The City Of Leeds Basketball Academy is excited to confirm the group of young athletes that will join us at Allerton High School in September.
Following the news that our incoming class have secured outstanding GCSE results across the board yesterday, we are incredibly excited to confirm the list of young men that will join us at the City Of Leeds Basketball Academy at Allerton High school from September 2024.
Last season's successes saw the Academy regain their spot in CBL Tier 2 by winning CBL Tier 3 North, while an unbeaten season in the JnrNBL U18 Men's Conference took us as far as the playoffs. The aim this season will absolutely be to improve once more and regain our spot in the JnrNBL U18 Men's Premier Division.
Our commitment to maintaining the highest academic standards as an education-first academy means that applying for, being offered and then gaining a space at Allerton High's Sixth Form is an achievement to be proud of.
We are delighted to welcome this year's incoming class:
Asher Sibanda - Bruntcliffe Academy, Leeds
Casey Lennon - Roundhay School, Leeds
Callum Conroy - Ralph Thoresby School, Leeds
Daniel Mapfumo - Temple Moor High School, Leeds
Luca Pogoreanu - Allerton High School, Leeds
Maxym Sadlowsk - 1 LO Puszkin, Gorzow Wielkopolski, Poland
Musa Mayet - BBG Academy, Bradford
Noah Browne - Abbey Grange C of E Academy, Leeds
Theo Bradley - North Halifax Grammar School, Halifax
City Of Leeds Basketball Academy Director Matt Newby was proud to acknowledge the achievements and commitment of our incoming class:
"First and foremost, I want to say congratulations to our incoming cohort of Academy players on achieving the academic results needed to walk through the doors of Allerton High School. We have an exciting group joining our ranks this year and I’m excited to see them blend with an equally ambitious senior class. Our recruitment this year sees the commitment of a high number of COLBC players that have grown up within our pathway and a number of players from across West Yorkshire. The players this season will look forward to a higher level of competition following last year’s successful campaign and will be the beneficiary of not only a performance environment on court, but an outstanding offer in the classroom.
Our student-athletes are highly academic and will be looking to maximise their potential both on court and in the academic domain, with many aspiring to go to the next level both on home soil and abroad. As ever, we are thankful for the continued support of Allerton High School, in particular Elaine Silson, Headteacher and Grant Clynes, Head of Sixth Form.
Grant Clynes, Allerton High School Head of Sixth Form looked forward to another year of high-level opportunities for our incoming class:
"Allerton High Sixth Form is very proud to work closely with the COLBA. Students enjoy high quality coaching and competitive fixtures whilst being supported and challenged with their Post 16 studies. Students regularly enter into some of the most competitive Post 18 courses as a result of their time in the academy and the sixth form."
Speaking to our incoming class, we were delighted to get their thoughts on joining us at the City Of Leeds Basketball Academy.
Callum Conroy:
"I am very excited and grateful to be able to take my next steps to Allerton High School and the City Of Leeds Basketball Academy. I believe it is the right choice for me because of the many opportunities and pathway this school can give me in terms of academics and sports. I am eager to start at Allerton and meet new people."
Asher Sibanda:
"In the first taster session at COLBA, a lot of the work that we did really challenged me and that’s something I haven’t felt in a while, which is why I naturally gravitated towards COLBA. I feel like with coaching from Matt Newby and the other coaches I can come out a much better player."
Theo Bradley:
"I am excited to join Allerton High and the COLBA because of the opportunities that it will provide for me both on the court and in the classroom. I know that I'll have lots of coaches and teachers who are dedicated to helping me reach my goals."
Daniel Mapfumo:
"I’ve always wanted to join the City Of Leeds Basketball Academy because of the hard working culture of the school, both off the court and on the court and I feel this next step in my journey will lay the foundations for future success. I know that my teammates and all my coaches are dedicated to win and thats the energy I need when stepping on the court."
Casey Lennon:
"I’m excited to play basketball in a great environment and focus on my studies at the same time, while working with great teachers and coaches to help put me on the best path for my future."
Musa Mayet:
"I've always wanted a higher opportunity to challenge myself by playing basketball and combining that with a high-level offer academically. Allerton is a great community with the Coaches and players and they never miss a beat with allowing young people the opportunity to play, from the lower school through to the Sixth Form."
Maxym Sadlowski:
"When I had my first training session at Allerton, coach Matt and coach James made me feel really welcome. I also felt an immediate connection with the team. I was introduced to intensive training sessions which are different from the ones in Poland."
As we approach the start of the new season, the City Of Leeds Basketball Academy would like to encourage all prospective applicants of Allerton High Sixth Form to keep an eye out for news of our 2025/26 Open Day.
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