\u201cI never expected it for myself, but I guess hard work does pay off.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cAt the start [of the recruitment process], I was a bit nervous to hop on calls, but I think just building connections with the coaches as time has gone by and cutting down my options, it’s been really good. <\/p>\n
\u201cGetting to know them all and their style of play, the girls, the history of their programs, it’s been good building that relationship and foundation with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/691b8f0178bf9ddb1ac6fe6b_GettyImages-2225802106.jpg\")
Prasayus Notoa of Australia drives to the basket during the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2025 Quarter-final between Hungary and Australia at Starez Arena Vodova on July 18, 2025 in Brno, Czech Republic. Photo: Milad Payami\/FIBA via Getty Images<\/p>\n
What the versatile 6’0″ Notoa will bring to one of those three college programs is enticing. She\u2019s the type of prospect coaches dream of, boasting supreme size and strength when matched up against guards and when battling against bigs in the frontcourt, her agility and IQ make her extremely tough to handle. <\/p>\n
She can guard basically any position, she has the tools and footwork to go to work in the paint, she can facilitate for her teammates, and she can also shoot it efficiently from long range. <\/p>\n
All of that was on show when Notoa played a vital role in the Australian Gems<\/a>\u2019 run to the silver medal at the 2025 FIBA U19 Women\u2019s World Cup<\/a> earlier this year. Top five in minutes played for the Gems, Notoa\u2019s steadying presence came to the fore in crucial moments throughout the tournament, and she monstered Argentina in the round of 16 game, finishing with 11 points (2-from-3 from three-point range), 13 rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block. <\/p>\n \u201cThat tournament really helped me with my confidence,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cWe all clicked really well together and our chemistry grew as games went on. I learned a lot from coach Renae [Garlepp], she helped me see the court a lot more, and the assistant coaches helped me a lot too. <\/p>\n \u201cI just learned a lot from that experience.\u201d <\/p>\n Notoa thrives on competition and when she was matched up against the best in the world, she rose to the occasion for her country. Her relentless work ethic on both ends of the court was on full display and she spoke about how special the journey to silver was and how much she loves wearing the green and gold. <\/p>\n \u201cI still can’t believe we got a medal at the World Cup, getting a medal is just crazy,” she said with a laugh. <\/p>\n \u201cBeing in the grand final at a World Cup was a once-in-a-lifetime sort of experience. <\/p>\n \u201cRepresenting your country and your family at the highest level of basketball, there\u2019s nothing better than that.\u201d <\/p>\n You get the sense that when we look at that Gems squad in a decade, many of those players will be Opals, they\u2019ll be playing in the WNBA, playing in the WNBL and will be superstars of the sport. <\/p>\n Some are in college now, the likes of Bonnie Deas<\/a> (Arkansas) and Sienna Harvey <\/a>(Washington), while many others have committed to colleges for the 2026-27 season, such as Sitaya Fagan (USC)<\/a>, while Ruby Perkins <\/a>and Zara Russell <\/a>will team up at California, Berkeley. <\/p>\n Notoa absolutely fits that bill and she mentioned how special it is to see each other living out dreams and achieving at the highest level. <\/p>\n \u201cIt’s just good to see us girls becoming successful and growing in our own pathways and growing our own names,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n \u201cPlaying with each other and seeing each other grow across the couple of years we’ve been together, it\u2019s just so cool.\u201d <\/p>\n Notoa picked up the game of basketball at age four or five then started playing in under-8s at Ipswich, and in more recent times has played NBL1 for the Logan Thunder, being part of the club’s championship this past season.<\/p>\n She was inspired by her sister, Neferatali (Tali), who was a supreme talent in her own right, playing college basketball at Oklahoma State from 2020-2022. <\/p>\n \u201cSeeing my sister go off to college first and now with how far women\u2019s college basketball has come and women’s basketball in general, it’s definitely somewhere I wanted to be in the future,” Notoa said.<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/691b8fc4b1141f3610f50aa7_GettyImages-2224613755.jpg\")
Prasayus Notoa of Team Australia poses for a portrait during content day ahead of the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball Cup 2025 on July 10, 2025 in Brno, Czech Republic. Photo: Milad Payami\/FIBA via Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/691b909a20940644c08caf5c_Image.jpeg\")
Neferatali Notoa (right) and Prasayus Notoa (left) both playing for Queensland Schools team in different age groups.<\/p>\n