Superb First-Season Success! Inspiration Trust Basketball Academy Secures Second Place in AoC East

Inspiration Trust Basketball Academy students have done themselves proud by finishing a very respectable second place in the Association of Colleges (AoC) - East division league. 

In this inaugural season for the Trust basketball team, there have been too many highs to count and of course many obstacles that the team have had to overcome. The campaign began well with 4 wins and 2 losses before the winter break. Coming back in January, the team came up against extremely strong competition from well-established basketball academies.  

Playing against Oaklands Wolves, JoJo and Nathan commented:  

“The atmosphere was absolutely electric. We travelled down to Hertfordshire and walked into a purpose-built basketball arena. There was music and spectators with drums, alongside ex-Great Britain team coaching staff, who were in attendance. Our team cohesion was excellent from tip-off, we shot the lights out with 10 3-pointers and the game went down to the final seconds, with us narrowly losing by 4 points. It certainly was a memorable experience.”  

After a pair of very close defeats to Oaklands, the team bounced back to have a further 3 wins in the AoC East and one massive win in local league play, 124-18 vs City College, Norwich. 

The rival for the final game of the season was Peterborough Pumas. Both teams were equal on points meaning whoever won would place higher in the league standings. Following a tense first half, Inspiration Trust Basketball Academy went on to win 70-54, having played an exceptional match showing strong strategic skill, while maintaining determination and respect for their peers throughout. The team has proved themselves to be a formidable force against their rival teams. 

Since its conception last year, the 10-strong team has been training hard developing their performance, strength and tactical skills. The student-athletes have achieved this while maintaining excellent grades through their full-time academic education pursuing A-Levels at two of the county's most prestigious sixth forms, Jane Austen College and Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form. 

Student-athlete, Reuben said: 

“I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved this year. Our team has come so far and I’m really excited for what the next season will bring!” 

Team member, Freddie said: 

“What a first season! We’ve worked so hard to get here and grown so much both as a team and individually. Thanks particularly to our coaches for their support who have always prioritised our physical and mental wellbeing as well as our academics – bring on next year!” 

Head Coach and Trust Sports Coordinator, Paul Wayman said:  

“This is an exciting project to be a part of from the inception. The coaching staff and students have worked really hard to lay the groundwork to develop a winning culture. We look to provide a player-centred, evidence-based learning environment to which we have seen the student-athletes thrive.” 

For Team Captain and Year 13 student, Max and Sports Coach, Eleanor Wilkinson, the game also marked the end of their time at Inspiration Trust Basketball Academy.  

Max has been an indispensable member of the team and this year’s captain. An outstanding basketball player, with strong fundamental skills, great game awareness as well as an exceptional leader for his fellow team members, Max has instilled the teams' values of respect, commitment and dedication. Having achieved his A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry & Maths at Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form, Max is looking to go to university in September. 

Max said: 

“Being a part of ITA has been great. Unluckily I was only able to be a part of it for my second year of my A-Levels, but it has been a great experience being able to train two, sometimes three times a week as well as having competitive games in the AOC and friendly games with other local sixth forms and colleges.  

 

There is so much help with schoolwork and the academy always puts the student’s studies and education before basketball which pushes me to do my absolute best at sixth form at all times so I can pursue basketball on the side. Once I have finished my A-Levels I am going to go to university to study pharmacy and hopefully be able to still play basketball either for the university or a local team.”   

Eleanor joined the Inspiration Trust Basketball Academy last year and has been instrumental in building the team into what it is today. As an award-winning basketball player herself, Eleanor has used her expertise in delivering excellent coaching to provide the student-athletes with invaluable tactical and strategic leadership and guidance. Eleanor will be going to Newcastle University in September to study Sport and Exercise Science.         

Eleanor said:  

“It has been a pleasure to be part of the Inspiration Trust Basketball Academy for its first season. The individual progression and team progression through training and matches has been phenomenal, which is a credit to all the hard work the players and coaching staff have put in this season. It is exciting to hear the plans for the future of the basketball academy and the amazing group of players we have coached.  

 

Next year, I am going to attend Newcastle University to study a degree in Sport and Exercise Science. Here I will continue playing and coaching basketball.” 

To find out more about joining the Inspiration Trust Basketball Academy, open to both male and female players from September 2024, visit our website here: inspirationtrust.org/basketball-academy or to discuss your options, please contact our Head Coach, Paul Wayman via sport@inspirationtrust.org.