Foxwell flies the nest: Young gun Wisconsin bound

The longest-serving South East Melbourne Phoenix player is headed stateside, trading the Fire Pit for the Big Ten, signing with NCAA Division I powerhouse the Wisconsin Badgers.

From development player to floor general, Foxwell’s Phoenix journey has been anything but ordinary. He became just the fourth player in club history to crack the 100-game milestone, evolving into a starter in NBL26 and delivering 10.8 points, 4.5 assists, and relentless energy on both ends.

But this move? This is bigger.

“The opportunity… it was too good to turn down,” Foxwell said on The Phoenix Files.

And he’s right. College basketball isn’t what it used to be. The landscape has shifted—NIL deals, exposure, opportunity. What once looked like a closed door has swung wide open.

Foxwell had already walked away from the college path once. Now, he’s sprinting back through it.

“It unravelled over the course of the year… for it to come into existence now is really cool.”

He doesn’t arrive as a typical freshman. Not even close.

Foxwell brings 110 games of professional steel, sharpened against former NBA talent and seasoned veterans. His edge isn’t just physical—it’s mental.

“It’s a massive advantage… that experience is invaluable.”

And he won’t be alone. Former Phoenix teammate Austin Rapp awaits in Wisconsin, a familiar face in a brand-new arena.

Still, this isn’t a goodbye wrapped in finality. It’s a comma, not a full stop.

Foxwell hasn’t shut the door on a Phoenix return. The #30 jersey? It might yet burn again at the Fire Pit.

“My time here… hopefully it’s not the last time I play here.”

For now, though, the next chapter calls.

Anew stage. A bigger spotlight. A different kind of fire.

And Owen Foxwell is ready to chase it.

Listen to the special episode below of The Phoenix Files, presented by ANZ Explorer, for the full chat with Owen Foxwell.