Harris Federation Basketball Academy
Welcome to the Harris Federation Basketball Academy. We are very happy to be able to provide our students with an opportunity to excel in one of the fastest-growing and most exciting sports in the country. The programme is open to both men and women.
We are currently in the process of recruiting players for the 2025-26 season into our academy. Register your interest for our sports programmes here.
If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact D Buss, Director of Sport, Harris City Academy Crystal Palace, bussd@harriscrystalpalace.org.uk
The aim of the Basketball Academy
The aim of our Basketball Academy is to provide a pathway for our student athletes that aspire to play basketball at the very highest level that they can possibly achieve. Our student athletes will be committed to their own personal development both on and off the court. They will excel in the classroom and in life as well as they do on the basketball court.
Our coaching staff have decades of professional playing and coaching experience both domestically and abroad in Europe and the USA. They have helped developed players who are now playing professionally in the BBL, professionally in Europe or at college in the USA.
Our staff have put together a comprehensive training programme that will enable every athlete at our basketball academy to push themselves to the next level. Team practices, small group sessions and one-to-one coaching will ensure we get the very best progress from all of our players.
At our basketball academy the student athlete comes first. Individual development, including opportunities on and off the court, will be at the forefront of everything we do.
Domestic competition
There is something for everyone. The boys will have two teams competing in domestic competitions, providing playing opportunities for all of our students. The first team currently play in Tier 2 of the CBL which is nationally the second highest college league in the country.
The women's team enter both AOC and national schools league and cups. We are currently the national AOC champions for a second year in a row.
For our junior players or those not yet ready for the CBL, we will also be entering the National Schools competitions. We will also be able to provide U18 National League Club basketball for our students through our partnership with the Harris Federation Knights, playing regular weekend fixtures.
Coaching and officiating
All of our student athletes will be given the opportunity to undergo training that will give them professional qualifications in coaching and officiating basketball. These qualifications can later be used by our students to pursue an alternative career within the game of basketball or could simply add a new dimension to a student’s CV when applying for University post basketball academy.
UK university exposure
We will make annual visits to universities in the UK that provide top quality basketball programmes as well as excellent higher education opportunities. We believe combining education with sport is a critical success factor in a student athlete's life.
This exposure will provide an opportunity for our student athletes to showcase their skills to some of the best basketball universities in the country that can also provide further playing opportunities after students leave our Basketabll Academy.
USA exposure
For any of our students that have the aspiration, ability and attitude (AAA) to make it to the US for College Basketball we will be able to help provide playing opportunities out in the US during the critical summer NCAA recruitment period. In addition we will look to help place our (AAA) players who have successfully completed their A-Levels or vocational subjects with us, into Post Graduate Basketball Programs in the USA wherever possible.
