Loyola College’s basketball endeavours continue to rise, strengthened by outstanding engagement from our students and the growth of our exciting partnership with one of Australia’s premier sporting organisations, Melbourne United. We are proud to be a leading school for student‑athletes seeking high‑performance opportunities.
Our newly introduced Co‑curricular Basketball Development Program (open to students across Years 7-12) runs twice a week and is delivered in partnership with Melbourne United. Participation and demand has been overwhelmingly strong, with students arriving early each morning eager to train, learn and challenge themselves in a dynamic, high‑intensity environment. Under the guidance of Melbourne United’s Academy Coaching Staff, students are immersed in professionally structured sessions that mirror elite training standards.
These sessions emphasise core basketball fundamentals including ball handling, shooting, passing and defensive principles, while also incorporating small‑sided games to build decision‑making and game awareness. The result is a program that not only develops technical skill but also fosters confidence, competitiveness and enjoyment. Due to its popularity, the program now operates across both Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, offering even more students the opportunity to benefit.
Our partnership with Melbourne United has also expanded the calibre of coaching available to students. Melbourne United Academy Coaches Santo Fileccia and Sharna Ayres have joined the Loyola College coaching ranks, bringing with them extensive experience in high‑performance sport, athlete development and program leadership. Their expertise further strengthens our school's commitment to providing authentic, high-level learning experiences within both curriculum and co‑curricular contexts.
Current Loyola student-athletes are already seeing the impact of this partnership. Charlie (a member of our 2025 Basketball Academy) reflected on how observing Melbourne United centre Jesse Edwards transformed his understanding of leadership and movement on the court. Fellow student Grace noted that witnessing a professional training session highlighted the values of teamwork, communication and perseverance - qualities she now brings to her own game and schooling.
By partnering with Melbourne United, we’ve been able to increase exposure to elite basketball training and create opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible.
With strengthened programs, exceptional coaches and enthusiastic student involvement, Loyola College Basketball is undeniably on the rise and we look forward to continuing to expand these pathways and welcomes interest from students eager to pursue their basketball potential.
You can find out more about basketball at Loyola College by emailing basketball@loyola.vic.edu.au
