Basketball Ireland announce selections for U15 summer academy programme 2024

Basketball Ireland is delighted to announce the 78 players selected to participate in the U15 summer academy programme. It will act as a bridge from the provincial academy system to the U16 national team squad.

Players will receive approximately 36 hours of coaching including a strength and conditioning element, more tactical work, to cement the foundations of the technical development of participants over the last number of months. 285 players participated in the Basketball Ireland U15 Academy this year, 151 boys and 134 girls, representing a near 50/50 split. The players had an academy session each month, a get together in Gormanston Park and a tournament in the University of Limerick.

It is important to remember that players from the Basketball Ireland U15 Academy who didn’t get selected at this point will have the opportunity to get selected for the U16 squad later in the summer.

Ahead of the Basketball Ireland U15 summer programme, Senior Technical Officer, Matthew Hall said: "The Basketbal Ireland Academy is continuously developing the programme delivered to the players by engaging in a review with the key stakeholders. This is an opportunity to give players extra coaching over the summer and to link in with the Ireland U16 coaching groups to give these players a defined roadmap in terms of their preparation. Selecting any squad is tough and probable least enjoyable part of any coach’s job. The players have done an amazing job since September when the Basketball Ireland Academy programme started. The standard of play and commitment of these young players has been fantastic”. 

Basketball Ireland Academy Lead, Martin McGettrick added: "I am very excited by the level of talent that is developing across the country and coming through the Basketball Ireland Academy. It's testament to the great work being done, not only within the academy structure, but also by the many club and school coaches who have invested time, energy and committment to support the development of the players".