We are beyond excited to unveil our latest initiative! The NEXTGEN X NBL1 Exposure Pathway is a specialised development initiative designed to bridge the gap between grassroots coaching and elite-level basketball.

What exactly is the pathway? We are rewarding our most dedicated and capable coaches from the NEXTGEN Coach Development Academy by granting them immersive, behind-the-scenes access to our NBL1 Women’s programs. Selected coaches participate in regular immersive cycles, which include:

• Attending weekly NBL1 Training Sessions.
• Participating in Team Film Review Sessions.
• Attending home games on a rotating basis, encompassing both pre-game and post-game locker room access.
• Sitting at the end of the Raiders NBL1 Team Bench, to completely immerse in the experience.
• Pathway mentor: Gerard Hillier, KBI Coach Education & Pedagogy Manager.

By providing this first-hand exposure to high-level training, film review, and game-day environments, we aim to inspire our coaches, accelerate their development, and build a sustainable, self-generating pool of elite coaches for Knox Basketball.

A massive congratulations to the following coaches who were selected for the inaugural pathway program: Liam Ferris (All Stars), Zoe Thomassen (All Stars), Austin Hoffman (Belgrave South), Xavier Cubian (FTG Falcons), Zeke Stephens (Knox City), Madeline Goodall (Belgrave South), Will Scott (Mountain Tigers), Cooper Steen (South East Eagles).

A very special thank you must also go to our NBL1 Women's Head Coach, Craig Simpson, and his entire team for being so incredibly accommodating and welcoming our pathway coaches into their inner sanctum. We couldn't do this without your support and generosity!

Swipe through to see our NEXTGEN coaches in action! When we invest in our coaches, we invest in the long-term success and sustainability of our entire basketball program. Let’s get to work!