Next wave: 7 NCAA seniors perfect for NBL27

• ‍Scores of NBL players flood NBL1 rosters in 2026‍
• Every Australian player in the 2026 Transfer Portal‍
• Every Australian in NCAAM basketball in 2026-27

Seven Australian men's basketballers' NCAA Division 1 careers are over it means theirs – and ours – attention turns to what comes next for them.

For some, the NBA will remain the target but the NBL has become one of the clearest and most appealing professional pathways in world basketball – a league that offers opportunity, visibility and a genuine home for Australian talent.

With that in mind, here are seven NCAA seniors we’d love to see land in NBL27.

1. Oscar Cluff

211cm │ 116kg │ C │ Purdue │ Sunshine Coast, QLD

If you are building an NBL roster, size still matters – and Cluff gives you plenty of it.

The 6'11" and 255 pounds former Purdue big man looks like the sort of centre who could slot straight into a rotation. He rebounds, screens, finishes and gives coaches a genuine interior target. There is nothing flashy about his game, but plenty that translates.

That is what makes Cluff appealing. He looks like a plug-and-play frontcourt piece for a team that needs size, physicality and reliability around the rim.

Senior season with Purdue: 24.7 MPG │ 10.6 PPG │ 7.5 RPG │ 1.8 APG

2. Anthony Dell’Orso

198cm │ 93kg │ G │ Arizona │ Melbourne, VIC

Dell’Orso feels built for the NBL.

The Arizona wing is a confident scorer, a legitimate perimeter threat and the type of player who looks comfortable taking shots with a game in the balance.

At 6'6", the size NBL clubs crave on the wing, especially in a league that values shot-making and lineup flexibility.

He would not need much time to adjust to the style. Dell’Orso has the offensive mindset and physical profile to contribute early.

UConn's championship-winning coach Dan Hurley said 22-year-old Dell'Orso knew how to play his role after the Wildcats rolled the #3 ranked Huskies 71-67 on November 20, 2025.

"I think [he's] going to make an NBA team, just because he's got size and he shoots it with the way the new NBA plays," Hurley said.

"I know he wasn't good tonight, but that guy is maybe the best bench player in the country."

Senior season with Arizona: 21.0 MPG │ 8.5 PPG │ 2.0 RPG │ 1.8 APG

3. Will Johnston

191cm │ 84kg │ G │ Richmond │ Sydney, NSW │ 27.5 MPG │ 9.7 PPG │ 3.0 RPG │ 2.2 APG │ 38.6 FG%

Every NBL team needs a guard who can settle a game, organise a unit and value possessions. Johnston looks like that player.

The Richmond senior didn't not rely on flash in the 2025-26 season. His value is in control, decision-making and making the right read. He is the type of guard coaches trust because he can keep a team functional when a game starts to drift.

That profile screams second-unit point guard minutes in the NBL – someone who can bring order, tempo and composure.

Senior season with Richmond: 27.5 MPG │ 9.7 PPG │ 3.0 RPG │ 2.2 APG

4. Max Mackinnon

198cm │ 88kg │ G │ LSU │ Brisbane, QLD │ 31.9 MPG │ 15.7 PPG │ 2.6 RPG │ 2.5 APG │ 41.8 FG%

Mackinnon, the son of former NBL great Sam, might be the most complete NBL fit on this list.

The former LSU guard brings versatility, toughness and the kind of connective play winning teams need. He can score, defend multiple spots and keep an offence moving without needing everything built around him. The Sam Mackinnon bloodlines are obvious in the way he plays – hard, competitive and team-first.

He does not just fill a role. He helps link lineups together, and that has real value in the NBL.

Senior season with LSU: 31.9 MPG │ 15.7 PPG │ 2.6 RPG │ 2.5 APG

5. Harry Rouhliadeff

206cm │ 104kg │ F │ Hawai’i │ Brisbane, QLD │ 25.5 MPG │ 10.7 PPG │ 5.0 RPG │ 1.4 APG │ 52.7 FG%

Rouhliadeff is one of the more intriguing names in this group.

The Hawai’i forward has size, mobility and enough skill to make teams think about how he projects in a professional setting. He can stretch the floor, compete inside and offers the sort of frontcourt flexibility that coaches are always chasing.

He may begin as a development piece at NBL level, but there is enough there to suggest he could grow into a genuine rotation option.

Senior season with Hawai’i: 25.5 MPG │ 10.7 PPG │ 5.0 RPG │ 1.4 APG

6. Jayden Stone

193cm │ 84kg │ G │ Missouri │ Perth, WA │ 30.1 MPG │ 13.5 PPG │ 5.1 RPG │ 1.9 APG │ 48.7 FG%

Stone is a scorer. That is the appeal.

The former Missouri guard can get to his own shot, score at different levels and play with the kind of freedom that can energise a second unit or give a club another perimeter weapon. In a league where offensive punch is always in demand, that matters.

In the right role, Stone could be the type of player who quickly earns a following.

Senior season with Missouri: 30.1 MPG │ 13.5 PPG │ 5.1 RPG │ 1.9 APG

7. Harry Wessels

216cm │ 127kg │ C │ Saint Mary’s │ Boddington, WA │ 16.6 MPG │ 4.8 PPG │ 5.1 RPG │ 0.6 APG │ 51.4 FG%

Wessels gives clubs something they cannot teach – size.

The Saint Mary’s centre has touch around the rim, a feel for positioning and enough defensive presence to make him worth a long look. Like many young bigs, consistency remains part of the conversation, but the foundation is clear.

The NBL has been a strong development league for frontcourt players, and Wessels looks like the type of big who could benefit from that environment.

Senior season with Saint Mary’s: 16.6 MPG │ 4.8 PPG │ 5.1 RPG │ 1.0 BPG

The bigger picture

The NCAA-to-NBL pathway has never looked stronger for Australian players.

For this group, the case is straightforward – come home, play meaningful minutes, develop against seasoned professionals and build a career in a league that continues to grow in profile and quality.

NBL27 is now in its countdown – do not be surprised if some of these names are part of it.