TSS are ready to take the GPS basketball season by storm after securing a renowned coach and a stack of talented players
Forget their fifth place finish last year, The Southport School’s First V are ready to take this GPS basketball season by storm.
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Forget their fifth place finish last year, The Southport School’s First V are ready to take this GPS basketball season by storm.
After finishing third in 2017, TSS faltered in 2018 but now have the roster to match it with anyone and a coach who has done it all.
Former Boomer and NBL star Anthony Petrie has come on board as the school’s First V coach this year and has already had a huge impact on the team according to TSS director of Basketball Brendan LeGassick.
“His input has been amazing,” he said.
“He’s a great communicator because a lot of the boys are very talented but he understands what it takes to be a modern day athlete and how to relate with the boys.”
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The experienced mentor will have no shortage of talent, with TSS’s squad boasting the brother of current Australian representative Jack McVeigh.
“We’ve got Lloyd McVeigh who’s come to the school this year and is currently in the Australian Under 17 squad so he’ll be one of our key players,” LeGassick said.
“We’re led this year by our captain Jack Brinsmead who has been at the school since day dot.”
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Joining them is NSW Country representative Connor Watt, LeGassick’s son Preston who has been on the cusp of Queensland state selection and Harry Blair who is currently on a basketball tour in the United States.
“We have quite a lot of talent in the squad,” LeGassick said.
With the stars aligning to deliver TSS both insane talent and a renowned mentor, LeGassick said that expectations were high ahead of the upcoming season.
“We’re aiming for a top three finish,” he said.
“We have a really talented squad but it’s a tough competition that some of the best players in
the state are part of.”
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The squad has already been training for weeks on a refreshed program which LeGassick hopes will bring out the best the team.
“Under Petrie, we’ve mixed it up a bit and started our training a bit later at the start of term two,” he said.
“Every week we run two team trainings, two individual sessions and two gym sessions as well so they’re doing six sessions a week.
“Petrie and myself work with the boys individually on their skills so we can suit it to their game style.”
TSS’s GPS basketball season kicks off today with the Open 1st V starting at 12:20pm at TSS.
Season Fixture
Round 1: July 20 @ home vs St Joseph’s Nudgee College
Round 2: July 27 @ away vs Anglican Church Grammar School
Round 3: August 3 @ home vs Brisbane State High School
Round 4: August 10 @ away vs Toowoomba Grammar School
Round 5: August 17 @ home vs Brisbane Grammar School
Round 6: August 24 @ away vs Brisbane Boys’ College
Round 7: August 31 @ away vs St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace
Round 8: September 7 @ home vs Ipswich Grammar School
Player Profiles
Name: Jack Brinsmead (Captain)
Playing Number: 15
Age: 17 years
Height: 6’4” – 193cm
Position: Centre/Power Forward
Nick name: Brinso
Year started at TSS: 2006
Junior club: TSS Suns
Name: Max Levis (Vice-Captain)
Playing Number: 21
Age: 17 years
Height: 6’3” – 190cm
Position: Small Forward / Power Forward
Nick name: Air Max
Year started at TSS: 2017
Junior club: TSS Suns
Name: Lloyd McVeigh
Playing Number: 23
Age: 15 years
Height: 6’5” – 196cm
Position: Small Forward
Nick name: McBuckets
Year started at TSS: 2019
Junior club: Gold Coast
Name: Connor Watt
Playing Number: 22
Age: 15 years
Height: 6’7” – 203cm
Position: Centre
Nick name: Megawatt
Year started at TSS: 2018
Junior club: Tamworth Thunder Bolts
Name: Maika Shortland
Playing Number: 9
Age: 16 years
Height: 6’2” – 188cm
Position: Point Guard / Shooting Guard
Nick name: Big Maik
Year started at TSS: 2018
Junior club: North Gold Coast Seahawks
Name: Nick Cross
Playing Number: 7
Age: 16 years
Height: 6’1” – 185cm
Position: Combo Guard
Nick name: Crossy
Year started at TSS: 2007
Junior club: TSS Suns
Name: Preston Le Gassick
Playing Number: 6
Age: 16 years
Height: 6ft – 183cm
Position: Point Guard
Nick name: P Money
Year started at TSS: 2018
Junior club: TSS Suns
Name: Ryan Murphy
Playing Number: 8
Age: 17 years
Height: 6ft – 183cm
Position: Guard
Nick name: Rian
Year started at TSS: 2009
Junior club: TSS Suns
Name: Kohl van Bennekom
Playing Number: 14
Age: 17 years
Height: 6’6” - 198cm
Position: Centre / Power Forward
Nick name: Spitty
Year started at TSS: 2017
Junior club: TSS Suns
Name: Harry Blair
Playing Number: 11
Age: 16 years
Height: 6’5” – 195cm
Position: Power Forward
Nick name: Hazza
Year started at TSS: 2018
Junior club: Bryon Bay Beez
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