Two Canberra basketball athletes have been recognised among the graduating class at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, acknowledging their involvement with the program over the years.

Zara Russell and Ajak Nyuon were both recipients of the Bob Staunton Memorial Scholarship for 2026, having demonstrated the values of leadership, belonging, excellence, teamwork and safety in their time in the program.

Both athletes are set to leave Australian shores for the United States to take part in the 2026/27 NCAA Season, with Russell committing to the University of California while Nyuon is headed to Arizona State.

After debuting for the UC Capitals in the 2025/2026 season, Russell was the lone female graduate from this class, with COE women’s head coach Mel Downer stating, “What excites me most is seeing athletes like Zara step into the next phase with a far greater understanding of who they are—not just as basketball players, but as people.”  

“Zara has laid foundations that will continue to serve her well, and I’m excited to see where her journey takes her and how she continues to grow within the game.” 

COE men’s head coach Robbie McKinlay highlighted the importance of the graduation celebration, saying, “A big part of our charter at the COE is to prepare these young players for their next steps.”  

“The exciting aspect for these players is they all have the potential to play in the green and gold moving forward and we are happy to play a role in providing that foundation.” 

Alex Dickeson, Jongkuch Mach, Ajak Nyuon, Isaac Riddle, and Zara Russell at this week’s COE Graduation (Image: Basketball Australia)