News Archive
Slovenia crowned Future Stars 2011 Champions
10 July 2011
The Future Stars International Junior Tournament took place at Brunel University, London from 8th-10th July. The Tournament included National U18 teams from Sweden, Slovenia, Netherlands and England in addition to a US Select team and London United Harefield Academy which includes representation of the top talent from the Greater London area.
The basketball on display was strong and at times magnificent. Sweden, who had been many observers’ favourites, struggled, only able to make the fifth and sixth place play off despite some spectacular play from Captain Jonathon Person and Guard, Tobias Borg. Sweden doubled their victory tally against the USA to finish fifth, whilst the US Select headed home having learnt the full threat posed by European basketball, to their international dominance.
It was the Netherlands and Slovenia who were the strongest teams of the international cohort. The Netherlands thumped, all except London United en route to their third and fourth place play off, but they arguably played the prettiest basketball of the tournament. Special mentions must be given to guard Kasper Averink for his displays of pedigree all weekend, as well to Olaf Schaftenaar, whose accurate three point shooting makes him a real talent for the future.
The Dutch beat England in the third and fourth place play-off to finish the tournament third overall but firmly in the hearts of the local crowd for their demonstration of how the game should be played. The England squad despite being plagued by injuries and finishing the tournament with only an 8 man squad managed their best ever position of fourth at the tournament.
It was the Londoners however, who were the surprise package at this years event. The local team won two of their three qualifying games, beating Sweden and Holland narrowly to make Sundays final against the commanding team from Slovenia, who had beaten them convincingly in their pool game at the tournament’s start. United, had proved to be the early entertainers with their athletic displays against the Swedes and the close margins by which they beat their international compatriots. It was not to be for the West London team however, as their fairytale ride came off the rails to be beaten closely by the imperious team from Slovenia. The Harefield boys can be proud of their ability to compete with their international counterparts. All in all their performance at this years event reflects very well on the system in place at the Harefield Academy, suggesting there is definitely more to come.
But the Tournament belonged to Slovenia, who played hard basketball all weekend to clinch this year’s title. Led by the outstanding player of the tournament Luka Rupnik, the Eastern Europeans swept all in their path to the side as they wowed the crowd with their tough defence at one end of the court, and their attacking flair at the other. The men from the mountains were just too strong for their competitors, and they can be sure to look forward to a good season to come.
For the full details of final scores and standings of the tournament please click here.
Partnership confirmed for Another Year
04 July 2011
Malopolska Region of Poland has confirmed that they will extend their partnership with Future Stars for another year. The partnership which started in 2009 was instrumental in turning Future Stars into one of the major basketball events for young players from all over Europe and allowed the event to expand outside the UK. Our event in Krakow in 2010 attracted not only top European teams competing in the International Tournament but also hundreds of streetballers and amateurs taking part in competitions directed at people who takes basketball slightly less seriously. The event was even more spectacular and unique as all final games of the International Tournament and Community events took place on specially constructed outdoor basketball court which was erected in one of the most picturesque squares in Krakow.
“Thanks to the fact, that London hosts Future Stars tournament this year, we are able to point young people from all over Europe at Malopolska and invite them to visit our part of Poland” said Marek Sowa, the marshall of Malopolska region. He hopes that the tournament attracts swarms of young basketball players. “I also hope that every future visitor to Malopolska will notice that there is lots of ways of active time spending”.
Jack Majewski Director of Future Stars added “I’m delighted that our partnership with Maloplska grows stronger and evolves constantly. They are very creative in their approach to the subject of promotion of their region and constantly looking for a new ways to deliver their message. I think that combination of major international sporting event and tourism is a very powerful tool to access a wide section of population”
Deputy Mayor of London named as Patron of Future Stars
28 June 2011
Future Stars would like to welcome our new Patron Richard Barnes Deputy Mayor of London. Richard Barnes, who also works very closely with Harefield Academy was impressed at the ethos of the event.
He comments "I must say that I'm quite captivated by the concept of Future Stars. London's young sports people need as much contact with the international scene as possible. Cultural and sporting exchange greatly benefits the younger generation and makes them far more adapted to life in a very fast changing modern society. To say nothing of course that playing against top international opposition will make the English boys much better in the game of basketball. I also like the fact that this event doesn't only provide a platform for top athletes, it also caters for beginners and provides education for coaches during the coaching clinic".
