Will Johnston, Reyne Smith, Hunter Jack Madden- 3 Elite Aussie shooters to watch..
6'3 Will Johnston, 6'2 Reyne Smith and 6'2 Hunter Jack Madden star in a game for giants
So you're not 6'5, 6'8 or 7 foot tall but you dream to be an elite basketball player? What do you do? In a game for giants there is a trio of closer to average size Aussies, showing the way and beating the odds to star in D1 college basketball. They give us all hope that it is possible to play this game at an extremely high-level no matter the physical basketball limitations you've been dealt. Elite shooting has become the calling card of 6'2 Reyne Smith at Charleston, 6'3 Will Johnston at LMU and 6'2 Hunter Jack Madden at ACU, and all three have the ability to change the course of a contest and win the game for their team. There's not a basketball team in the world that doesn't value high-level shooting and these three are great examples of young Aussies excelling in this aspect of the game.
Reyne Smith the junior guard from Charleston cougars hails from Tasmania. Reyne is averaging 12.7 points per game in the first 12 games of the season, his third for the cougars. Smith is shooting 38.5% from deep on an incredible eight attempts per game and is an 83% free throw shooter. He is 37-96 from deep on the season and is the definition of a pure shooter, having never met a shot he didn't think he was going in. On Thursday night Reyne lead Charleston to a huge victory over a red hot St Joe's, for Charleston's fourth win in a row. Making an incredible nine threes from 20 attempts Reyne finished the contest with 31 points and the school record for made threes in a game. He also made six threes against CCU for 24 points and 5 threes against Kent State for a 21 point outing, both wins. Charleston was an NCAA tournament team last season, in large part thanks to Reynes shooting, and they hope to be back in the tournament again this season following CAA conference play.
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Will Johnston is a 6'3 point guard currently playing for the LMU Lions. The Sydney product transferred over from UTRGV last season, where he led the Vaqueros with efficient 14.5ppg scoring and high-level shooting at 43.8% from deep. This season he is averaging 9.5 points per game, having transferred to a better team in a tougher conference. Last night Will Johnson exploded for 28 points on 8 of 12 shooting from three, as he really found his feet and had his shot going. LMU lost a tough battle with number 16 ranked Colorado state, and Johnston became the main focus for the Lions offense as he put the team on his shoulders to get back into the game. His ability to create from outside the arc and knockdown shots is elite. He made step backs, shot fake one dribble fade aways and was automatic on the spot up. Will is shooting 41% from deep on 25 makes from 61 attempts he is also shooting 93% from the stripe. Wills journey is one of self belief and determination as he has risen through the levels of college basketball, and managed to perform at every step, off the back of his hard work and effort.
https://twitter.com/AUSSIESinNCAAB/status/1738614747442884825
Hunter Jack Madden is an Abilene Christian University Senior, and 6'2 shooter / point guard from Sydney. Through the first 12 games of his senior season, Hunter is averaging 11.3 points. He is shooting 40.4% from three with 19 makes on the season and 81.4% from the free-throw line. He went 4-4 from deep in a win over San Jose State scoring a season high 22 points. In a recent win over UTEP he went 2-5 from deep along with 12 of 13 from the stripe for 18 points. Hunter is enjoying a career year for ACU and has played really consistently as a starter in the non-conference games. Look for him to continue to star for ACU as the WAC conference games begin. The Wildcats have the chance to cause some damage.
https://twitter.com/AUSSIESinNCAAB/status/1736552886874542175
For anyone that's followed my coverage of Aussie's playing college basketball, It's no secret that these three are some of my favorites to watch. The work and mindset it takes to be an elite shooter cannot be understated, not that I’d know. Most college basketball players are over 6 foot 4, and this trio might give the closer to average size person hope of playing high-level basketball. But its best to temper that enthusiasm with the grain of salt because these guys are insane at what they do shooting the rock, as well as all being elite ball handlers and above average defnders. It's a pleasure to watch them perform at this high level and I'm looking forward to watching Charleston, LMU and ACU throughout this season, as well as what all three of them achieve beyond college basketball and into the Pro's.