The Berwick College Sports Academy aims to provide an integrated academic pathway driven by young students’ sporting aspirations.
This elite program allows young student athletes to enhance and develop their sporting talent while concurrently receiving their secondary education.
It is crucial to the Academy that students’ academic pursuits are of the highest priority and that each student’s interest and aspiration in sport assists them in achieving high results, both academically and athletically.
The Academy is committed to:
- Providing strong pastoral care for all students.
- Constantly monitoring academic performance and achievements.
- Providing a unique, high quality specialised sports program, allowing students to reach their full potential in their selected sport.
- Creating skills within the Academy’s students to provide unique opportunities aimed at future employment.
Berwick College Basketball Academy are proud of our achievements since it began in 2012. With a consistent number of students achieving State selection with some going on to represent the country in national teams. Students have the opportunity to participate in a number of tournaments throughout the year. These include Victorian College Championships, School Sports Victoria, Champions Cup, Australian Schools Championships (Nationals) and our friendly tournaments. We also provide, what is by many considered to be the highlight of their time in the Basketball Academy, a trip to the USA for years 10 and 11 students.
Basketball Academy Staff
Director of Basketball Academy
Chris Pentland
- Elite Level Junior Coach (20+ years)
- SSV State Boys and Girls Coach
- SSV State 16 Boys Coach
- VJBL Director of Coaching @Sherbrooke Suns
- 2019 Australian Schools Championships Gold Medallist
Assistant Director of Basketball Academy
Shannan Davey
- Big V Captain @Southern Peninsula Big V 100 Games
- Big V Captain @Westernport Steelers 150 Games
- Big V Youth League Championship @ Sandringham Sabres
- Member of the Southern Peninsula Team of the Half Century
- State Development Program Coach
- Dandenong Rangers U21 VC Assistant Coach
Basketball Academy Teacher/Coach
Gerard Leonard
- National Basketball League player @ Melbourne Tigers
- Melbourne Tigers National Basketball League Championship player
- 350+ SEABL games
- Australian Goanna’s Assistant Coach
- Youth League Coach @ Knox Raiders
- NBL1 Assistant Coach Knox Raiders
- 2017 Australian Schools Championships Gold Medallist
- State Development Program Coach
Basketball Academy Teacher/Coach
Brent Hobba
- NBL South Dragons and Perth Wildcats
- NCAA Graduate @ Colorado Christian University
- 350+ SEABL and Big V games.
- State Development Program Coach
- Australian and WA State Junior Representative
- State SSV U18 Boys Coach
Basketball Academy Teacher/Coach
Craig Kennedy
- Big V @ Mornington Breakers 100 games
- Club MVP @ Mornington Breakers
- Big V @ Southern Peninsula
- Frankston Blues VJBL U16 Boys Coach
External Basketball Academy Coaching Staff
Jade Hyett
- WNBL Player- Dandenong Rangers
- SEABL – Dandenong and Melbourne
- NCAA Div 1 – Washington State
Joe Davis
- Big V Player – Pakenham Warriors (League MVP)
- 2022 Big V Div 2 MVP
- 2022 Big V Div 2 Allstar 5
- 2023 Big V Div 1 Allstar 5
- Thompson River University
- All time TRU leading scorer
- All Conference Player
Kassie Boorer
- Attended Cameron University and University of Central Oklahoma
- Multiple Victorian representative teams
- NBL1 player @ Frankston Blues
Jaz Shelley
- Berwick College Student
- NCAA @ Nebraska Huskers Division 1
- WNBL Rookie of the Year @ Melbourne Boomers
- Australian Institute of Sport Graduate
- Multiple Victorian State Representatives
- Australian Junior Representative
- Opals Squad member
Austin Shelley
- Berwick College student
- NCAA player @ West Texas A&M
- NBL1 player @ Mount Gambier Pioneers
- Youth League and NBL1 player @ Knox Raiders
High Performance Program
Coming soon!
USA Tour
The College’s year 10 & 11 Basketball Academy students travel to the USA bi-annually to undertake matches against other High Schools and Prep schools. Students experience multicultural schools and settings, as well as increase their skill set and understanding of the game in its strongest context. One of the purposes for this trip is to allow all students to see what it is like being a “Student-Athlete” and academics playing a big role in them pursuing sport after school. This tour provides student athletes from our school the opportunity to play against athletes from the “home” of Basketball. Students also learn what it takes to not only be a great athlete but also the need to be a great student.
