College Stars Choose NBL

Photo via Snap Shot Photography

The influx of Australian collegiate talent returning home for NBL24 is on the cusp of hitting levels we've never seen before.

In a class headlined by First-Team All-Big Sky Conference big Josh Bannan and five-year UC Riverside guard Flynn Cameron, no less than six Australians have ended their college careers in favour of returning home to the NBL – and there could be more to come.

Keanu Rasmussen is one of those half-dozen players to return to Australia with an NBL contract on his desk. He's headed home to Adelaide to sign on as a development player with the 36ers.

Currently plying his trade in NBL1 Central with Sturt, Rasmussen redshirted his first season at California Baptist, before going on to appear in 10 games for the Lancers in the 2022-23 season.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Keanu Rasmussen STUFFED IT ?<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL1Central?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL1Central</a> via <a href="https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG">https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG</a> or the NBL1 App ? &amp; ? <a href="https://t.co/a5MuMTCg7L">pic.twitter.com/a5MuMTCg7L</a></p>&mdash; NBL1 (@NBL1) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL1/status/1642133617077022723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A boyhood 36ers fan, Rasmussen says he only ever had eyes for Adelaide.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to be a part of for ages,” Rasmussen told NBL Media. “I remember when I was a kid going and watching those games, so it’s great to be amongst it now. It’s great to be a 36er.

“They were the main guys who were talking to me … when I first got back they were basically straight onto me, and I felt like it was a good spot to end up.”

Rasmussen was not the only Australian on the California Baptist roster last season. Far from it, in fact.

Tasmanian-born brothers Tre and Taran Armstrong were both teammates of the South Australian at the school, and they loom as two more prized collegiate recruits.

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Following his two years of collegiate basketball, younger brother Taran is rumoured to have agreed terms with the Cairns Taipans, as reported by ESPN Insider Olgun Uluc.

Tre, on the other hand, finished his college career with over 120 appearances for the Lancers – and JackJumpers head coach Scott Roth has been open about his side’s pursuit of the guard.

Whether it be California Baptist’s Australian contingent, or top-level homegrown players anywhere in the American collegiate system, Rasmussen says the NBL provides exceptional opportunity to those looking to go professional.

“I think the NBL is a top-tier league, and I think it’s one of the best league that dudes can play in,” he said.

“It’s got great guys coming in with the imports, and then with locals coming back from college.

“After having a few years over here and seeing what it’s about I think it’s great they can come back, get into the system back home, and have something there for them.

“It was something we definitely talking about (coming to the NBL) since we were watching it while we were over there,” Rasmussen said of his discussions with the Armstrong brothers.

“Having this opportunity as something we could come back to is just great.

“It was always in our conversations as a possibility – and it’s something that is happening now.”

Rasmussen is currently one of three new players heading to Adelaide for NBL24, and the only one of the trio who hasn't represented the club before.

Jason Cadee is heading back for his second stint with the side after spending the 2012-2014 seasons at the club, while Isaac Humphries has returned to Adelaide following a season in Melbourne.

The 36ers open their NBL24 campaign against the Brisbane Bullets on Friday, September 29.