Melbourne United is excited to announce that the club has officially partnered with the Wyndham Basketball Association.<\/p>\n
Encompassing one of the largest growth corridors west of Melbourne, the partnership aims to continue growing the sport\u2019s already rapid development in the region.<\/p>\n
President of Wyndham Basketball, Nicole Casaccio, touched on their excitement to be partnering with United moving forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis opportunity is on the front doorstep of Wyndham community people and surrounding areas,\u201d Casaccio said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re talking about young athletes in Hoppers Crossing, Point Cook, Truganina, all throughout that growth corridor. We know we\u2019re the second largest growth corridor behind the city of Casey, and the area is still growing.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving our players be able to look at our program and say \u2018I’m learning the same stuff\u2029or very similar stuff to what NBL players are learning,\u2019 it\u2019s going to make them better. It’s going to make them want to be part of the program.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through the partnership, Wyndham Basketball will become part of the Melbourne United Basketball Academy (MUBA)<\/a> and the United for Her program<\/a>, both of which focus on helping young athletes get the best out of the sport.<\/p>\n MUBA Head Coach Nathan Crosswell said he can\u2019t wait to see what Wyndham\u2019s athletes are able to produce within the academy program.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving already seen major development from our current crop of academy athletes, bringing a new collection of talented basketball players into the fold is really exciting,\u201d Crosswell said.<\/p>\n \u201cOur program is going to give access to new development opportunities and really enhance the level in which they can improve their skills and play like a Melbourne United player.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ll be learning our style from a program designed by Melbourne United\u2019s coaches.\u201d<\/p>\n Wyndham Basketball General Manager Jason Kelly said working with United will go a long way in establishing a pathway for young athletes to reach their potential.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very exciting to be the first and currently the only association this side of the Westgate Bridge to form a relationship with Melbourne United,\u201d Kelly said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe see having the connection from grassroots to the absolute elite of Australian basketball as a great opportunity for exposure for Wyndham basketball as an entity, but also for our players and coaches to see that elite pathway and where basketball can take them.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to help the players be able to understand not just learning the skill sets and the fundamentals that involve being a better basketball player and to improve, but they\u2019ll be able to see the pathway.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s the old saying, if you can’t see, you can’t be it. Being involved in this will give them exposure to what Melbourne United have to offer in terms of that player skill and fundamental development, but also see what that pathway looks like, which they may not get to see normally.\u201d<\/p>\n