Live stream: Norwood, Sydney Comets prepare for National Junior Classic

Some of NSW and South Australia’s most powerful basketball clubs are preparing to spoil the Victorian party at the National Junior Classic. Here’s why they can.

They might be walking into the great unknown but the interstate raiders are preparing to spoil the Victorian party at the National Junior Classic.

Some of the top teams from NSW and South Australia will descend on Melbourne for the long weekend in an action-packed weekend of basketball.

Among the elite clubs attending the 128-team competition is Norwood.

They’ve entered seven teams in the tournament — the most of any association along rising Victorian powerhouse Casey.

Norwood director of coaching Will Smith said it was an extremely proud moment for his club.

“There’s a lot of excitement which has been building the closer we’ve got to the weekend,” he said.

“A lot of the players who are coming across to Melbourne have never competed in this event and it’s going to be fantastic for their development.

“Our mentality as a club is process driven. We want our players to be having fun out on the court and improving themselves as players and people.

“Winning isn’t everything in junior sport. The results are a by-product of the development our players show.”

Norwood were on fire at the recent SA State Championships. Photo: Facebook.

Norwood enters the three-day competition on the back of a stunning display at the South Australian Championships where it came away with three gold medals, three silver and three bronze from the 12 teams it entered.

The Flames were named the overall club champions.

“I thought we overachieved but it came as no surprise,” Smith said.

“We have fantastic coaches here in our program which is one of the benefits of being one of Adelaide’s largest clubs. All of our mentors give something different.

“We would rather have our juniors have five different coaches throughout the different age groups where they might be learning different philosophies.

“It’s only going to make them better.”

Sydney Comets under 18s boys team features five representative players. Photo: Supplied.

The Sydney Comets, representing the City of Sydney Basketball Association, also loom as one of the must watch clubs across the weekend.

They’ll be sending five teams to the event — under 12 boys, under 14 boys, under 14 girls, under 16 boys and under 18 boys.

The 18 boys team features five players — Anthony Mundine, Christian Aukuso, Isaac Ayoubi, Jake Weinsein and Sam Lewis — who all recently represented NSW Metro at the national championships.

Meanwhile, the under 16 boys will have four state players including Alex Kirievski, Fletcher Gill, Joshua Boyle and Miles Buvac.

Comets representative co-ordinator Alex Cantori said the club’s coaching staff deserved a lot of credit for helping put them in such a strong position.

“We recently had three coaches who moved onto NBL clubs,” he said.

“It shows the strength of our program but it’s certainly a loss at the same time. A lot of their assistants have stepped up and are now doing an outstanding job.

“Paul Mellett who pretty much built the representative program over 18 years left us earlier this year but has given us a strong foundation we want to continue building on.

“We’re excited about seeing our teams compete on the national stage.”

VISITING INTERSTATE TEAMS

Under 12 boys: Canberra, North Adelaide, Norths Bears, Norwood, Sturt, Sydney Comets.

Under 12 girls: Canberra, Forestville, Manly Warringah, South Adelaide, Sturt, West Adelaide.

Under 14 boys: Canberra, Hills Hornets, Norths Bears, Norwood, South Adelaide, Sturt, Sydney Comets, Woodville.

Under 14 girls: Eastern Mavericks, Illawarra, Manly Warringah, Norwood, Sturt, Sydney Comets, West Adelaide.

Under 16 boys: Canberra, Forestville, Hills Hornets, Norths Bears, Norwood, Southern Tigers, Sydney Comets, Woodville.

Under 16 girls: Bankstown Bruins, Canberra, Eastern Mavericks, Norths Bears, Norwood, West Adelaide.

Under 18 boys: Canberra, Eastern Mavericks, Hills Hornets, Manly Warringah, North Adelaide, Norwood, Sturt, Sydney Comets.

Under 18 girls: Eastern Mavericks, Forestville, Hornsby Kuringgai, Manly Warringah, Norths Bears, Norwood, Sturt, West Adelaide.