AUSTRALIA’S premier young basketball talent will again converge on Ballarat next January and February when the city hosts the under-20 national championships.<\/p>\n
As part of a multi-year hosting agreement, Selkirk Stadium at Wendouree will be home to the prestigious tournament.<\/p>\n
It will be the fourth-straight year the nationals, including the Ivor Burge Championships for players with an intellectual impairment, have been contested in Ballarat.<\/p>\n
Dubbed as The Battle of Ballarat, Basketball Australia CEO Matt Scriven is thrilled to see the championships staying put in regional Victoria.<\/p>\n
“We’ve had a fantastic relationship with the City of Ballarat since shifting the Foot Locker Under-20 and Ivor Burge National Championships in 2024, and it is fantastic to also align with Visit Victoria and their aspirations to continue Regional Victoria as a hotspot for hosting elite sporting events,” he said.<\/p>\n
“The event continues to grow every year, with the number of people attending these tournaments continuing to exceed previous levels.<\/p>\n
“The level of talent competing also continues to elevate each year.<\/p>\n
“A majority of the current Boomers, Opals cohort, as well as college and professional representatives played in this tournament.<\/p>\n
“So it’s fantastic to have the support of the Victorian government to extend Ballarat until 2027.”<\/p>\n
Scriven said household names like Josh Giddey, Cayla George, Ezi Magbegor, Dyson Daniels and many more have represented their origins with pride in the history of the tournament.<\/p>\n
The under-20 nationals provide a formative proving ground for the athletes and a pathway as they assess potential college or professional options.<\/p>\n
It also provides an essential pathway for the Australian Pearls and Boomerangs ID national teams, with the Ivor Burge National Championships used to assess talent and scout for talent in the VIRTUS World Championship cycle.<\/p>\n
New South Wales will start the 2027 championships as reigning under-20 men’s title holders, while South Australia is the defending women’s under-20 champion.<\/p>\n
Victoria was last year’s Ivor Burge men’s winner, while New South Wales narrowly beat Victoria for the women’s crown.<\/p>\n
City of Ballarat mayor Cr Tracy Hargreaves hailed the importance of the Under-20 National and Ivor Burge Championships to Ballarat’s events portfolio.<\/p>\n
“We pride ourselves as a sports events destination here in Ballarat and we look forward to once again welcoming the best young basketball players in Australia for what promises to be a showcase of some brilliant talent,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Events like this offer more than just great competition. They bring people into our city, support local businesses, highlight our excellent sporting facilities and add to the diverse calendar of experiences Ballarat has to offer.<\/p>\n
“I encourage our residents to head along to Selkirk Stadium to watch next year’s event and experience a great spectacle.”<\/p>\n
Adding a new dimension, Basketball Australia last year launched the 3×3 Champs as a standalone competition and pathway for the Australian Gangurrus 3×3 teams, with under-23 and under-17 divisions.<\/p>\n
A West Australian team won out in the under-23 division and represented Perth on the 3×3 World Tour in Shibuya in April.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AUSTRALIA’S premier young basketball talent will again converge on Ballarat next January and February when the city hosts the under-20 national championships. As part of a multi-year hosting agreement, Selkirk Stadium at Wendouree will be home to the prestigious tournament. It will be the fourth-straight year the nationals, including the Ivor Burge Championships for players […]<\/p>\n