Record breaking season for the Firsts Boys Basketball team
Haileybury’s 1st basketball team has enjoyed an exceptional run of success over the past few years. This season, the team secured their fourth consecutive APS Premiership, a rare feat that has only been achieved once before by Haileybury during the 2002–2005 seasons. Not only did the 2021–2024 teams match history, they cemented their victory by remaining undefeated throughout the season with an impressive 11–0 record. Earlier in the year, they also claimed the Victorian Schools 3×3 championship and reached the finals of the Champions Cup.
It is safe to say the team dominated the APS season, winning their closest game by a 15-point margin. Standout players like Keyaan (Year 12), Nick (Year 11) and Thomas (Year 11) earned spots on the APS representative team, with Keyaan, in his third consecutive year on APS team, being named captain. He led his squad to a comfortable victory over AGSV, capping off an incredible season.
Among the season’s highlights was the team’s ability to handle pressure in big games. Last year, they stumbled against Wesley College in the final game, missing out on an undefeated season and sharing the APS premiership. This year, the team returned with vivacity to make a statement, defeating Wesley by over 30 points.
Team Manager Duncan Berg attributes the team’s success to consistency and strong player development and has been watching the team develop for over 10 years.
“We had a group that was already very good in 2018 and 2019, the boys trained hard, and we entered 2020 confident that we had an excellent team. It was disappointing when that season was cancelled due to COVID-19. After a win in the shortened 2021 season, half of that team graduated, followed by the other half in 2022. To have gone through these transitions and still be successful is something we’re very proud of.”
Because of the continuous turnover, maintaining consistency in the message and teaching has been key to smooth transitions from one group to the next. Head coach Rhys Carter, who brings experience from his role as assistant coach with Melbourne United in the NBL, has been a major asset to the program. The students’ access to his high-level coaching, combined with a strong focus on discipline and respect, has helped establish a winning culture at Haileybury.
“Without doubt having a group of talented players has also been a big factor of our success. We have also been lucky to have a number of boys follow their brothers through the program. In several cases, as one boy is reaching the end, his younger brother is coming through and learning from successes, and mistakes, of past groups,” Duncan shared.
Another eight Year 12 students are set to graduate this year, but the squad has a number of Year 11s who have been successful over the past two years and are ready to step up and welcome fresh players.
One early loss from the team is Owen (Year 11), who will be heading to the U.S.A. later this year to complete high school, while Keyaan is already training with Melbourne United and will soon decide whether to pursue college basketball or follow a professional path.
Several graduate players from recent years have gone on to pursue basketball careers at U.S. colleges, including Kobe Williamson (OH 2019) at Seattle University, Leyi Adebayo (OH 2019) at Princeton, Bailey Nunn (OH 2022) at Sacramento State, Jensen Bradtke (OH 2022) at Montana State, Beau Tranter (OH 2022) at Oklahoma City University and Brody Nunn (OH 2020) who has recently returned from Seattle University and is now a development player with the Tasmania JackJumpers.
All in all, Haileybury’s basketball future looks bright, and the goal for next year is a simple one — clinching that fifth consecutive APS Premiership and the brand-new record that comes with it.
