UCFB is delighted to announce the launch of its brand new Basketball Academy, in partnership with London Elite Basketball, at our Wembley Campus.
The academy is designed for aspiring professionals in the sport, providing unparalleled opportunities to study degrees in the sports industry at Wembley Stadium, alongside their full-time training programmes. This gives students the best chance of a successful career in sport, whether on the court, court-side or behind the scenes in media, marketing or finance.
James McKeown, UCFB’s Global Institute of Sport’s Chief Operating Officer and former professional basketballer, said: “We’re so excited to announce the UCFB Wembley and London Elite Basketball academy today. It’s a momentous occasion for UCFB to partner up with such an elite basketball programme from here in Brent, creating a pathway for future professional basketballers to come and study their degree with us here at UCFB and Wembley, and train like a pro at the same time.”
As one of the fastest growing basketball clubs in the capital, London Elite will oversee all coaching for the student athletes involved in the academy. With the exclusive chance to train alongside former professionals, individuals are able to create a work schedule that revolves around, and caters towards, their intense training programmes.
London Elite’s General Manager and former professional basketballer, Daniel Szatkowski, said: “To have a partner of this quality is the best possible news for our club; UCFB is one of the leading sports academic institutions in the world. We are committed to building the highest standard basketball programme in the UK and I am more than confident we will achieve this. I can’t wait to see students benefit from this great partnership. The future is truly bright.”
As part of the UCFB Wembley Basketball Academy, student-athletes who enrol on our course this September will have the opportunity to play in the English National Basketball League Division 2, European Youth Basketball League, and the BUCS Basketball League. They will also have exclusive access to professional coaching from London Elite staff, who are some of the most experienced and qualified basketball professionals in the UK.
Keiran Mathews, an MSc International Sports Management student and coach at London Elite, said of the partnership: “As a student here at Wembley and a coach at London Elite Basketball Club, this is a great step forward for both parties. Creating a performance basketball programme with unmatched exit routes and opportunities for university students is hugely exciting,”
Mike Walsh, UCFB’s Director of Sport, added: “This marks our next step in the growth of our elite sports strategy. We’re excited to add to our existing football academies for men and women at UCFB, and hope to see many of our graduates playing sport as well as working in sport in the years to come.”
Students who wish to join UCFB should complete the neceassry form here.
