Bablake Brothers Experience US Basketball
July 29, 2025
Two pupils from Bablake have returned from a basketball tour across the United States, where they trained, competed and gained exposure to elite coaching environments and college-level sport.
Philip in Upper Sixth and his younger brother Niki, currently in Year 10, were selected to take part in basketball development programmes in North Carolina, Indiana and Michigan. The opportunity came through the Giannakis Academy, a highly respected Greek basketball camp and the Hoop Talent Academy, which has previously trained former NBA and EuroLeague athletes.
Philip began his journey in Charlotte, North Carolina, representing a European team assembled by Hoop Talent Academy. He played in two high-level tournaments, including one hosted at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. “The facilities were state of the art,” he said, adding that the tournaments showcased “exemplary athleticism from American players.”
Afterwards, he travelled to Indiana to attend Game 6 of the NBA Finals, which was an extraordinary experience for the Bablake Sixth Former.
The brothers reunited in Michigan for a 10-day training residency at Michigan State University. Alongside a group of European players, they lived on campus and trained daily under a mix of Greek and American coaches. Their schedule included five competitive games against local high school teams, lectures inside MSU classrooms and observing the university’s top-level Division 1 team in training.
Watching the top university league (D1) basketball players train was a key moment for Philip:
“It was very eye opening, the games were intense and showed us as Europeans how different the US game is, they are more physical and aggressive, whereas we play with more tactics and strategy.”
Niki echoed the experience:
“The basketball trainings and games improved my skill set, helped me to understand the game better and gave me exposure to coaches in America,” he said. “This was the best experience of my life and I hope to go again next year.”
The programme also offered an insight into university life in the U.S., including strength and conditioning testing, VO2 max analysis and cultural exchanges with American players. portions,” said Philip.
Both pupils return to Bablake with new skills, fresh motivation and an understanding of the level of dedication required to pursue sport at the highest level.
