‘New Horizons’ – U17 Development Programme Revealed

By Sam Neter on March 3, 2012

As first revealed by GB Head of Performance Warwick Cann in an interview with Hoopsfix late last year, England Basketball’s new Under-17 development programme was unveiled this week.

Titled ‘New Horizons’ the programme will not only aim to bridge the gap between the Under-16 and Under-18 national teams, but also provide development opportunities for future potential elite coaches.

As laid out by England Basketball, the objectives are:

Continued development of U17 players selected from the regional development program

Set a standard for individual training for potential national U18 squad or senior EBL Division 1 players

Teach players how to train independently for their own development

Identify, encourage and develop selected prospective National Team coaches

Offer a youth coaching opportunity to senior level coaches who may not normally work with junior age players

Create a coaching environment where coaches learn collaboratively through sharing their experience

One of the biggest differences with the Under-15 developmental program, according to Cann, is the lack of a head coach. “Instead the responsibilities will be shared by a coaching panel of well qualified national standard coaches who will share the head coach role while being mentored by a lead coach under my direction,” he explained. “I am excited about the quality of the new horizons panel for the U17 Men. They are all well respected coaches.”

The coaching panel for the U17 men does not lack quality by any means, made up of Samit Nurzade (Reading Rockets), Matt Newby (Leeds Carnegie), Simon Fisher (former England U16 head coach), Marc Steutel (Northumbria), Todd Cauthorn (Sheffield Saints) and GB shooting guard Nate Reinking. Tim Lewis (GB Senior Men’s assistant) and Tony Garbelotto (Mersey Tigers) will work with Cann to develop the coaches. Each panel member will design and supervise an allocated player’s individual off season training program.

The program will consist of team camps, individual skills focus and competition environment from April to June to enhance players and provide an off season period of individual and team training after club commitments have been completed.

The first ever England U17 squad is as follows:

England Under-17 Developmental Squad

Nicholas Bohling (France)
Durrell Charles (Reading Rockets)
Pakadashe Chingombe (Leicester Warriors)
Jefferson Davis (London Pioneers)
Ajou Deng (Islington Pa)nthers)
Awab Elniel (South East
Jack Griffiths (Bristol Flyers)
Oliver Hannam (Bristol Flyers)
Brandon Hitchman (City of Birmingham)
Jonathan Jessup (Derby Trailblazers)
Henryk Krajniewski (Barking Abbey)
Cameron Mackay (Cheshire Juniors)
David Malcolm (City of Birmingham)
Luke Mascall-Wright (Ipswich)
Joshua McSwiggan (Warrington Jets)
Benjamin Nkossi (Islington Panthers)
Joshua Pollock (Leicester Warriors)
Max Richardson (Worthing Thunder)
Elliott Spence (Barking Abbey)
Jamal Tahraoui (Cheshire Juniors)
Alex Williams (Worthing Thunder)

What do you think about the new programme and first roster? Drop a comment!

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