SPORT Basketball takes a leap
Whether because of New Zealand professional basketball player Steven Adams’s success with Oklahoma City Thunder, or the fact that at least three Old Boys are current USA university players, the popularity of basketball has soared at College over the past three years, with more than 120 boys now involved. In fact, College is right on trend – basketball is now New Zealand’s fastest growing secondary school sport, and the number two sport in New Zealand for secondary school boys. In the last 10 years its popularity has increased 89 per cent, according to Sport New Zealand census data. Master in Charge Nicole Billante says interest in the sport at College has burgeoned, from two Saturday teams in the 2016 competition to five Saturday teams across four different grades this season. With the choice of Friday night interschool basketball or Saturday teams competing as part of the CBA club competition, players of all abilities are catered for. “The Saturday play is where the growth is, and it attracts the more competitive players. There’s now a Saturday team that boys can participate in at every year level,” says Nicole. “We had so much interest in the U17 grade, we have two teams at that level this year.”
College also plays in the Thompson Trophy competition for the premier high school teams. Senior boys’ Head Coach Ben Sheat, who took on the role in the middle of last season, is strongly focused on development. He spent time in Auckland in July with the senior tournament team to observe teams preparing for tournament play and play several of the premier teams in the Auckland grade. He has also attended games by all College teams to identify players for the junior tournament team. Rob Churcher has been a mainstay in the College junior programme for some years, and Old Boy Tom Crutchley, while back from playing basketball for Wayland Baptist University, Texas, has been lending his expertise to the coaching team. This year a group of parents set up Friends of Basketball, supporting the sport through fundraising
and at events such as the season launch and end of season prize- giving. “The major sports at College have had similar support groups for a long time now, and it’s great to see basketball joining them,” says Nicole. While the players are intent on honing skills and giving 100 per cent performances on court, as well as keeping up their academic grades, they are also watching the progress of Old Boys who have made their way on to the world scene, most by winning scholarships to American universities. In addition to Tom Crutchley, Will Harrison is studying business and playing basketball at St Lawrence University, New York; Max De Geest is at Long Beach State University, California; and Max Darling is playing professionally for KK Osijek in Croatia.
Christ’s College Canterbury
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