Foxwell climbs NCAA Men’s Power Rankings

• ‍Adelaide star Lara Somfai is Stanford standout already‍
• Joel Foxwell pilots Portland with five 3s, 23 points‍
• Full coverage latest news of Every Aussies in NCAA basketball

Another week of college basketball's in the books, and we largely saw similar trends of form as the week progressed, with Australia's top talent continuing to solidify their roles as consistent contributors.

Some key movement in the 'performance' power rankings this week comes via the elevation of Joel Foxwell, whose consistent performances leading Portland have been impossible to ignore. Going to a small(er) school in Portland has been a fantastic fit for the young point guard, who has been given the keys and is making the most of his opportunity as the most impactul freshman in the WCC.

Also rising thee ranks is Caleb Van Der Griend, a senior big man playing at Idaho State. After dominating at the D2 level last season with Minot State, averaging over 21 points and 13 rebounds a contest, his immediate translation to D1 basketball has been eye-opening, with averages of 15.6 points and 7.6 rebounds so far this season.

NCAA Men's Power Rankings

1. Alex Condon

2. Oscar Cluff

3. Anthony Dell'orso

4. Austin Rapp

5. Max Mackinnon

6. Joel Foxwell (up)

7. Caleb Van De Griend (up)

8. Jayden Stone (down)

9. Tuburu Naivalurua (-)

10. Charles Johnston (up - new)

Alex Condon - Best Performance - 20pts, 11reb vs Merrimack

Alex Condon continues his strong junior season, highlighted by a dominant double-double against Merrimack. He was quiet in a loss to TCU, adjusting to being double teamed, but managed to put up 8 assists, demonstrating his ability to read the floor.

Joel Foxwell - Best Performance - 19pts, 5reb, 7ast vs Long Beach State

Foxy continues to go from strength to strength, selected as WCC Freshman of the Week for the second time running. Going to Portland has been a perfect fit for the young point guard, leading the team in both scoring and assists.

Caleb Van De Griend - Best Performance - 29pts, 10reb, 2blk vs Justice (D2)

Van De Griend has been a revelation for Idaho State this season, his first at the D1 level, proving to be a dominant interior force for the Bengals. He's currently 5th per game for rebounds and 8th in scoring amongst players in the Big Sky Conference.

Charles Johnston - Best Performance - 14pts, 13reb, 4ast vs Queens‍

Johnston has emerged as a cornerstone for Furman on both ends of the floor in his second season with the program. The seven footer is impactful on the glass, reads the floor, active defensively and is even knocking down the occasional three, too.

Roman Siulepa - Best Performance - 20pts, 8reb, 4stl vs Quinnipiac

It was a tough week for Pitt, including a concerning loss to Quinnipiac, but on a personal level, it was a standout performance for Roman Siulepa. He tied his previous career high of 12 in the first half, finishing with a team high 20 points.

Oscar Cluff - Best Performance - 15pts, 15reb (21 mins) vs Texas Tech

We know what we're getting from Oscar Cluff, and what we're getting is elite rebounding, feel and touch with ever-dependable consistency. Still shooting over 70% from the field on the season, Cluff was dominant in his 21 minutes on the floor against Texas Tech, continuing to justify his value as one of college basketball's most productive bigs.

Tasman Goodrick - Best Performance - 19pts, 10reb vs Albany

It's been a winding journey for Tassie Goodrick - the big man started at Cal Baptist alongside his older brother Hunter, before going down to the D2 level as a sophomore. Now in his second D1 stint with Siena, Goodrick has seized the opportunity with both hands, averaging over 12 points and 8 rebounds on the season.

Peitok Machar - Best Performance - 15pts, 14reb vs George Washington

6'10 big man Peitok Machar, originally out of Sydney, finished his Junior College career last season as one of the level's most prolific shot blockers. Not only is he averaging a block a game in limited minutes so far, but an extended opportunity against George Washington saw him put up a big double-double.

Chol Machot - Best Performance - 14pts, 7reb, 2blk, 2stl vs Evansville

Full of potential, Machot manages to cram immense production into whatever minutes his foul count will allow, including this stat-line against Evansville. He's still a work in progress to capitalise on his upside, but with 0 fouls in 24 minutes against Yale, it feels like he's starting to figure things out.

Josh Dent - Best Performance - 24pts, 8ast, 4reb vs UC Merced (D2)

After an incredible junior career in Australia, it's fantastic to see the elite point guard finding his feet at the college level. After 84 minutes as a freshman, Dent has stepped straight into the starting point guard spot for the Gaels. His stat-line against D2 UC Merced was his breakout performance, but he was just as impressive in his most recent game against Wichita State, particularly late.

About the Author

Michael Houben is an Australian basketball writer and scout based in Melbourne, Victoria. As well as covering the game as a journalist, Michael supports US colleges to identify and recruit Australian talent as the owner of Airtime Scouting, and supports grassroots athletes through Airtime Basketball.