Victoria's Elite Teams Ready for 2025 National Junior Classic

Author: Kym West 

Basketball Victoria has announced the Victorian teams selected to compete in the 2025 National Junior Classic (NJC)!  

The best teams in Victorian junior basketball will go head-to-head with the strongest junior squads from South Australia, New South Wales and the ACT. Each team, like the Victorians, qualify based on their performances in their state league or tournament. 

The annual invitational tournament, bringing together 128 top-tier boys' and girls' teams will be held over the King's Birthday long weekend from 7-9 June 2025 at the State Basketball Centre and Dandenong Basketball Stadium, two of Victoria’s and Australia’s best community basketball facilities.  

Often referred to simply as ‘The Classic,’ teams from as early as November the previous year, set it as a team goal to qualify for the event. Its place on the basketball calendar plays a crucial role in Australian junior basketball development, with many Victorian NBA and WNBA stars having represented their clubs in the event including Rebecca Allen, Josh Giddey and Jade Melbourne.  

Victorian teams, representing both metropolitan Melbourne and regional areas, secure their places through a thorough qualification process in Basketball Victoria’s Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL) and winning the Junior Country Championships (JCC).  

Congratulations to all the Victorian teams who will proudly represent their associations at the 2025 National Junior Classic!  

Among the Victorian associations preparing for competition are the Warragul Warriors and Dandenong Rangers. 

The Warragul Warriors Under 14 boys' team can’t wait for the challenge of the NJC tournament – with their exciting style of game and the commitment each teammate has shown for each other, they are going to be a team to watch. The road to the Classic has been nothing short of excitement, commitment and belief in each other. To reach the pinnacle they have competed in eight tournaments across country Victoria from Geelong to Sale, the final one, being the most important; winning the Junior Country Championship (JCC) tournament in Division 1, thereby getting the invitation to the NJC! The Warriors had six players invited to compete in the Southern Cross Challenge (SCC) and the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup (ACJBC), which highlights the depth and talent of this team.

Heading into the NJC, the Warragul Warrior coaches, Heath and Robbie have rallied their team with the motto, “It’s gonna be one hell of a story!” 

One hell of a story? Absolutely. And what a chapter for Warragul basketball!  

Whilst Warragul have their superstar team in this year’s tournament, Dandenong Basketball Association has eight teams qualify this year! This fantastic achievement highlights the depth and strength of their player development pathways, and the hard work and collaboration of all players, coaches, families and support staff throughout the grading phase. It comes on the back of an outstanding 2023/24 season, where the association was named VJBL’s ‘Large Association of the Year’ and proudly secured two national titles at last year’s National Junior Classic. 

Tamie Harvey, General Manager of Dandenong Basketball Association “We’re incredibly proud of this result, having eight teams invited to the Classic is a testament to the dedication, teamwork, and commitment that defines our program. It’s a proud moment for our club and a great reflection of the community that supports it.”  

With so many strong teams invited to the Classic this year it is going to be hotly contested for the championship. Don’t miss any of the action, we will announce the schedules, information about visiting teams and live streaming information soon.