8Apr2025
From the courts of Hale School to the bright lights of the NCAA National Championship, Alex Condon’s (2022) rise in the world of basketball has been nothing short of remarkable.
Alex Condon left Hale at the end of Year 11 in 2021 to pursue his basketball talents at the Australian Centre of Excellence in Canberra. That step opened the door to a spot on the University of Florida’s elite basketball team – the Florida Gators – for the 2023/24 college season. Just two years later, he is now a national champion and a rising NBA prospect.
In April, the Gators worked their way through five rounds of March Madness to make it to the National Championship final, which was contested in front of 70,000 people at San Antonio’s Alamodome. The Gators claimed the victory, with Alex, a starting player, playing a pivotal role in their success. Alex made a strong impact in the game, contributing 12 points, seven rebounds, and a game-high four steals – the last of which, a diving effort to recover a loose ball, all but sealed the win for Florida.
It’s an incredible milestone for an athlete who only picked up the sport while at school at Hale, and had to choose between AFL and basketball, playing in both Hale 1
st teams. Alex is now one of only four Australians to have played in the NCAA national final and one of just three to have won it.
Alex has since declared for the 2025 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility, giving him the flexibility to return to Florida should the right opportunity not present itself. Projected as a late first-round or early second-round pick, he has until the end of May to decide whether to keep his name in the draft.
Alex made clear that the decision would not be taken lightly. “If I have confirmation from NBA teams that I’m in the 15–30 range, if something is guaranteed, I will consider keeping my name in,” he said. “I have a great situation at Florida. It would have to be something pretty special – my family would have to agree that we can’t turn that down.”
Alex’s former Hale School coach, Nic Lackovic, believes the time is right. “NBA programs are hunting his skill set, this kid is a fierce, relentless competitor, and he’s the glue guy that connects perimeter players. He makes winning plays, and I think he’s ready now to take that next step.”
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