Greenwich Academy Basketball at The John Roan School

The Greenwich Basketball Academy is a unique partnership with Greenwich Titans Basketball Team which gives sixth form sudents access to elite level coaching, professional mentoring and access to local and national leagues.

Founded in 2016 with the aim of making basketball more accessible to young people aged between 16-19 in Greenwich, the John Roan Basketball Academy now boasts 3 teams, and will soon be launching a Girls Basketball Academy too.

Sixth Form students taking part benefit from:

• 27 on court practice time hours with a professional coach
• Free gym access with personalised gym plans
• Specialist basketball mentoring
• Access to the Greenwich University Scholarship Programme
• National League development pathway 
• Links to AAU competition
• USA development pathways support
• Access to elite level coaching and career development advice

The Coach

Courtney Van-Beest is an ex-professional basketball player who has been with the John Roan School since the Basketball Academy’s inception in 2017. During this time, he has helped to create pathways for boys aged 16-19 to further their education and basketball career. Coach Courtney’s basketball experience includes playing basketball in the United States, Europe and at top universities in the United Kingdom and with that experience hopes to be able to support young athletes on their journey. 

“Attending The John Roan Basketball Academy has been an amazing experience. The Academy has enabled me to build up my confidence on and off the court and prepare me for the next level of basketball which is at preparatory school and hopefully help me land a scholarship to a top US college in the near future. The John Roan is definitely the kind of environment that can help you improve if you’re ready to put the work in. The staff support us on our journey to becoming great students and athletes and this is evident both on court and off.”

Samuel - Basketball Academy student

2021 Basketball Academy Graduates

James received scholarship funding to study Biomedical Sciences at Saint Andrew’s prep school, US.

Faruq received a full scholarship to study at Western Canada Prep, Canada.

Tega received scholarship finding from the University of Durham (Russell Group university) and The University of Worcester.