minutes vs. Saint Louis (2/3).
• Ranked ninth in the A-10 in blocks per game and sixth in free throw percentage
• Dished out a season-high seven assists vs. UNCW (12/18).
• An A-10 All-Conference Second Team Selection.
  

Prior to Davidson:

• Played in 11 games as a freshman at Virginia Tech, scoring 15 total points on 15 shot attempts
• Scored a season-best five points in her first game of the season against Mount St. Mary's, including a made three
• Hit a three against USC Upstate and had a steal and layup in the Hokies' win over Nebraska
• Has represented her nation at the youth level since 2018 when she helped the U-15 Australian Sapphires in the Oceania qualifiers win gold as she was named tournament MVP
• Suited up for the U-17 Australian Gems in Oceania qualifiers as the team took home the gold in 2019
• Earned calls up to the U-16 and U-17 teams in 2020 for both the Asia qualifiers and World Cup that were not contested due to COVID-19
• Won silver at the World Cup in 2021 with the U-19 Australia Gems
• Was the ninth-ranked international player in the 2022 class according to World Wide Hoops

Emilie Bessell — Wildcats Profile

Emilie Bessell is a Freshman (1st year) guard from Sydney, NSW

High School / Before Davidson

• Was named the Most Valuable Player of her high school team at Redlands.
• Served as the captain of her U18 NSW State team that went on to win a silver medal at the National Championships (2023).
• Was a U18 Australian Team trail selection (2024).
• Was named the Finals MVP at the National Junior Classic Tournament (2023).
• Earned three School League Championships (2020, 2021, 2022).
• Helped lead her team to a bronze medal at the Australian National Championships (2024).
• Won a gold medal at the National Junior Classic Club Tournament (2023).

Issy Morgan — Wildcats Profile

Issy Morgan is a Senior (4th year) guard from Sydney, NSW

2023-24

• Started all 24 games that she appeared in.
• Averaged 8.5 points, 2.8 rebounds 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
• Ranked eighth in the Atlantic 10 in assists per game and seventh in assist to turnover ratio (1.8).
• Scored a season-high 18 points with a best of eight made field goals at St. Bonaventure (1/31).
• Dished out a season-leading seven assists three times vs. Appalachian State (11/29), Longwood (12/2) and La Salle (1/2).
• Tallied a season-high four steals against USC Upstate (11/7).
• Shot .412 from the field and .804 from the foul line.
• Tallied eight double-figure contests.
  

2022-23

• Appeared and started in 27 games as a sophomore
• Averaged 7.7 points per game and 3.7 assists per game
• Top-15 in the Atlantic 10 in total assists (100) and 11th in assists per game
• Set a new career high in scoring with 20 points, 16 in the first half, against Duquesne
• Dropped 19 points against regular season champs UMass
• Scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds against VC
• Won A-10 Player of the Week on 1/23 after leading the 'Cats to two-straight wins, averaging 19.0 points per game and shooting 60 percent from the floor over the two-game stretch
  

2021-22

• Named to A-10's All-Rookie Team
• Listed to A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll
• Appeared in all 33 regular season games and starting in the final 16
• Averaged 8.3 points per game, while scoring in double-figures 13 times
• Scored a career-high 19 points against Florida Atlantic back on Nov. 27
• Second on the team in total assists (96) and top-8 across the conference with a 38.1% three-point percentage
• Reached double-figures in five of the final six games of the season including an 18-point effort during the quarterfinals • of the A-10 Championship against regular season champs Dayton
  

High School

• Competed at the Under-20 Women's Australia National Championships
• Selected in a 2019 All-Schools NSW Team
  

Katie Donovan — Wildcats Profile

Katie Donovan is a Sophomore (2nd year) guard from Southport, Queensland

2023-24

• One of four players to appear in all 26 contest.
• The only freshman to make 26 appearances as well as three starts.
• Scored 96 points and grabbed 45 rebounds averaging 3.7 and 1.7 per game respectively.
• Shot .429 from the floor and the team’s third best free throw percentage at .818.
• Had a season-best game at Rhode Island (2/17) where she tallied bests of 16 points, 37 minutes and a 6-of-11 showing from the floor.  
• Tabbed a season-high nine rebounds vs. George Washington (2/14).
• Was named the A-10 Rookie of the Week (2/19).
  

2022-23

• Did not appear in any games
  

High School

• Helped lead Queensland South to a silver medal at the 2022 Australian National Championships
• Averaged 11.4 points per game and shot 51.8 percent from the field in her last season in the NBL1
• Team captain at Southport State during her final season
• Named to the Queensland-South State Team and set the record for highest individual scorer in a CBSQ (Championship Basketball Schools Queensland) finals game with 53 points

Millie Prior — Wildcats Profile

Millie Prior is a Senior (4th year) forward from Sydney, Australia

2023-24

• One of two players to start in all 26 contests over the 2024 season.
• Played a team-high 709 minutes while averaging 27.3 minutes per game.
• Tallied 9.8 points per game while leading the roster with 7.6 rebounds per game.
• Ranked third in the A-10 and first on the team in blocks per game with 1.9.
• Ranked in the top 100 in the Nation in blocked shots with a total of 49 placing her 62nd.
• Tallied four double-double efforts including three consecutive against Wofford (11/21), Appalachian State (11/29) and Longwood (12/2).
• Scored a season-high of 20 points at UNC (11/12).
• Registered 13 contests in double-figure scoring.
• Led the Atlantic 10 in field goal percentage at .558.
• Had three games perfect from the field in 5-of-5 vs. High Point (12/8), 9-of-9 vs. UNCW (12/18) and 2-of-2 at Fordham (1/14).
• Grabbed a season-high 19 rebounds against Longwood (12/2).
• Named a CSC Academic All-District Honouree
  

2022-23

• Did not appear in any games due to injury
  

Previous

• Was a member of the Fordham Rams during the 2021-22 season, averaged 10 minutes per game and shot 38.2 percent from the field
• Represented Australia at U15 Oceania tournament (gold medallist), U17 Oceania tournament (gold medallist), U19 World Cup (silver medallist)
• Shot 42.3 percent from the field during the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup
• Attended the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence from 2019-21, and was with Adelaide Fuller during the 2019 season
• Won Metro and State MVP titles in 2018
• Represented NSW on national stage from 2017-2021, averaging a double-double and winning a gold medal in 2021 with Issy Morgan

Diverse Experience Shapes Coaching Approach

Prior to joining Davidson, Janssen honed his skills during a five-year stint at Wake Forest University. There, he worked alongside current Davidson Head Coach Gayle Coats Fulks, assisting in player development, recruiting, and scouting. His time with the Demon Deacons saw the team secure back-to-back NIT berths, reaching the second round in both appearances.

Janssen's coaching philosophy is deeply rooted in his playing career with the Blackburn Vikings Basketball Club in Melbourne. As a point guard known for his passing prowess, he captained his team to a BIGV Championship in 2011 and consistently ranked among the league's top assist leaders.

His coaching journey also includes successful stints with youth teams in Australia, leading two high school girls' travel teams on U.S. tours and coaching at Basketball Victoria talent ID camps. This diverse background has equipped Janssen with a unique perspective on player development and team dynamics.