Hidden Gem Callie Hinder is ready to be X-Factor

• Callie Hinder will play for the Aussie Gems at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Czechia on July 12
• She is the daughter of former NBL cult hero, Russell Hinder
• Hinder is currently playing in the US high school basketball system

Shot blocker Callie Hinder is the X-Factor in the Australian Gems' pursuit of the 2025 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup next month.

Hinder, the daughter of former Australian Boomers Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Russell, will pull on the Green and Gold for the first time in in Brno, Czech Republic, between July 12 and 20, 2025.

Hinder is a 198cm (6'6") centre, who has multiple Class of 2026 offers from major colleges across the USA. She is the type of big that patrols the paint with a size, presence and smarts well beyond her years. Anyone who dares to drive into the paint with her around does so at their risk.

Followers of the Australian juniors wouldn’t have seen Hinder in action at the major national tournaments, where many of her Gems’ teammates have made a name for themselves. In this regard, her journey is supremely unique.

Having grown up in Australia watching her father, Russell Hinder play in the NBL, Callie has lived in the USA since 2016, making the move shortly after Russell retired from a superb 13-year career, which included a 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medal and a member of the Boomers 2006 FIBA World Championships squad.

Hinder has been setting both the USA high school and AAU basketball scene alight. She plays for Mountain West Premier in Nike EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League), and earlier this year helped lead PHH Prep to the 2025 CAA Arizona State Championship, catching the attention of Gems selectors and college scouts.

“It was such a fun season,” Hinder told basketball.com.au.

“We went through some ups and downs, and we ended the season with just six players, but we became so close-knit due to that. Having just six players, you really have to trust each other and lean on each other for that support.

“All of us had different backgrounds leading into basketball, so being around each other was so much fun and it was just a really great group to be a part of.”

Hinder shouldered huge responsibilities on both ends of the court, and playing major minutes every game had her feeling like a track athlete.

“It was definitely the best shape I’ve ever been in; you had to be ready to run,” she said.

“You could look at the bench but there was a good chance you weren’t getting a sub, it was like ‘just keep running’.”

Fresh off that championship run and in the best form of her life, Hinder was invited to the Gems selection camp in May and immediately made an impression, forcing her way into the final 12-player squad.

“It was definitely one of the most competitive environments I've ever been in,” she said.

“The girls were all so amazing off the court, but on the court, you've got to be ready to play, you’ve got to be ready to fight, and that's the best environment you can really ask for.

“I went into this whole experience just open-minded, wanting to learn and absorb as much information as I could.”

Now that the World Cup is just a matter of weeks away, tipping-off in Czechia on July 12, Hinder can’t wait to do just as her father did; wear the green and gold.

“There’s no words for it, it's just an amazing feeling to be able to say that I'm going to represent my country,” she said.

“I’m dual-citizen, an Australian-American, and I always hear stories about my dad representing Australia, so it's always been one of my dreams to follow in his footsteps and be able to represent the country that I love so much.”

The impact Hinder could have for the Gems on the defensive end is enthralling. Her ability to play defence and block shots without fouling is a key facet of her game and especially against those bigger teams, she will provide coach Renae Garlepp another tantalising option in the paint.

“Defence has always been my favourite side of the court,” she said.

“As I've gotten taller and as my arms have gotten longer, I’ve found that my favourite thing to do is trying to block shots.

“It took some time to figure out how to do it without fouling, but once those instincts kicked in and I learned more about it, it just became my favourite thing; it gets your team hyped and everyone excited too.

“My defensive impact is the biggest part of my game right now. I can be long and maybe I am a step slower than some of the really quick guards, but if I can stand in the paint and be really big, then automatically that kind of makes people not want to meet me in the paint, so that helps a lot.”

Hinder’s rise up the ranks wouldn’t have been possible without her parents, Russell and Jen, who have supported her throughout it all, but importantly let her make her own decisions.

“Both my parents are my biggest supporters, and of course they've always been there for me, but they leave decisions up to me,” she said.

“My dad went through it all; he played at the CoE [formerly the Australian Institute of Sport], he played for Australia, and when you have people in your life who have actually done what you're trying to do, you take all the information you can.

“Not only has he been supportive, but he's also challenged me my whole life, and my parents have always told me, ‘it's not going to come easy, it's always going to be hard work’.”

Going up against the best players on the globe at the World Cup will give Hinder yet another chance to impress college scouts, who are already lining up to secure her signature. A member of the class of 2026, Hinder has options aplenty with over 20 offers currently in front of her, including high-profile programs such as Arizona, Arizona State, Kansas, Oregon, SMU, TCU, Texas Tech, Wisconsin and many more.

“It's been amazing,” she said of the college recruitment process.

“It kind of happens quickly, but you have to navigate it as best as you can and there's no perfect way to do it. You connect with schools, you talk to all these amazing coaches, and I’ve just gone on another visit and when I get home, I'll probably go on a few more. Then I’ll crack down and make my decision.

“It's just whatever feels right and I'm very excited to make that decision and go to the next step.”

Whichever school she commits to is getting a genuine defensive game-changer. In the meantime, Australian basketball fans are about to be re-introduced to the Hinder name, and Callie is ready to carry the torch.

About the Author

Hayley Wildes is passionate about all things Australian women’s basketball and loves to highlight the stories of players from all levels and competitions across the globe. From our own backyard in the WNBL, to the WNBA and the Opals, and everything in between, Hayley has you covered.