The SBU Bearcats start their 28-match roster when they play Quachita Baptist University on home court.

Woodfall, 19, is in the first year of a four-year scholarship with Southwest Baptist and apart from basketball he will be studying medicine with his long-term aim to become a surgeon.

The 181-centimetre point guard is expected to be in the team's starting five after performing well in two exhibition games played so far.

The Bearcats played their two exhibition games against teams in Louisiana, which meant an 11-hour drive for the team.

Woodfall is part of a young Bearcats team that also includes his close mate, Elliot Warren, who joined Southwest Baptist this year after previously playing with Ohlone College in California.

The two previously played together in Launceston before Warren headed to college last year.

"Kai has settled in to college life well and is looking forward to the start of the basketball year," his mother, Sarah, said.

Woodfall, a former Australian junior representative, played the past two seasons with Diamond Valley in the strong Big V League in Victoria and from there caught the eye of Southwest Baptist's assistant coach, Liam Simmons, and it led to him receiving a scholarship.

Southwest Baptist plays in the NCAA division 2 competition and the team is hoping for a top-order finish this season after recruiting a new-look line-up.

In the West Coast College Conference, Tasmanians Kyle Clark and Tanner Krebs make their debut for Saint Marys College against San Francisco State this weekend.