Geelong United captains DeMarcus Gatlin and Jaz Shelley part of new hoops overhaul at the Geelong Sports Hub

A raft of Geelong United players are at the forefront of a new performance facility at a local sports centre as netball is phased out.

Geelong United captain Jaz Shelley will lend her coaching skills to new basketball facility at the Geelong Sports Hub. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images.

A local consortium is behind, and a raft of Geelong United players at the front, of a new, state-of-the-art basketball offering at the Geelong Sports Hub.

The hub, which has phased out netball at the South Geelong site in favour of basketball in recent months, will offer eight shooting bays as part of the new AthletIQ Shooting Park, stage one of a multimillion-dollar “performance facility” to be officially opened on July 5.

Co-owner and director Scott Dumbell said when fully realised, the hub would boast three 3x3 and two standard courts, Dr Dish shooting machines, a recovery centre and gym.

It is also planning to offer 24-7 access in the near future.

Geelong United captain Demarcus Gatlin. Picture: Ethan Cunningham Photography

Meanwhile, he said Geelong United captain DeMarcus Gatlin and NBL1 and WNBL skipper Jaz Shelley would head up coaching programs with an academy to be launched in the future and an under-18 boys team to head to Hong Kong in September.

United players Tristan Forsyth, Kaelen Malone, Lilly Rotunno, Taylor Mole and Gemma Potter are also involved.

Dumbell said ideas he had to revitalise the since-closed Hoop City in Grovedale was transferred to the sports hub when a lease came up.

“It’s going to be an elite training facility basically,” he said.

“It’s going to be one of a kind, especially around here, it’s going to be very very cool.”

With the Try Boys Brigade, which hosts indoor basketball games, in danger of closing due to a leaking roof, and children waiting three weeks for a game at Bellarine Peninsula Basketball Association last year, the new offering would ease the pressure a bit.

“(The demand for basketball is) definitely growing. there’s a huge shortage of courts and facilities, that’s why there’s so much pressure to get some more courts built,” he said.

On its socials earlier this year, the project was billed as a one-stop hub to develop and optimise athletes both on and off the court through education and support, with works beginning in earnest in early May.

Originally published as Geelong United captains DeMarcus Gatlin and Jaz Shelley part of new hoops overhaul at the Geelong Sports Hub