Over 100 of New South Wales’ brightest young basketballers came together at Penrith Regional Valley Sports Stadium last week for the 2025 U13 Talented Athlete Program (TAP), a three-day camp designed to accelerate the development of the state’s future stars.
As part of Basketball NSW’s High Performance pathway, TAP provides athletes from both Country and Metro regions with a unique opportunity to test themselves in a high-performance environment.
Built around the Australian Style of Play, the program focuses on advanced skill work, decision-making under pressure, and team play concepts. Off the court, athletes engaged in sessions covering sports psychology, injury prevention, recovery strategies, and scouting, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to succeed beyond the hardwood.
The U13 camp followed on from the U14 Talented Athlete Program, which was held the previous week at the same venue.
Basketball NSW, General Manager of Coaching & Development, Brett Coxsedge, said the standard of talent on display highlighted the strength of the state’s player pipeline.
“The depth of ability we’ve seen this week was outstanding,” said Coxsedge.
“TAP is often where athletes take their first genuine step into high-performance basketball. We’ve seen Opals, Boomers and professional players start here, and with Brisbane 2032 on the horizon, it’s exciting to think we may be watching the first steps of future Olympians.”
Delivering a program of this calibre takes the support of many. Basketball NSW extends its thanks to the venue staff at Penrith Regional Valley Sports Centre, guest presenters, and support crew who contributed to making the camp a success.
Special thanks goes to Daniel Banganay from Momentum Physiotherapy and Health Services for leading athlete workshops on injury prevention and recovery.
Basketball NSW would also like to acknowledge the efforts of its dedicated coaching team, whose energy, knowledge and passion continue to shape the next generation of talent:
Kristin-Paul Baldacchino (Bankstown Bruins), Jayden Gibbeson (Sutherland Sharks), Lizabeth Mercuri (Norths), Will Morgan (Newcastle Falcons), Lauren Cooper (Penrith Panthers), Felicity Cook (Coffs Harbour), Maddison Delaney (Illawarra Hawks), Natalia Beaumont (Norths Bears) and Leonie Moore (Penrith Panthers)
Basketball NSW remains committed to creating opportunities for young athletes across the state, ensuring they have the resources, experiences, and guidance to reach their potential, whether that leads to professional competition, national representation, or a lifelong love of the game.