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THE YEAR 2023 SUMMARY

Year 2023 – A Remarkable Chapter in Our 4-Year Journey

As we bid farewell to 2023, a year etched in the annals of our club’s history, we reflect upon the incredible milestones that have made it arguably the most successful in our four-year journey.

National League Triumphs:
The year kicked off with resounding success as our U18 squad secured a coveted spot in the National Cup final after a fierce battle against Milton Keynes. Facing the London Legends in a thrilling final played in Manchester, our boys emerged victorious, clinching the title of National Champions. Simultaneously, our Division 2 side, under the guidance of Coach Daniel Szatkowski, achieved promotion to Basketball England’s top tier – Division 1.

Our talented junior teams continued the winning streak, with two squads making it to the Final Four event in Manchester. The U14s and U18s showcased their prowess, promising a formidable future for our club.

In the realm of girls’ basketball, our debut season in the National League saw our young squad earning promotion to the U16 South Premier League, marking a monumental achievement for our girls’ side.

EYBL Campaign:
Our foray into the European Youth Basketball League (EYBL) was nothing short of spectacular. The U20 team, under the strategic leadership of Oskar Striuga, embarked on a journey to Levice, Slovakia. The team exhibited commendable resilience against top-tier opponents, ultimately securing a remarkable 7th-place finish.

On the other side of the spectrum, our U13 squad, masterfully guided by Coach M. McKelvey, ventured to Budapest, Hungary. Displaying an upward trajectory in skill and passion, our young players faced off against formidable teams from across Europe. With standout performances from L. Bowman, D. Onuoha, and Z. Milovidov, the unthinkable was achieved – the U13 EYBL CHAMPIONSHIP! This triumph not only resonates within our club but also echoes across the European basketball community, marking a historic milestone for our organization.

Individual Achievements:
Our commitment to player development was further exemplified by numerous call-ups to represent London and the UK. Standout players such as Kaya Birsen, Ata Charles,E. Ahamefule, S. Emanelo, L. Campbell, and N. Djanogly earned spots in various national teams during the Euro Campaign 2023.

As the summer unfolded, our players garnered attention from programs worldwide, receiving offers from renowned institutions such as Jefferson College ( Devonte Sanusi), Adam’s University Philippines ( RJ SanDiego), Florida Coastal Prep ( Elise Guede), LA Sierra ( Jonah Bediako), Western Texas ( Liam Campbell), Strength and Motion Prep ( Hunter Kelleher), and Brewster Academy ( Nathaniel Djanogly).

A Glimpse into 2024:
As we celebrate the successes of 2023, we eagerly anticipate an even more remarkable 2024. The foundation has been set, and with unwavering dedication, we are poised for greater achievements, both on and off the court.

Cheers to a stellar 2023, and here’s to an even brighter 2024!

Here we come

In an exhilarating season of hard work, dedication, and sheer talent, the London Elite Basketball Club has achieved a remarkable feat: promotion to the prestigious NBL Division 1. The club’s success can be attributed to the exceptional efforts of last year’s squad, whose relentless determination secured their place in the top division. As the club celebrates this historic milestone, it is worth acknowledging the positive impact this achievement will have on the community, as well as the promising opportunities it presents for aspiring young players and devoted fans.

The promotion of London Elite Basketball Club to NBL Division 1 signifies a new chapter in the club’s history, one that promises exciting challenges and opportunities. This achievement will undoubtedly inspire young players throughout London and beyond, igniting their passion for basketball and encouraging them to dream big. Aspiring athletes will now have a club within their reach, a platform where they can showcase their skills and strive for greatness.

London Elite Basketball Club’s promotion to NBL Division 1 is not only a cause for celebration within the club but also for the entire community. The success of the club will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the local area, fostering a sense of pride and unity. As the team competes against the country’s finest basketball clubs, it will attract larger audiences, creating a vibrant atmosphere that will energize fans and inspire young spectators.

The competition organised by kit king and BE will be a good first test for our program as we dive into division one competition.

The competition will again be organised by NBL1 Men’s clubs in partnership with naming rights holder Kitking.co.uk and BE.
It will see all 14 NBL1 clubs, plus a pair of invited Division Two sides, competing in four regional groups of four. Our first team will face Thames Valley Cavalier, Hemel Storm (last year winner) and Essex Rebels. Tickets will be available soon.

Tim Brown, former BE Board member and chair of the Men’s Division One group, said:
“I would like to thank KitKing.co.uk for their ongoing support as we push the competition from strength-to-strength.
“The D1 men’s clubs are continuing to grow and move the league forward as a group with Basketball England’s support, making this an exciting time for both the sport and the Trophy itself.”

The promotion of London Elite Basketball Club to NBL Division 1 is a momentous achievement that deserves to be celebrated. The success of last year’s squad has laid a solid foundation for the club’s future, raising aspirations and providing exciting opportunities for young players and fans alike. As the club embarks on its journey in the top division, we eagerly anticipate the thrilling challenges that lie ahead while recognizing the positive impact it will have on the community. The London Elite Basketball Club has truly become a symbol of excellence, unity, and inspiration for basketball enthusiasts everywhere.

