U16 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS COACH PREVIEW

Australian Junior Championships
Written by Jaylee Ismay
5 July, 2024

As the U16 Foot Locker National Championships draw near, attention turns to the coaching staff of the four NSW State Teams, who are gearing up to display their expertise on the national stage.

U16 Metro Boys:
Head Coach – David Hayman
Assistant Coach – Blake Macfarlane
Assistant Coach – Liam Cavanagh-Downs
Manager – Ivana Hayman

Fresh off a Bronze Medal victory at the 2023 U16 Nationals, Head Coach David Hayman is set to lead his team through another exciting tournament. Hayman brings a wealth of experience, making his third appearance at the Nationals, including twice with the U16 team and once as an Assistant Coach for the U18s in 2022. Currently, he serves as the Head Coach for the Hills Junior Premier League Under 18 Boys team at Hills Hornets, where he previously achieved a Gold medal at the Under 14s level in 2019. Hayman remains actively involved with Basketball NSW, continuing to shape young athletes’ futures through his coaching expertise.

Pairing up again with Hayman and eager to add another medal to his collection is Assistant Coach Blake Macfarlane from the Penrith Panthers. A well-known figure across the state, Macfarlane has been actively progressing through the coaching pathways and has participated in numerous BNSW camps, tours, and D-League programs since 2017. Currently he coaches the Under 18 Boys team at Penrith.

Liam Cavanagh-Downs from the Norths Bears also rejoins the staff. His extensive background includes recent work with the Hoops Capital coaching staff as a video coordinator. He has also been a part of the Inner West Ryde and Norths Bears representative program as a coach for the past eight years and has been a part of the BNSW coaches pathway since 2017. 

Hills’ Ivana Hayman, an experienced coach and manager, will be leading the team as Manager. With a successful history in the High Performance Program for WaterPolo NSW she brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to the role. Her combined commitment to excellence and broad array of experiences make her invaluable assets to the NSW U16 Metro Boys as they compete.

U16 Metro Girls:
Head Coach – Danielle D’Morias
Assistant Coach – Billy Akalo 
Assistant Coach –  Christine Blacklock
Manager – Natalie Donnelly

At the helm of the U18 girls’ team is Head Coach Danielle D’Morias from Hills Basketball Association. With a history of success as the U18 Assistant Coach in 2022 and 2023, where she helped secure a Silver Medal last year, D’Morias is poised for a strong performance in 2024. In addition to her role as Head Coach for the Youth League Women’s team, she serves as an NBL1 Assistant Coach and Development Manager at Hills Basketball Association.

Supporting the U18 girls’ team is Assistant Coach Billy Akalo from the Sydney Comets. This will be Akalo’s third Nationals, having previously coached the U16 Girls to a Bronze in 2022 and a Silver in 2023 with the Victorian Metro Women’s Program. Currently coaching the Under 16 Junior Premier League Girls team, Akalo also serves as 2IC for basketball at Trinity Grammar School and is the CIS Opens Women Head Coach for 2024.

Assistant Coach Christine Blacklock, a seasoned coach with Bankstown, also brings her expertise to the team. She has led the Waratah Women Youth League Division 2 to a Premiership in 2023 and currently coaches the U16 Girls Metro Junior League and Waratah Women Youth League Division 1 for 2024.

Guiding the team behind the scenes is Manager Natalie Donnelly, a seasoned veteran with a proven track record in team management. Donnelly’s championship-winning tenure with Sydney Uni Flames and her managerial roles with various NSW State Teams, including managing the same age group last year and the Under 18s in Brisbane only a few months ago, highlight her organisational prowess and commitment to NSW.

U16 Country Boys:
Head Coach – Tom Cranney
Assistant Coach – Todd Turner
Assistant Coach – Dan Howard
Manager – Howard Mazan

Leading the charge is Head Coach Tom Cranney, whose journey from a gold medal-winning player in the U16 Nationals in 2014 to an accomplished coach reflects his deep-rooted dedication to Country Basketball. Cranney, affiliated with the Illawarra Basketball Association, has accumulated invaluable experience as an intern coach for the Illawarra Hawks NBL team, head coach for the Illawarra NBL1 Women in 2022 and 2023, and coach for the U18 Illawarra Boys Junior Premier League and Waverley College teams. The 2024 championships mark the 10-year anniversary of Cranney’s gold medal win, a milestone he shares with Todd Turner, who was an assistant coach for that victorious team. Together, they aim to recreate their past success and secure another gold for NSW Country.

