BBF names assistant coaches & team managers for GB youth teams

The British Basketball Federation (BBF) has revealed the Assistant Coaches and Team Managers for the Great Britain teams competing at this summer’s FIBA European Youth Championships.

This follows the appointment of the Head Coaches for the GB teams, who will compete in all three age groups – Under-20, Under-18 and Under-16 – for the first time since 2019.

GB Junior Nation Team Assistant Head Coaches and Team Managers*:

U16 Men
Assistant Coach – Dan Petts (Monbus Obradoiro CAB)
Assistant Coach – Stephen Barnes (Birmingham Mets Basketball Club)
Team Manager – Helen Roberts

U16 Women
Assistant Coach – Maialen Zilbeti (Bristol MET Mambas)
Assistant Coach – Azeb Smalley (Cardiff Met Archers)
Team Manager – Charlotte Redhead

U18 Men
Assistant Coach – Ian Macleod (Newcastle Eagles)
Assistant Coach – Dan Gayle (Overtime Elite)
Team Manager – Steve Miknis

U18 Women
Assistant Coach – Siobhan Prior (Nottingham Wildcats)
Assistant Coach – Lauren Milligan (London Lions)
Team Manager – Honor Campbell

U20 Men
Assistant Coach – Liam Jefferson (Loughborough Riders)
Assistant Coach – Chris Bourne (Bristol Flyers)
Team Manager – Ruchae Walton

U20 Women
Assistant Coach – Kenrick Liburd (Nottingham Wildcats)
Assistant Coach – Renee Busch (Sevenoaks Suns)
Team Manager – Paula Charity

*Assistant Coaches’ clubs are listed as their current or most recent

All six teams will compete in Division B of the European Championships, with tournaments taking place between July 7 and August 19. Comprehensive preparation programmes have been put in place for each team.

The recruitment of coaches and staff has been undertaken by the Home Country Associations – Basketball England, Basketball Scotland and Basketball Wales – on behalf of the British Basketball Federation, with the federation’s Performance Lead, Fiona Pimblett, leading the selection committee.

Pimblett said: “We undertook an extensive process involving Basketball England, Basketball Scotland, Basketball Wales and the BBF, and together we have recruited a fantastic group of people to lead Great Britain this summer.

“There was a high volume of applicants with a great level of expertise and experience, which is testament to the amount of work that goes on within the leagues, clubs, regions and home countries. One of our priorities this summer is to ensure that we provide an international basketball experience of the highest quality to our age group players, and there is no doubt in my mind that this group of people can deliver exactly that.”

The Under-20s return to action this summer for the first time since 2019. The U20 Men will be led by Leicester Riders women’s head coach Krumesh Patel.

Great Britain legend Chantelle Handy will lead the Under-20 Women. The Olympian and former GB captain recently retired from international duty after helping Chema Buceta’s side qualify for EuroBasket Women 2023 in Slovenia and Israel.

At Under-18 level, GB can call upon the considerable experience of Alan Keane and Karen Burton.

Both have amassed impressive resumes over the years in coaching at international and domestic level and are well known for their prowess in developing talent.

At Under-16 level, Troy Culley retains his role as Head Coach of the Men’s team, while Lee Davie will lead the Women’s team. Davie comes into the role as one of the most respected coaches in the British game, particularly in women’s basketball, where he has coached and worked with many of today’s elite women’s players at junior level in the past.

Further staffing announcements will be made shortly with information on training camps and preparatory friendlies to follow.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

• 7-16 July 2023: FIBA U20 Men European Championships Div B – Skopje, North Macedonia
• 28 July-6 August 2023: FIBA U20 Women European Championships Div B – Craiova, Romania
• 21-30 July 2023: FIBA U18 Men European Championships Div B – Matosinhos, Portugal
• 30 June-9 July 2023: FIBA U18 Women European Championships Div B – Sofia, Bulgaria
• 4-13 August 2023: FIBA U16 Men European Championships Div B – Pitesti, Romania
• 10-19 August 2023: FIBA U16 Women European Championships Div B – Podgorica, Montenegro