'Patrick Impact': Joel Foxwell now a Big 12 Sun Devil

• ‍Keeping up with the Band of Brothers' Foxwells‍
• Every Australian player in the 2026 Transfer Portal‍
• Every Australian in NCAAM basketball in 2026-27

Former NBL player David Patrick recruited point guard Patty Mills to Saint Mary’s 20 years ago, and he’s done it again – helping to lure Australian rising star freshman guard Joel Foxwell to the Arizona State Sun Devils in the NCAA’s power conference, Big 12.

Patrick has also helped land Class of 2026 freshman Marcus Vaughns, who left LSU after enrolling just three months ago.

Foxwell’s older brother, Owen, is heading to Wisconsin alongside a fellow Australian, Austin Rapp, while his youngest brother, Austin, is heading to Joel’s Portland Pilots.

Owen Foxwell had also committed to LSU but withdrew to join the Badgers when Patrick left the Tigers and moved to the Sun Devils.

Joel’s first season of college basketball at Portland can only be described as meteoric, earning First Team All-West Coast Conference honours and emerging as one of the most productive young guards in the country.

He averaged 15.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game, with his assist mark:

• Leading all freshmen nationally
• Ranking second among underclassmen
• Placing 13th overall across Division I

50-year-old Bermudan-Australian Patrick, who played for the Canberra Cannons between 2001-02, was a coach at Saint Mary’s when Mills committed in the mid-2000s and is now an assistant to Randy Bennett at Arizona State. Bennett was the head coach of the Gaels between 2001 and 2026. He is Ben Simmons' godfather.

Bennett also recruited Matthew Dellavedova, Ben Allen, Clint Steindl, Mitch Young and Jorden Page, who led Saint Mary’s into the Sweet 16 in 2010. Mills and Dellavedova went on to win NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Joel Foxwell is expected to start straight away for the Sun Devils in place of the departed lead guard Moe Odum.

Joel Foxwell's freshman season in Portland

WCC vs Big 12 – What’s the real difference?

The gap between the West Coast Conference (WCC) and the Big 12 Conference (Big 12) is one of the clearest “step-up” moves in college basketball — and it shows up in pace, physicality, exposure, and outcomes.

WCC

• Mid-major conference with 1–2 consistent national contenders (e.g. Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s)
• Noticeable drop-off after the top tier
• Many teams outside the top 100 nationally

Big 12

• Power conference — often the deepest league in college basketball
• The majority of teams ranked or tournament-calibre
• No easy nights — even bottom teams are high-level.

Style of Play

WCC

• More system-driven, half-court execution
• Cleaner spacing, lower physical pressure
• Tempo varies but is generally controlled

Big 12

• Physical, defensive, high-pressure basketball
• Guards face constant ball pressure
• Faster decisions required — less time, less space

Physicality & Athleticism

WCC

• Solid athletes, but not elite across the board
• Physicality varies team-to-team

Big 12

• Elite athletes at nearly every position
• Stronger, quicker, more explosive defenders
• Contact is constant — on-ball and off-ball

Exposure & Stakes

WCC

• Limited national TV windows
• NCAA Tournament bids typically 1–2 teams

Big 12

• Heavy national coverage (ESPN, FOX)
• Multiple NCAA Tournament teams every year
• NBA scouts are watching nightly

Player Development Impact

WCC pathway

• Opportunity to build stats and confidence
• More on-ball reps, offensive freedom

Big 12 pathway

• Forces efficiency and decision-making
• Develops NBA-level habits under pressure
• Lower margin for error

What it means for Joel Foxwell

For Joel Foxwell, the move:

• Reduces space and time with the ball
• Increases defensive pressure every possession
• Elevates visibility and long-term upside