Future Stars are delighted that Richard Barnes has accepted the position as Patron and look forward to working with him in the future.
The Americans are Coming...
09 June 2011
US Select, the team of elite basketball players from the East Coast of the United States are coming to this years Future Stars Tournament with a strong desire to make an impact on this years tournament.
It is the first time that the Future Stars Tournament has hosted a team from the US and the organisers are very much looking forward to the new dimension that this will bring to the tournament. The Team from the USA are looking forward to playing against the National European teams and are confident that they will be able to adapt their game to suit the European style of play. The team comprises several players who are considered to be NCAA Division 1 prospects, many of whom have already gained state honours in their own country.
Jaylen Bond, a 2.05m power forward, who is the 2011 Philadelphia State player of the Year, leads the US Select Team. He is joined by Fred Dukes, a 1.82m point guard who won the PCAA title in 2011 at CCP and was named to the junior college All-Star team as freshman.
The team is coached by Community College of Philadelphia's (CCP) Head Basketball Coach Robert DeShields. With ten Conference Championships, seven PCAA Philadelphia State Championships, four PCAA Coach of the year awards and more than three hunded winsin just over a decade at CCP, DeShields is one of Philadelphia's most successful junior coaches.
US Select will bring a different style of basketball to the Future Star Tournamnt and will provide stif competition for the National U18 teams from Slovenia, Sweden, Netherlands and England.
Future Stars 2011
01 May 2011
Now in its 4th year, the highly successful Future Stars International Basketball Festival will be taking place this year at Brunel University in Uxbridge, London from 7th – 10th July 2011.
Organised by London United Basketball Club in association with its partner Harefield Academy, the International Basketball Festival features an International Junior Basketball Tournament, a Coaching Conference and Community Event. Future Stars attracts some of the highest calibre junior basketball players and coaches from across Europe and has become one of the most important international events in the European basketball calendar attracting considerable interest of the media both in the UK and abroad.
This year’s International Tournament will boast for the first time participation from the US select team which will compete against an impressive lineup of top Under 18 European National teams including Slovenia, Holland, Sweden, England and also London United- Harefield Academy which will include representation of the top talent from the Greater London area.
The Coaching Conference will have the coaching of junior players at its centre, focusing on the ‘the development of talent amongst young elite basketball players. Delegates will have an opportunity to learn about the most recent technical and tactical trends in basketball during interactive lectures delivered by leading specialists from Europe and USA.
To maximise the impact of grassroots development the community event will invite young aspiring local basketball players to have the opportunity to take part in training and coaching sessions run by international coaches which are coaching National teams participating in the tournament.
This year’s event will mark the start of Future Stars becoming an official partner of Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity devoted to helping improve the lives of young people with cancer. Teenage Cancer Trust will be a benefactor of all profits generated by the event. We are particularly excited to announce that one of the fundraising activities will be a celebrity game, which will take place on Sunday 10th July when names from the world of sport and entertainment will entertain the crowd with their dazzling basketball skills.
Helen Bearfield-Smith, Regional Fundraising Manager for Teenage Cancer Trust, said “We are really grateful to The Future Stars event for partnering with Teenage Cancer Trust for this tournament. It is great that the young players are supporting people of similar age and the money they raise will go towards helping young people diagnosed with cancer across the UK.”
Future Stars 2011 is organised by London United Basketball Club in conjunction with Harefield Academy.
Teenage Cancer Trust
01 May 2011
This year’s event will mark the start of Future Stars becoming an
official partner of Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity devoted to helping improve
the lives of young people with cancer. Teenage Cancer Trust will be a benefactor
of all profits generated by the event. We are particularly excited to announce
that one of the fundraising activities will be a celebrity game, which will
take place on Sunday 10th July when names from the world of sport and entertainment
will entertain the crowd with their dazzling basketball skills.
Come to watch the event to see some of the top young international basketball talent and support Teenage Cancer Trust.
Top International Teams Confirm
26 April 2011
This year’s International Tournament will boast for the first time participation from the US select team which will compete against an impressive line-up of top Under 18 European National teams including Slovenia, Netherlands, Sweden, England and also London United- Harefield Academy which will include representation of the top talent from the Greater London area.