The sixth Future Stars event took place over the weekend 29th June to 1st July at Brunel University and featured an International U18 Tournament, National Coaching Clinic and FIBA 3x3 Tournament.

 

 

Ukraine celebrated their first victory at the Future Stars International tournament after beating the Netherlands 66-57 in the final.

 

In the third place game Denmark overcome England 73-59. England's efforts were dictated by a slow start when they found themselves trailing 22-6 at the end of the first quarter. England started the second half with a far more aggressive approach which started paying dividends, reducing Denmark's lead to single digits. However that was as far as Steve Bucknall's team could go in terms of challenging the Danish team. In the qualification rounds on Friday England dispatched Sweden 62-55 and then they defeated an impressive Ukraine 84-76.

 

Sweden completely overpowered a depleted London-United-Harefield Academy team in the fifth/sixth place playoff.

 

 

The second day of the event was the National Coaching Clinic run in conjunction with England Basketball. Over 150 coaches invested in their own development and had the opportunity to listen to the lecturers and network with guest speakers including Slava Medvedenko [Winner of two NBA championship rings with the Los Angeles Lakers and currently working with Ukrainian Basketball Federation].

 

The coaches were initially treated to an on-court clinic from Medvedenko on the finer points of rebounding, creating contact and correct use of pivots.

 

After leading last year's clinic the Swedish U18 coach Olle Lunden, provided an informative session on point guard development, an issue in every country across Europe. Lunden questioned coaches on their own responsibility in creating point guards and not just handing the point guard responsibilities to either the fastest or strongest player on their team.

 

After lunch Peter Hoffman shared his experiences as head coach of the Danish national teams on playing without the ball - reading the defence and encouraging offensive decision making in players.

 

Chris Hackett, head coach at Frank Philips College in Texas, then presented an interesting and lively session on attacking the zone defence. Chris also answered a number of coaches' questions on his progression to head coach and the characteristics and requirements of foreign players being recruited in the US.

 

Delegates then had the opportunity to watch the coaches in action at the Future Stars International U18 Tournament

 

 

The last day of the weekend was marked by the first ever FIBA 3x3 tournament which attracted over 70 teams from London and the South East. Teams competed in U14, U16, U18 and Open Male categories and Open Female. The Open Men's category was one by Green Light who will travel to Switzerland to represent England in the FIBA World Tour Challenger.  

 

For more details on Future Stars and the 2012 event please visit: www.futurestars.uk.com.