GAME CENTRE
The Newcastle Falcons are excited to announce the signing of Australian Opals prodigy Isla Juffermans for the 2024 NBL1 East season.
A Coffs Harbour Suns junior, 18-year-old Isla is one of the rising stars of Australian basketball, having represented the Opals on a tour of China in September after wearing the green-and-gold at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Spain this year and the Under-17 World Cup in Hungary in 2022.
One of her teammates in those Australian sides, and in NSW Country teams throughout their junior representative age groups, has been outstanding Newcastle junior Saffron Shiels.
A 194cm post player, Isla will join the Falcons for 2024 after averaging a team-high 16.6 points (at 59%) and 9.8 rebounds a game in 24 appearances for the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in the 2023 NBL1 East season.
“I’m a Coffs Harbour junior so Newcastle basically feels like home to me, so I’m excited at this opportunity to play for the Falcons,” Isla said.
“Being a NSW Country girl, while I loved playing for the CoE in NBL1 East this year, it will be good being back in a home setting being back in NSW playing NBL1 here. I can’t wait to get started.”
Signed to an amateur development player contract with the Sydney Flames for the current WNBL season, Isla is playing alongside Newcastle’s Lara McSpadden and 2023 Falcons forward Abi Curtin.
After finishing up with the Falcons next year, Isla will continue her development in the US college system after committing to Louisville, who compete in the Division I Atlantic Coast Conference.
Isla averaged 10.3 points and seven rebounds a game for Australia at the U19 World Cup in Spain in July this year, as the Gems finished 9th. She led Australia in scoring (12.6 points) and rebounding (10.6) as the Sapphires finished 5th at the U17 World Cup in Hungary last year.
“What a coup to bring Isla to Newcastle,” Newcastle Basketball General Manager Matt Neason said.
“She’s one of the most promising juniors in the country and will add that extra dominance inside that we’re looking for.
“When we played CoE last year, Isla had 20 points, 19 rebounds and five assists, and was a dominant force defensively. It’s that all-round skill-set Isla brings to the table that is going to excite our fans.
“We love that Isla feels a connection to our region, and with her playing for Newcastle, her family are not far away in Coffs Harbour so they will continue to be part of her basketball journey.”
Main image courtesy: FIBA
Photo graphic: Sproule Sports Focus
