Fagan's Opals debut biggest since Lauren Jackson?

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Lauren Jackson is the greatest Australian basketballer of all-time and her illustrious career was kickstarted when Australian Opals coach Tom Maher threw her into the deep end to make her senior international debut at just 17-years-old.

Jackson would go on to have one of the most decorated professional sporting careers by an Aussie - winning a FIBA World Championship, playing at five Olympic Games, becoming a three-time WNBA MVP and two-time WNBA champion, along with seven WNBL championships and four WNBL MVP awards.

But could we about to see the biggest Opals debut since Jackson back in 1998 when boom University of Southern California recruit, Sitaya Fagan, runs out in the green and gold at the senior level for the first time to take on China in Melbourne on July 7 and 9.

Speaking on the Triple Threat Tournaments Rising Stars segment on the Cut to the Jase podcast, NBL legend and former Australian Boomer Jason Cadee said Fagan making her debut at just 18-years-old was exciting times for the women's national team program.

"She's just got a bright future, she's a really good basketball player," Cadee said stating the obvious on the basketball.com.au podcast.

"I remember last year when I was playing for Bankstown, seeing her play before against the women and just as soon as she caught it and shot it, I turned to someone and said "who's that".

"You can just tell her shot was effortless, the way she moved, the way she played.

"I'm really excited for what her year at USC is going to be like. I think she's going to have a massive college career but I also think her being able to represent the Opals already, whether she plays one minute, zero minutes or five, it's just going to be part of her being in that system for a couple of weeks and being around the group.

"She's got a very, very bright future and I think it's exciting to get some of those young girls involved early."

Fagan spent the second half of the NCAA college basketball season with the USC Trojans in preparation for her freshman season, tipping-off later this year, where she will team up with star Juju Watkins.

She's not the only Aussie heading to USC by the way with Brisbane big man Josh Hughes transferring to the division one powerhouse for the men's program as well.

But Fagan making her Opals debut against China as Sandy Brondello's team prepare for the FIBA World Cup in September is a giant step in her already blossoming career after starring for Australia at the under-17 level with the Sapphires and with the under-19 Gems, which won a silver medal at the FIBA World Cup last year, just going down to the USA in the final.