Gold Coast’s best basketball schools: Part 2

TODAY we continue our look at the best basketball school programs on the Gold Coast.

TODAY we continue our look at the best basketball school programs on the Gold Coast.

THALO GREEN

(Southport High)

Our boys are hoping for a chance at being promoted into Div 1 after a strong showing in div 2, being the only team to beat championship winning Woodbridge, who they handily beat by 20 in pool play.

Only lost 1 starter from last year’s team. Jai Clarke is coming off a strong div 1 rep season and will be supported by seniors Zeus Rooke and Flynn Groth.

The Southport girls are in the hunt for a medal after improving each of the last 2 years finishing 5th and 4th. With 4 of their 5 starters returning, the Toro girls have their eyes focused on a medal. With the inside presence of state player Skye Mason and back-court generals Semanita Tuhega and Alan Manumeleuga the Toro girls are focused on securing a medal at this year CBSQ.

The Southport State high basketball excellence program provides basketball specific curriculum, allowing students to choose basketball as a subject. Through the program they will achieve their certificate II and III in fitness, get 3 70 minute lessons in school time and receive a term of Acceleration Australia strength and fitness training. The SSHS sport centre is currently undergoing a renovation and will start term 2 with a brand new fully spring maple hardwood floor.

STEVE WEILAND

(Kings College)

The program while young at the moment, we are aiming to focus on Tournament and game play. We want to play against the higher quality schools this year. Our focus is looking at developing our younger kids to progress through to our senior team. We think by starting the King’s basketball club with Gold Coast Basketball will aid the process.

The Kings College boys' basketball team. Picture: SUPPLIED

Our Basketball excellence kids have compulsory Strength and conditions sessions on top of skills, shooting and sprinting sessions. We have specialised coaches to help all our kids.

Our players to watch in the future include boys Mekhi O’Riely, Jalen Blanchard, Elijha Kamu, Nevarda Higgins and Charles Anderson who are all 16s Div 1 Rep Players for Gold Coast and Northern GC.

Girls to watch in the future include Janique O’Riely, Halle Brooker and Cassie Muir. All div 1 Gold Coast Rep gold Coast players

We have young squads to build with and look forward to watching the progression of our team over the next few.

ADAM DARRAGH

(Varsity College)

The Vikings are looking strong across the board this year and looking to keep progressing on the success of our 2019 teams. From our Senior boys and girls down to our Juniors, our Vikings teams are as strong as ever and will look to go deep into any tournament that we enter this year.

The Vikings program is filled with Gold Coast representative players and all teams are working hard already. Alongside our players we boast a bevy of experienced coaches to lead this year’s teams starting with myself and our returning girls Coaches Giovanna Bassini & Simon Hunter. On board again in 2020 is our u15’s coach and NBL great Matt Reece and this year we welcome our u13’s coach and NBL1 assistant coach and NBL legend Scott McGregor to round out our coaching staff.

Our junior teams (years 7-9) are littered with Gold Coast representative talent in both the boys and girls teams.

Year 9 student Kiama Tahere was recently selected into the QLD U16 State performance squad and we’re looking forward to seeing her lead the Junior Vikings teams in 2020.

We also welcome year 7 student and Gold Coast rep player Sienna Brown into the Vikings program who is showing huge promise, so watch out for her as she blossoms in the Vikings uniform.

In the year7 boys, we’ve added the dynamic duo of Nikau Tahere and Brodie McGregor this year who are sure to terrorise their opposition. Young guns Zai Millane, Ziggy Fowler, Alec Webb, Sebastian Anagar and newcomer Sasha Alexeef round out a very tough outfit in our junior ranks.

Stars that should have a big year for the school.

Our seniors are also no exception, with our girls’ team set to turn some heads with the addition of Lailani Brown to add to our already solid line up of Malina Kama, Yarra Lamb and Victoria Scholten. Our boys will be led be our Gold Coast Div. one representative players Lachlan McLaren-Kennedy and Luke Hill as they spear head a very talented group of young stars who will certainly ruffle some feathers in 2020. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing big Brandon Tiedeman blossom this year and dominate the paint. Only time will tell.

PERO CAMERON

(Hillcrest)

Hillcrest is building on the recent success the program has had and looking forward to the bright future our athletes have for the upcoming year and beyond. We are very proud to have the Gold Coast’s most experienced coach David Claxton returning to our coaching ranks. Dave joins Rebecca Morris, John Szigeti and myself to lead Roger Hodgson’s program. I’m looking forward to seeing our Strength and Conditioning program implemented. The program has some very talented young players coming through the ranks with our strong seniors. ‘

As for our younger players, we have Shorna Preston, Layla Cameron, Jade Peacock and Jess Smith as the core of our younger group who will be prominent in our senior team. For the boys Tyler O’Neill, Mathayus Mata’afa, Ryan Kurtz, Jacob Peters and Cael Simpson should be up for a strong year.

Our girls’ team should do very well, led by Australian squad player, Lilly Rotunno and for the boys, Under 18 Gold Coast Rep captain Reuben Nicholas. We look forward to helping our junior athletes achieve for the upcoming season and help them on their pathways beyond high school.