Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Art & Entertainment | Book Reviews | Education | Entertainment Video | Health | Lifestyle | Sport | Sport Video | Search

 

American Ballers Want Exposure to New Zealand Market


New Zealand’s biggest Pro-Am basketball competition has gone international with Australia set to compete at this year’s competition.

For the first time this year Australia will have a presence, sending across eight teams with representation in the U14 divisions, U16 divisions, U18 divisions and Women's Elite division.

“Having a large Australia presence this year means it will stimulate more interest for them to come back next year, bigger, better and stronger, meaning basketball skill growth for our own New Zealand players,” says Berridge.

“We’ve been working with two identities who have taken note of the opportunity that HoopNation gives athletes as a platform to enter the NZ NBL system” says Allen.

“Since the NBL opened to hosting three imports per franchise, the NZ NBL now looks more attractive to them”.

1380 athletes are set to descend upon Tauranga this Labour Weekend 19 – 22 October with over 389 games to be played over four days across nine venues in Tauranga.

The tournament was launched by Berridge and co-founder KJ Allen in 2011 in Whanganui with only 15 teams and has since grown to 143 teams.


QUICK FACT SHEET

HoopNation will be held Labour Weekend, 19 – 22 Oct at ASB Stadium in Tauranga.

144 teams have entered, 389 games of basketball will played over four days on 12 courts at five different venues in Tauranga .

The venues are ASB, QEYC, ACG, Aquinas College Tauranga, Mount Sports Centre.

HoopNation was started in 2011 by two friends Paul Berridge and KJ Allen based in Whanganui before moving the competition to Tauranga in 2015, it has since grown to 144 teams with scope for 200 teams in the future.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

More than 1380 athletes will compete at this year’s competition, the biggest HoopNation has ever held.

The HoopNation reputation has expanded through international markets with nine teams from Australia.

HoopNation have secured exclusive rights to manage a NZ invitational team to compete in China, at the $200K JUMP10 World Hoops Challenge a team which will be announced at the end of this year’s HoopNation competition.

Participation at secondary schools grew 11% in the last year alone, with a total of 25,649 students participating.

Basketball set to be the top played sport at secondary school by 2020.

ends


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Culture Headlines | Health Headlines | Education Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • CULTURE
  • HEALTH
  • EDUCATION
 
 
  • Wellington
  • Christchurch
  • Auckland
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.