Frankston's Deas Rising Through Excellence Program

Off the heels of a Youth League Women Division 1 championship in 2022 with Frankston, Bonnie Deas gleefully accepted Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) scholarship offer in December.

“I was over the moon; it’s been my dream since I was little. It’s an amazing opportunity."

“I’m just really grateful to be there, really thankful for my coaches and just really excited and happy,” she said.

The CoE recruits the best young athletes from across Australia, where they will live, attend school and train together. They will train in an elite environment and are supported by top-line coaches and team doctors.

Bonnie was one of three female athletes in the country to be offered a scholarship in 2022. Alongside Perry Lakes NBL1 West center Savannah Metcalfe and Mackay shooting guard, Monique Bobongie.

Bonnie packed her things in January and after a 700km trip found herself living on campus in the nation’s capital.

“It’s been really good, it’s a new experience living away from home, it’s been awesome, I’m really grateful,” Bonnie said.

“This is the first time living away from my parents. It was pretty hard leaving friends and family, but it was my dream and I know this is a big step in my future.”

Not only did she leave behind her friends, family and her old Rowville SC teammates, there was one other thing she was longing to get back to.

“The beach! There’s no beach up in Canberra so it’s a struggle at times,” she said.

The Centre of Excellence welcomed the new athletes on January 23rd and hosted a three-day camp to give them a taste of what was to come.

Unfortunately, ongoing back issues and a broken big toe has limited Bonnie’s ability to play in the CoE’s opening games in the NBL1 East competition.

“I’m currently injured so I’m just filling up drink bottles at the moment. But when I get back on the court, I’ll play predominantly point guard,” she said.

Since arriving, Bonnie has been training and playing “practically every day” with her new CoE teammates and just recently got time off in April to come home and see friends, family and even coach some FDBA School Holiday Camps.

Bonnie jetted back to Canberra last week and will only get to revisit Victoria during the July and September school holidays until she receives an extended break during the holiday season in December.

Bonnie’s work ethic comes in spades and despite being injured; her teammates find it hard to keep her off the court at times.

“Every day we’re training and playing. We train every day; we do have rest days on Sundays, but I usually come in and shoot around anyway.

“We generally have training in the morning, then we go off to school for four hours or so. Then training straight after school, then have recovery and a bit of downtime and we have some study halls to catch up on schoolwork.

”Our school schedule varies from day to day; we have a good relationship with the college and they work with our schedule for basketball.”

The volume of training and playing isn’t new to Bonnie, but there’s other novelties that come with being a CoE athlete that she was not expecting to see.

“The professionalism of everything, the resources, the willingness for everyone to help you get better. The physios, the doctors they’re always trying to get you better and back on the court.

“We have dietitians, physios, psychologists, strength and conditioning coaches and they’re really good. It’s so professional, it’s insane,” she said.

As with all Basketball Australia CoE athletes, Bonnie will be offered a second-year scholarship to remain in Canberra until the end of 2024.

When her experience in Canberra comes to an end, “you either go to college or the NBL path,” Bonnie said.

As for which team she’d like to forge that path with, there was no hesitation in her answer.

“Townsville.”

“I really like it up there. And Steph Reid, I really want to play with Steph Reid. She used to be my coach in under 16’s so I haven’t played with her before, but I’d really love to.

“I do want to play with Shyla Heal, Nyadiew Puoch, they’re the up and comers for the Opals, but mainly Steph Reid,” she said.

Bonnie has thrived during her time in Canberra and she is intent on getting back to game action as soon as humanly possible.

Frankston Blues wish Bonnie the best of luck with her injury recovery and will be cheering her on when she gets back on the court in the NBL1 East for CoE.