Assistant Coach Todd Turner brings a wealth of experience, with 15 National Championships under his belt. Turner, a Newcastle native has been a part of the Country NSW family for numerous years in various coaching, mentoring and management roles. Turner’s coaching acumen was instrumental in the 2014 Gold medal win by the U16 Country Boys. He continues to mentor the Newcastle Falcons’ U16 and U18 Men, bringing a strategic edge to the current team. 

Rounding out the coaching staff is Assistant Coach Dan Howard, embarking on his first Nationals. Representing the Maitland Mustangs, Howard coaches the U14 Boys Junior Premier League and serves as an assistant coach for their Youth League Men. Having progressed through the BNSW pathway over the past seven years, including CDT, TAP, D-League, SPP, and ACJBC, Howard has interned with the U16 Country Boys state team for the past two years and notably, he was Australia’s representative in the FIBA Youth Leadership program in 2022.

Stepping up in his first Nationals is Port Macquarie’s Howard Mazan. Marzan will be sure to keep the team supported on and off the court with his infectious personality and love of the game. Marzan has been an active member in our community space, continually involved in our Under 12 Country Skills Days, Country Development Program and was a Court Supervisor for our Northern John Davidson Jamboree in 2023.

U16 Country Girls:
Head Coach – Michael Turton
Assistant Coach – Maddy Delaney
Assistant Coach – Nat Turner
Manager – Nicole McMahon

Michael Turton, hailing from the Illawarra Basketball Association, brings extensive experience and leadership to the Under 16 Girls NSW Country team as Head Coach for the 2024 Junior National Championships. With a remarkable 14 championships under his belt, Turton’s coaching journey includes seven years in the WNBL with the Sydney Flames and five years in the Australian Basketball Association. His coaching accolades span multiple decades and Turton’s dedication to youth development is evident through his past roles as head coach for U18 NSW Country Girls and U18 NSW Metro Girls, achieving notable results such as silver medals and top-four finishes. His expertise and commitment are set to guide the NSW Country team towards success in the upcoming championships.

Also lending her expertise is Assistant Coach Maddy Delaney, marking her third U16 Nationals campaign for NSW Country. Affiliated with the Illawarra Hawks, Delaney currently coaches the U16 Girls Junior Premier League and NBL1 Women’s teams, offering invaluable on-court insight and mentorship to the team. She also works at Illawarra Basketball as one of their Development Officers. 

Assisting Turton is Nat Turner, making her debut at the Nationals. Hailing from the Newcastle Falcons, Turner’s coaching pedigree includes leading the Newcastle Falcons U14 Girls Division 1 team, embodying a strong coaching lineage as the daughter of Todd Turner, Assistant Coach for the U16 Country Boys. Turner has also progressed through the Community and High Performance coaching ladders from volunteering at the John Davidson Country Jamboree to the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup in 2024. 

Ensuring smooth operations behind the scenes is team Manager Nicole McMahon. From the Port Macquarie Basketball Association, McMahon’s extensive tenure as U16 NSW Country Girls Team Manager, coupled with her roles as Northern Junior League Delegate and Board Member, highlights her exceptional organizational skills and commitment to the team’s success. She has been with this age group since 2018, and relishes the time to support the teams’ success off and on the court. 

United by a common goal, our NSW coaching staff and athletes are determined as they head to the Nationals. With a mix of experience, skill, and steadfast commitment, the NSW Metro & Country teams are ready to leave their mark on the court and secure their place in Australian basketball history.

Event Information:

The 2024 Under 16 National Championships will be hosted by Basketball Australia in Bendigo, Victoria. Commencing Saturday 6th July and concluding on Sunday 14th July.

All games will be held at: Red Energy Arena, Bendigo – 91 Inglis St, West Bendigo VIC 3550

To purchase tickets, head to Basketball Australia.

Click HERE for the full NSW team lists.

Click HERE for the full NSW State Team Coaching lists.

Click HERE to read about the NSW Referees selected to officiate the tournament.