The 2024 National Junior Classic (NJC) promises to have some intense on court battles as the top junior basketball teams from across Australia compete for the crown of National Junior Champions! The Classic will feature the best teams from regional Victoria and interstate from South Australia (SA), New South Wales (NSW) and Australian Capital Territory (ACT), all of whom have demonstrated exceptional performances to secure their spots.
Congratulations to the following NSW, SA, ACT and VIC Country teams that have accepted their position and are on their way to the 2024 National Junior Classic.
The competition will be fierce, with interstate teams bringing their A-game to the court. We look forward to seeing some familiar faces back at the classic this year including the Victorian Country representative team from Maffra in the Under 14 boys division. James Whelan the President of Maffra discussed their journey to this year's National Junior Classic with us, and the work they have done between their last attendance (2022) and now.
“The Boys went through Country Champs with a target on their back as the reigning champions from the Under 12 champions in 2022, but with the strength in depth evident, the boys came away with a grand final victory over Mildura in the Grand Final. This team is made up of a mixture of boys that started together back in Under 10's playing rep basketball for the Eagles, along with some players that have come into the squad over recent years.
This team will be the 5th Maffra team to compete at the National Junior Classic which coincides with Maffra winning their 5th ever Division 1 Country Championships title - all coming in the last 15 years. No mean feat for a town of just 5,000 people. Basketball in the town is a pastime with close to 700 players competing every week in the local domestic competition. To go back-to-back at a country championship considering the size of town Maffra is, shows the dedication and work ethic from not only the players and coaches, but the parents who travel around the state week in week out with 7 of the 10 players also competing in the VJBL on Friday nights.
In 2022 when this team played at the Classic, they managed to win 1 match, but with the experience and standards these boys have set this season, they will be hoping to go even better this year and make a name for themselves as a powerhouse team.”
One team to keep an eye on throughout the Classic will be the Under 18 Maitland Mustangs boys. This is the first ever Maitland team to attend the classic and Cal Wade – Maitland Coaching Director expresses the association's excitement for the upcoming event –
“As a country town in NSW, Maitland has always punched above its weight in all levels of competition against the bigger cities in metropolitan and regional NSW. We are approaching the 70th year of the Maitland Mustangs, and despite our rich history this is the first time we have had a team from our club qualify for the National Junior Classic. We have had some great successes in recent times, with our growing junior programs and pathways feeding into our successful senior Mustangs program - Waratah League and NBL1 East. I’m extremely excited to see our talented Under 18 men’s group represent our club, and town at the Classic in June. The whole of Maitland will be behind them!”
There are many clubs that have excelled and are bringing multiple teams to the Classic Including the West Adelaide Bearcats who will be travelling from South Australia to compete in the tournament.
The Junior Development Officer, Morgan Treloar describes the strengths of the club and the challenges it endeavors to overcome to compete in the Classic,“Our teams qualified for the Classic by finishing top four in the Basketball South Australia State Championships. Our teams are busy preparing prior to this weekend though, as seedings for that tournament are determined through the first 9 rounds of our Championship home and away season.
Our Under 12 girls are headed back to the Classic and are currently undefeated in the Championship season. This is not an easy task in a very evenly matched competition. A very well rounded and exceptionally coached team, these girls will give it a crack against some much bigger opponents.
Our Under 18 girls team are an exceptionally talented team and several of the top age members of this team have represented West Adelaide at the NJC for all eight years of their junior career. In 2022, this group were lucky enough to take out the Under 16 National Junior Classic title after defeating a talented North Bears team. Last year, our Under 18 girls won the bronze medal and intend to build on that, bringing back at least half of last year’s team to this year’s Classic.
Our Under 16 and Under 18 boys are appearing at their first ever Classic as a group. With a talented lineup, we are excited to see these teams go all guns blazing looking to shake up the competition as best they can at the 2024 National Junior Classic.”
Hills Hornets Representative Manager Christie Abbott-Graham comes from another big club attending this year’s Classic, she knows it offers their teams ‘the opportunity to challenge themselves and are treating the trip to Melbourne as a great bonding exercise.”
She says -“Hills Hornets Basketball Association has grown slowly since it was established in 1984, to what is now the largest association in NSW. We pride ourselves on building from the grass roots level, all the way to the top. The Under 12 girls are a young but athletic group and have started the year with a bang which finds them in 2nd place on the ladder with a 7-1 record. We are excited to see where this young talented team will go, the future of the Hornets girls' program is looking bright.
Our Under 14 boys team find themselves on top of the Junior Premier League ladder, with a 10-0 record. Having been undefeated in 2024 so far, competing in various pre-season tournaments, they hope to continue their winning streak in Melbourne.
Although our Under 16 girls have been plagued by injuries early in the season, these girls have a never-say-die attitude that has landed them in 3rd place on the Junior Premier League ladder with a 7-3 win/loss record, we look forward to seeing these girls soar at the National Junior Classic.
Our Under 18 girls team have gone from strength to strength being led by our current NBL1 Women’s head coach and captain of our 2-time champion Waratah Men’s team. This incredibly talented group have shown this year they can play at all levels including NBL1 East and Youth League Programs. They can be said to be the under dogs but take them lightly if you dare.”
A huge weekend of basketball
The skill and talent that will be on court throughout the tournament will be exciting to watch. With the Victorian teams to be announced next week and the above competition set to hit the State Basketball Centre and Dandenong Stadium in just over two weeks we can’t wait for what promises to be a thrilling tournament. The King's Birthday weekend will see these young athletes leave it all on the court, showing skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
The National Junior Classic is poised to deliver a weekend full of high-stakes basketball. Each age group competition will feature eight teams from the VJBL and eight visiting teams from regional Victoria and around the country.
As the countdown to the 2024 National Junior Classic continues, excitement is building – keep your eye out for the latest news regarding the tournament, including the final Victorian teams selected next week, the schedule, merchandise, livestream information and more.
Click here for more information about the 2024 National Junior Classic.
