Claiming the gold: the Boomers celebrate winning their third FIBA Asia Cup. Big man Harry Wessels, who currently plays for the Gaels, is the second player from left, and Boomers coach and former Gael Adam Caporn stands second from right. / Photo by FIBA
Boomers Make it a Three-peat in the FIBA Asia Cup: It’s a First Gold Medal in the Tournament for Former Gael Adam Caporn as Coach and Current Gael Harry Wessels on the Court
The championship game with China came down to the wire. Plus Gael global updates: Mitchell Saxen signs with Nanterre 92 in France and Luke Barrett signs with nine-time Polish champs Arka Gdynia.
For Australia’s national team, it was a nail-biter of a victory that earned the Boomers their third straight Asia Cup title. In the final against China on August 17 in Saudi Arabia, with Australia up one point, China’s Hu Mingxuan missed a three-pointer at the buzzer—leaving the final score 90-89 Australia. It’s the third time the Boomers have won the tournament gold medal. For one current Gael basketball player on the court and one former Gael at the helm, it’s a first.
Since March, the Boomers have been coached by Adam Caporn, who played four seasons for the Gaels and returned to Saint Mary’s as an assistant coach. Before taking his current role in Australia, he had been serving as an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards.
"The main thing is I am so proud of the character of our guys," Reuters quoted Caporn as saying. "We were down by 15, but we saw our players' toughness, their problem-solving attitude. We have great people in the program, and in my opinion that's why we won."
Senior Big Man Harry Wessels
Over the two weeks of the tournament, the city of Jeddah played host to the top basketball talent from Asia and Oceania for the 31st FIBA Asia Cup. Defending champs Australia came into the tournament as favorites, with Saint Mary’s senior big man Harry Wessels on the roster. The Boomers went unbeaten in the tournament, defending their crowns from 2017 and 2022, with Wessels appearing in every contest.
Throughout the tournament, Wessels averaged 6.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per contest. With his imposing 7’1”, 275-pound frame, Wessels shot 65% from the field and found his way to the foul line nine times, converting on eight of those nine attempts.
He got off to a strong start in group play, scoring 16 points and 14 rebounds over the three games, connecting on 6-9 field goal attempts. He played nine minutes in the tournament quarterfinals against the Philippines, scoring six points and reeling in five rebounds, but truly made his presence felt in the semifinals against Iran. In a dominant 92–48 victory, Wessels played a team-high 21 minutes, scoring 16 points, good for second best on the team on 6–10 shooting from the field and 4–5 shooting from the stripe. Wessels played five minutes in the championship matchup against China, ripping down three boards in the narrow victory.
Wessels joins an impressive line of former Gaels to win a FIBA Asia Cup Gold Medal for the Boomers: Alex Ducas, Clint Steindl, Daniel Kickert, and Matt Hodgson. Competing at this high level this summer, Wessels looks to be in top shape at the start of the 2025–26 campaign for the Gaels.
Mitchell Saxen Signs with Nanterre 92 of the French Ligue Nationale de Basket
The Saint Mary's Men's Basketball program's graduating class of 2025 featured three of the most successful Gaels in program history. Most notably, the trio of Augustas Marciulionis, Mitchell Saxen, and Luke Barrett became the first ever Gaels to appear in four NCAA Tournaments in four years. As we noted at the start of this summer, Marciulionis signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.
After an illustrious five-year career at Saint Mary’s, big man Mitchell Saxen will continue his basketball career in the professional ranks just north of Paris for Nanterre 92. Playing in the top league in France, the Betclic LNB Elite, Saxen joins fellow former Gaels Malik Fitts (SIG Strasbourg) and Kristers Zoriks (Le Portel) playing professionally in France.
Saxen has played the most games as a Gael in the history of Saint Mary's Basketball. The center, originally hailing from Seattle, appeared in 156 games for SMC. He is one of just three Gaels to score 1,000 points, rip down 900 rebounds, and block 150 shots in his career. He shares that distinction with Omar Samhan and Diamon Simpson. The Gaels’ leading rebounder and shot blocker in each of the last three seasons, Saxen is one of six Gaels to be a three-time first team All-WCC selection, and is one of just two to be named a two-time WCC Defensive Player of the Year.
Nanterre 92 is no stranger to star big men. Standouts who have played for the team include Evan Fournier (12-year NBA veteran), Maxime Raynaud (Second Round Draft Pick of the Sacramento Kings), and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs). A member of the top tier of French Basketball since the 2011–12 season, Nanterre 92 last won their league championship in 2013. Mitchell Saxen will look to guide them to their next title this upcoming season.
Luke Barrett Becomes Signs with Arka Gdynia of Poland
In signing with a pro team, Luke Barrett makes it a Gael trifecta, signing with Arka Gdynia of the Polish Basketball League, joining the likes of Brad Waldow ’15 of WKK Wroclaw.
Barrett began his Saint Mary's career as a walk-on, appearing in one game his first season with the Gaels before suffering a season-ending injury. Despite the inconspicuous start to his career, Barrett persevered, demonstrating his ability to outwork anyone in the gym. By his third year in the program, Barrett was awarded a scholarship and became the Gaels' sixth man in his fourth season. It was in his final season with the Gaels, however, when Barrett really made his mark.
In 2024–25, the Piedmont, California, native started every single game for SMC, leading the WCC by playing 36:29 on average per contest, including a full 40 minutes 12 times. His 9.8 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per contest were enough to earn him an honorable mention All-WCC nod, while his excellent work in the classroom earned him his third WCC All-Academic recognition. Barrett appeared in every NCAA Tournament throughout his final four years, headlined by a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double in the Gaels’ win over Vanderbilt.
Barrett will be joining nine-time Polish Champs Arka Gdynia, who won those titles in nine consecutive years, 2004–12. Numerous players who have suited up for Arka Gdynia have also donned NBA uniforms, including 10-year NBA veteran and longtime Indiana Pacers point guard Travis Best, eight-year league vet Alonzo Gee, and Lithuanian star and Houston Rocket standout Donatas Montiejunas. Recently, Arka Gdynia has struggled to compete for titles in the PKL, not finishing better than 10th over the past five seasons, so Barrett will look to help change that and lead his new squad back to the mountaintop.
Ryan Barnett is Assistant Athletics Director for Communications. Steven Boyd Saum is Executive Director for Strategic Communications & Content at Saint Mary's. Write them.
