7th July 2026
Author: Maree DeGeorge
Melbourne, VICTORIA - Basketball Victoria is celebrating a proud achievement on the international stage after seven Victorian athletes and two Victorian coaches played an important role in the Basketball Australia Crocs' bronze medal success at the 2026 FIBA Under-17 World Cup in Türkiye.
The Crocs defeated host nation Türkiye 77-69 in the bronze medal game, securing Australia's best result at the tournament since claiming silver in 2014. The bronze medal is just the third in the history of Australia's Under-17 men's program, following silver medal finishes in 2012 and 2014.
Seven of Australia's 12-player squad came through Basketball Victoria's High-Performance programs, while two Victorian coaches helped guide the team throughout the tournament. Their contribution reflects the depth of talent being developed across the state and the ongoing commitment of associations, clubs, coaches, families and support staff to helping young athletes reach the highest level.
Basketball Victoria General Manager, Pathways Dom Linossier, said the result was one the entire Victorian basketball community should be proud of. "To have seven Victorian athletes and two Victorian coaches contribute so significantly to a World Cup medal is a fantastic achievement and something our entire basketball community can celebrate," Linossier said.
"This result reflects years of dedication from the athletes and everyone who has supported them along the way. It's a wonderful reward and we're excited to see what the future holds for this talented group of high character young men."
The World Cup also featured Victorian athlete and Basketball Victoria High-Performance program participant Liam Keogh, who represented New Zealand. A key contributor throughout the campaign, Keogh helped New Zealand to a 12th-place finish, further highlighting the depth of Victorian talent competing on the international stage.
Basketball Victoria congratulates all Victorian athletes and coaches on their outstanding achievements and for representing their respective nations with pride at the FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup.
Victorians at the U17 Men’s World Cup
- Riak Akhaur
- Yahya Basaran
- Lucas Byrne
- Tom Dammers
- Will Hamilton
- Alex Mabbott
- Josh McCann
- Liam Keogh (New Zealand)
- Ash Arnott (Coach)
- Rhys Carter (Coach)
-Ends-
For Media Enquiries:
Maree DeGeorge
Basketball Victoria
Media & Communications Specialist
maree.degeorge@basketballvictoria.com.au
0499 851 266
