Welsh basketball stars of the future will be on court on Wednesday when the finals of the Junior NBA Basketball Wales League take place at Aberystwyth University.
Adding prestige, the day will also feature a guest appearance by NBA European
ambassador and former WNBA player Anastasia Kostaki.
Launched in August 2021, by Basketball Wales and the Junior NBA, the league featured 32 schools across Wales who were linked to big name NBA teams after a draft day.
It meant schools such as Ysgol Penglais in Aberystwyth were carrying the colours of the successful Toronto Raptors, while Christ College were representing the mighty Golden State Warriors.
Following two conference days full of competitive basketball in North and South Wales, the final eight schools have emerged for finals day.
Ready to get underway here at @AberUni for the @jrnbawales @jrnba Finals Day.
All games will be streamed live over on YouTube https://t.co/CXJmfjQPp0 with commentary from the man himself @AtticusPead
— Basketball Wales | Pêl-Fasged Cymru (@BasketballWales) June 15, 2022
Representing the North Conference are:
- Ysgol David Hughes (San Antonio Spurs)
- Ysgol Penglais (Toronto Raptors)
- Ysgol Castell Alun (Boston Celtics)
- Myddelton College (Denver Nuggets)
Representing the South Conference:
- Cathays High School (Charlotte Hornets)
- Ysgol Dyffryn Aman (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- Christ College (Golden State Warriors)
- Chepstow School (Brooklyn Nets)
Jon Bunyan, Jr. NBA Wales Lead, said: “The Jr. NBA League in Wales has been a huge success. From the excitement of Draft Day to the fierce competition at the North and South Conferences and now Finals Day.
“Finals Day is the culmination of a lot of hard work from the players, teachers, and coaches. The working group who has spent months organising every aspect of the league to ensure that it runs smoothly. And all the volunteers, we couldn’t have done it without you!
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our other partner universities, Bangor University and Cardiff Metropolitan University as well as Sport Wales and Wilson Basketball for supporting us.
“Finally, a big thank you to the NBA for believing in our vision to bring the Jr. NBA to
Wales and we look forward to making it bigger and better next year.”
Kostaki is considered one of the top Greek women players of all time and was the first
Greek woman to play in the WNBA.
After tipping off her career in Greece with A.S. Akadimia 1975 and A.O. Asteras Exarcheia, she played in Italy, France and Russia before getting signed by the Houston Comets in 2006.
She is the third woman to become an NBA ambassador to Europe and has been a key member of the Greece Women’s National Team.