Adelaide 36ers star, legendary coach lead The Southport School’s best ever GPS basketball side
Led by a current NBL star and an iconic coach, The Southport School’s best GPS Basketball team of all-time is impressive. SEE WHO MADE IT
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An NBL star, college talents and one of Queensland’s iconic coaches – The Southport School’s best ever GPS basketball team is full of big names.
TSS has been a powerhouse in the state’s elite school basketball competition for decades despite only claiming two premierships (2009 and 2012) since 1986.
The Gold Coast school has also been a formidable opposition at bigger tournaments, winning several state championship medals along the way, including a gold in 2012.
However, TSS have produced some of Queensland’s hoops stars, led by current Adelaide 36ers forward Jack McVeigh and others such as Christian Salecich, who played at the Australian Institute of Sport.
Both McVeigh and Salecich are starters in the TSS best GPS basketball team of all-time and with legendary coach David Claxton at the helm, this side would be tough for anyone to beat.
See who made the team below.
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THE SOUTHPORT SCHOOL’S BEST GPS BASKETBALL TEAM OF ALL-TIME
STARTERS
JACK MCVEIGH – FORWARD
A super athlete, who could score the ball at will at GPS level. Played just one year for the GPS side as a Year 10 student in 2012, where he helped secure the GPS title and State Championship. He hen attended the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in Canberra, played three years of college basketball at the University of Nebraska, represented Australia in the Under-19 Emus side at the World Championships and is currently in his third year with the Adelaide 36ers in the NBL.
CHRISTIAN SALECICH – GUARD
An explosive scorer, who had impressive defensive quickness. Salecich attended the Australian Institute of Sport with basketball legends such as Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova. He then played two years with division one college, Saint Louis, represented Australia at the Under-19 level. Has previously played with the Gold Coast Rollers in the QBL, where he was once the team’s captain and MVP.
ISAIAH RICHARDSON – FORWARD
A good athlete and even better defender. Richardson made the Queensland South under-18 team and was National Performance Program player and highly regarded on defensive end of the floor. He is currently playing in USA for Onondaga Lazers Athletics.
MATT GULLOTTA – GUARD
A glue guy and tough competitor for every team he played in, lock in defender who prides himself on effort plays. Captain of the 2012 TSS team, who won a GPS title and State Championships. Gullotta also played in the QBL for the Gold Coast Rollers.
JAYDAN TOM – CENTRE
A dominant big man and volume rebounder with nice touch around hoop. Tom also spent time with the Gold Coast Blaze in the NBL and with the Gold Coast Rollers in the QBL.
BENCH
HUDSON KADDATZ
An incredible athlete with extreme bounce who was the school’s 2017 captain. Put points on the board with ease at GPS level, using his athleticism and Kaddatz was also a good defender with his lateral quickness. Led TSS to fourth at the State Championships in 2017 while having 40 plus points against the eventual champions, St James. Part of a strong GC basketball junior representative team, who won several state junior championships and also represented Queensland South.
ANDREW LOMAKIN
An athletic, left-hand scorer of the ball, who could catch fire quickly when hot from three-point range. Lomakin had several 40-point games for TSS.
JALEN MANUMALEUGA
A member of the GPS and State Championship winning team 2012, represented Queensland South at the Under-20 and played in the USA collage system. The guard also played with the North Gold Coast Seahawks in the QBL in 2018.
PRESTON LE GASSICK
In his final year in TSS colours in 2021, Le Gassick is a to-time team MVP winner. Plays at an impressive pace and hard to stay in front of and also plays with high IQ. Made the Queensland South Under-18 team last year and was recently selected to the Queensland Under-20 team to compete in Mackay in May 2021 with Lloyd McVeigh.
LLOYD MCVEIGH
Another talent in his final year at TSS in 2021. Puts up a double-double each times he steps on floor for TSS, McVeigh has great length, athleticism and is a tough competitor. Made Queensland South throughout his juniors and was recently named with TSS teammate Preston Le Gassick to the Queensland Under-20 team to compete in Mackay.
COACH: DAVE CLAXTON
Claxton has done it all as a coach. he has been part of the Australian Boomers coaching staff in 1990s, he was a head coach of the Brisbane Bullets, Gold Coast Rollers and Adelaide 36ers at NBL Level and led TSS Basketball for two decades as head coach and director. Won two GPS titles and a State Championship for the school.
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