Wildcats Academy update with Director Keegan Crawford

The Wildcats Academy, run by Director and Wildcats Assistant Coach Keegan Crawford, was introduced to help identify the top basketball prospects in WA, Australia and New Zealand, while providing the environment and structure to help develop selected athletes into potential future players for the Wildcats.

“We had a really productive and great squad last year so the opportunity to add a couple of new kids with some graduating athletes was something that we really enjoyed,” Crawford said.

“There’s a lot of talented kids and it’s a really cool group that we’ve put together.

“Some really talented kids have missed out, but it’s also a really good sign to see some kids that have missed out previously get another opportunity and making it this year which is a testament to them and where we’ve come with the program.”

The squad, made up of emerging athletes from 14-19 years of age with an emphasis on local Indigenous and African juniors, will practice Tuesdays and Thursdays before school, while there will also be a strength-and-conditioning component in another taste of what life as a professional basketballer is like.

“We’ll have some team lifts and personal training sessions that they get to complete as part of their program,” Crawford said.

“It’s great that we get to use our resources at such a great club to help impact a lot of the kids that are coming through the pathways.”

Nine players in the 2024 Wildcats Academy squad represented Western Australia at the recent Under-18 National Championships, something that Crawford was proud to see.

“When you get some kids that get to represent their State for the first time and they were a part of our Academy, kids like Jongkuch (Mach), it’s really special to see,” Crawford said.

2024 Wildcats Academy squad: Lasiana Edgar, Luke Paul, Billy McRae, Cyril Mulot, Martin Nyaundi, Isaac Averill, Channing Olowoyo, Marley Sam, Edward Lual, D’ante Woods, Harrison Fitzgerald, Tom Snellgrove, Aaron Gashaw, John Aryang, Lowell Jude Christopher, Malieny Chob, Jhye Stoker, Kur Anyang, Luke Websdale Jr, James Dalton, Max Bucknell, Jongkuch Mach, Charlie Dimmock, Max Dimmock, Wieu Atuer, Timothy Ibukunolowa, Juma Chol Boir, Aaron Briggs