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Alumni Watch: Opening week for NCAA and NJCAA athletes

Our first alumni watch of the new season focuses on opening week in America, with many of our former Academy and Club stars shining on the big stage. In this issue, we’ll be focusing on:

  • Ethan Price (Washington State University)

  • Ben Michaels (University of Buffalo)

  • Susie Rafiu (Columbia University)

  • Esther Little & Christabel Osarobo (Gonzaga University)

  • Yazmin Edwards & Millie Pearson (Eastern Arizona College)


Others, such as Olivia Forster (UC Upstate), Anya McKenzie (Tarleton State) and Ella Pearson (Newberry College) are yet to make their new season bows. In future, we’ll also feature some of our domestic and international alumni, but with the new NCAA season tipping off, stateside is where we begin!


Ethan Price had a big summer. Fresh off of representing the Great Britain Men’s national team, Ethan follows his EWU Head Coach David Riley across the county to Washington State University. 68 miles is all that separates the two Universities, but this move for Ethan moves him from the Big Sky Conference to the West Coast Conference where he will face off against the likes of Bradley, Gonzaga, Santa Clara, and what will surely be an emotional trip back to Eastern Washington. Ethan isn’t alone in making the transfer to follow coach Riley. Cedric Coward, Dane Erikstrup and LeJuan Watts also made the move, and the three of them joined Price in the starting lineup for opening night against Portland State. Coward led the side with 23 in an 8 point win, while Ethan began the season strong with a 16 point 7 rebound effort, which included 4-5 FG, 3-3 3PT and 5-6 FT. In what is his Senior year, Ethan will be looking to demonstrate to scouts that he has what it takes to play at the next level, and it is hoped that the move to Washington State will allow him to do just that. Ethan’s WSU play Bradley on Friday before welcoming Idaho on Monday.


Another strong start came from University of Buffalo freshman Ben Michaels, making his NCAA debut and logging a highly impressive 13 points in 28 minutes off the bench in a win over Old Dominion. While Ben is new to college and NCAA D1 ball, the 6’8” forward is no stranger to playing in the US following his two year stint at Long Island Lutheran in New York following two years playing as part of Copleston Basketball Academy and his junior career with Ipswich Basketball Club. Ben, who is joined at Buffalo by another Brit big man in Tim Oboh, also registered 4 rebounds, 2 blocks and 3 steals, demonstrating his ability to impact the game on both ends. With such a strong start to the season, Buffalo coaches and fans alike will be quickly realising they have a gem on their hands. Ben’s side face Fredonia on Friday before a trip to Notre Dame on Monday.


Staying in New York, Columbia University’s Susie Rafiu is heading into her junior season hoping to become a three-time Ivy League Champion, having secured team honours with her squad in both ‘23 and ‘24. After a strong season which saw Susie start 14 of 29 games, she has started the ‘25 season with 23 minutes and the start against Stony Brook. Susie registered 7 points on 6 FGA, with 2 offensive rebounds, an assist and a steal as her side romped home 87-47 to start the season with a bang. Susie’s Columbia Lions travel to Providence on Friday before welcoming FGCU on Monday.


Esther Little has become a key member of a Gonzaga side that is undergoing a transformation this summer. With four starters departing, Gonzaga has a lot of minutes and points to replace, and Esther, heading into her senior year, figures to be a key part of the solution. After two consecutive tournament final defeats, Little’s Zags will be looking to bounce back, and started the season in strong fashion with a 82-69 defeat of Montana. Little, in 31 minutes, contributed with 2 points and 4 rebounds. Joining Esther in Gonzaga is Christabel Osarobo. The 5’11” guard made her NCAA debut in the Montana bout, playing four minutes off the bench. To have one former Ipswich alumni at a powerhouse such as Gonzaga is a feat to be proud of, but to have two in the same team is a real cause for celebration in Ipswich. While Esther and Chris didn’t share the court for Ipswich, Christabel assumed the ‘Esther’ role in Coach Drane’s squads, in being an athletic, do-it-all, swiss-army-knife of a forward. Perhaps, after Little graduates from her senior year in 2025, Osarobo will assume the same mantle in Spokane. The Zags travel to Stanford on Sunday before welcoming California next Thursday.


Another Ipswich pair representing in the US are Eastern Arizona (NJCAA) duo Yazmin Edwards and Millie Pearson. Yaz joins Millie stateside this summer following a breakout WEABL and WNBL season which culminated in a GB U20 call-up. Millie, a returning sophomore for the EAC Monsters, has secured 30 minutes of game time with 4 points and 5 rebounds over their opening two fixtures, a win against Northwest College and a close defeat to College of Southern Idaho. Joining her in the reserve squad is Yaz, who has grabbed 5 points of her own in 22 bench minutes across the two games. EA welcome Trinidad State College on Thursday, before Utah State Eastern visit on Friday.


Olivia, Anya and Ella are yet to make their season debuts, but hopefully we’ll have an update on them by our next issue!


To follow the progress of our alumni players, use the following links:

NCAA Division 1

Ethan Price - Washington State - Senior


Ben Michaels - University of Buffalo - Freshman


Esther Little - Gonzaga - Senior


Christabel Osarobo - Gonzaga - Freshman


Susannah Rafiu - Columbia - Junior


Anya McKenzie - Tarleton State - Sophomore


Olivia Forster - UC Upstate - Freshman


NCAA Division 2

Ella Pearson - Newberry College - Senior


NJCAA

Millie Pearson - Eastern Arizona College - Sophomore


Yazmin Edwards - Eastern Arizona College - Freshman





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