Pat Kelsey and his staff have been successful with Australian players over the years, which is why it’s no surprise that Evan Kilminster — like teammate Reyne Smith — came out of the Australian Institute of Sport (Kilminster was coached by current Cougars assistant Michael Cassidy).

He didn’t have much interest from college programs, and was going to stay in Australia and play professionally, but changed his mind and opted for the college route. He would have had more interest, but the U-17 World Cup was canceled due to COVID-19, and that likely caused him to stay under the radar.

“He plays with a poise and savvy that is beyond his years,” said Cassidy, who has known Kilminster since he was 14 years old. “He’s an elite playmaking point guard that can facilitate and score out of the pick and roll at a high level. He’s a really high-character guy that is all about the team and the culture.”