A DECADE of mentorship and memories playing basketball in Frankston have helped prepare a young gun for her debut on the world stage.
Former Frankston Blues junior Bonnie Deas has been selected to represent the Australian Opals in an upcoming series against China. The 20-year-old is set to make her senior debut for the national side in front of friends and family in Melbourne.
Frankston-born Deas said her coaches and friends at the Blues have helped set her up for success.
“I started playing for Frankston Blues at age seven, and played with them through to under-18s bottom age. I loved my time at Frankston, I developed so well, I had some great coaches, and I never really thought about leaving the Blues,” Deas said. “Kerryn Mitchell was my very first coach, and really helped me on the development side. Adam Kerr was great as well; they were my two most influential coaches.”
After a stint at the Centre of Excellence and Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, selection for Australia’s junior teams helped set up the next stage of Deas’ journey. She said “I was lucky to represent Australia at junior level, because that’s where colleges look at you. I got recognition, which influenced me to play college basketball.”
Deas traveled to the United States to play basketball in Arkansas for her freshman year, before moving to University of California, Los Angeles for her sophomore year.
Deas said she was overjoyed that her hard work was rewarded with a call-up to the Australian Opals. “I was cleaning up in my room and I got a call from a random number, and it turned out to be Sandy Brondello, the head coach of the Australian Opals team. I was told I’d be representing the Opals in the campaign coming up, which has been a dream of mine for the longest time. I’m so grateful, I will learn a lot from the girls and be a sponge,” she said.
“To wear the Australia jersey in Australia, and to have my parents, friends, and past coaches able to watch me, is honestly great. I’m really glad to be playing at home.”
Deas is joined in the national team by another former Frankston Blue, Steph Reid.
The Opals will play China in a two-game series at John Cain Arena on 7 and 9 July.
First published in the Frankston Times – 30 June 2026
