Academy Basketball

Academy basketball offers our U18s the chance to test themselves against the very best in the country. Michael Anumba, Gina Brierley, Kayem Cleary and Aaron Menzies are just a few of the star names who have played in the EABL (Elite Academy Basketball League) and WEABL (Women’s Elite Academy Basketball League).

The club used to compete in the EABL and WEABL as Loreto Basketball Academy. Following a restructure in 2018, we now play as the Manchester Magic Academy and Manchester Mystics Academy. Both teams reached the play-offs in 2019/20.

The Magic and Mystics still retain strong links with Loreto Sixth Form College, one of the finest academic institutions in the North West of England, but we have also established partnerships with other secondary schools across Greater Manchester, including Trinity Church of England High School and Sixth Form and Manchester College.

For players with aspirations of playing representative basketball or with dreams of winning a place at a college in the USA, playing academy basketball can help.

Not only does their development benefit from competing against other top players, all EABL and WEABL games are filmed and broken down so players can compile highlight reels. They also get access to strength and conditioning sessions, directed by MMU staff at their facility.

Peter Paraskeva is in charge of the EABL and Robert Fairely is in charge of the WEABL Academy teams.