With season coming soon, we will be announcing coaching staff, new signing and sponsors through out month of August. Look out this space for amazing news about your Division 1 team.

U20 EYBL SuperFinal

Last weekend the hard work displayed by our U20 Team all season, culminated in their appearance on one of Europe’s biggest stages – the SuperFinal of the European Youth Basketball League (EYBL).  The SuperFinal matches the best Teams from the EYBL regular season, for a final showdown in Levice Slovakia. U20 Head Coach Daniel Szatkowski had assembled an exciting squad drawn from our high-flying U-18 Team, alongside returning Elite alumni who had completed their seasons in Europe and the USA.

Game 1 saw the Team fall to Italy’s renowned College Basket Prep programme, who provided a shooting masterclass in the first half. Our boys staged a brave comeback to bring the game within 3 points, but the Rome Team’s experience ultimately proved too much. Nevertheless, confidence remained high as five players hit double digits in the game: Oscar Striuga (19 points), Anthony Wilson (16 points), Odaine Beckford (12 points, 10 rebounds), Josh Gentry (11 points, 8 rebounds), Seb Emanalo (12 points, 4 steals), and Alex Wildish (9 points).

Game 2 was a real battle against the experienced Budapest Honved who displayed their shooting prowess early on. This presented an uphill battle for our boys who once again staged a hard-fought comeback that fell just short of the win. Despite the result, an outstanding performance by U17 player and GB U18 hopeful, Seb Emanalo (game-high 25 points), kept spirits high. Oscar Striuga and Odaine Beckford also impressed with 14 points each.

Game 3 was a particularly exciting prospect as our boys squared up against the Romanian National Champions, Dinamo Bucharest.  The Team was buoyed by the late arrival of ‘The Twins’, Tyler and John Fairbrain, who had remained in London due to exam commitments.  They didn’t disappoint, with Tyler adding 12 points and 9 rebounds, and John contributing 15 points. The Team executed an extremely well-rounded performance, with Anthony Wilson and Oscar Striuga adding 20 points each, and Odaine Beckford contributing 13 points.

A fantastic way for London Elite to end the Tournament – beating the Romanian Champions and finishing the EYBL season in 8th place (64 Clubs competed, representing some of the most established and respected basketball programmes in Europe). Special mention goes to Oskar Striuga, our young Lithuanian Guard who was named Team MVP for the tournament after a series of inspirational performances.

Head Coach Daniel Szatkowski said: ‘It is unbelievably exciting to see how well our Club has competed against the top basketball programs at EYBL U20. We left Slovakia with our heads held high, and full of excitement for the season ahead.  This is an extremely talented squad, and all the boys are thankfully eligible for next season. As always, we will re-evaluate, learn lessons, and seek to improve as we prepare for 2023/24. In the meantime, we take a moment to reflect – overall 8th in such a prestigious competition is another huge achievement in a monumental season for London Elite Basketball Club.

A huge thank you to the EYBL for managing the league so professionally, it plays an important role in showcasing European programmes and produces highly entertaining basketball!’

Look out on our social media channels for more U20 plans – big things to come!

National League season recap

Long awaited, Elite’s first National League season has come to the end. It is truly hard to believe this was a premiere season for us. The whole program success stands as a testimony that the hard work at club foundations pays off. Freezing period during lockdown, gave us time to create strategy how to approach season 21/22 in a best possible way. Along with excitement which was high since , multiple teams were heading towards their first ever season at national league level we coudln’t await the moment of start. Few months later , we come out of very successful Summer 2021 where we collected RBL and CBL championship titles!

U12 Review: Unbelievable Journey.

September 21′ brought lots of questions for our youngest members . Most of players from last year have moved up to U14, some moved from the west London area. This made us think if we should push with the project or simply pull out of National league. At times with less then 5 players in training, it became a challenge and test for us as an organisation. Now looking back we can say that It would have been a massive mistake to pull this team out of NL . Our youngest squad Led by Quinton McKelvey picked couple very talented players on the way and finished 2nd place in league! Journey and testimony for all players and parents involved was indescribable. Currently the future is bright!

Highlights of the year: 2OT win vs Talented Kingston Lions team.https://www.instagram.com/tv/CaM9E0lpAp8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

U14 review: Goals Achieved!

As previously, the stem of the team results lays in our talented players led by young guard Kaya Birsen. Yet again Kaya didn’t disappoint the U14 Elite fans and brought us joy and plenty of great memories with his amazing game. The journey of our young players’ development leads to one conclusion; the coaching and quality structure which London elite offers is the root for our success. Upcoming talents Sam Scott and Aron Okenge will be players to look out for in near future. Our U14 NBL team finished season with record 14-2, claimed the South IV conference championship title and secured a promotion to Premier level of competition next year!

Check out highlights from a key victory this season:(22) London United vs London Elite (NBL U14 Boys 2021/22 Game 2 Highlights) – YouTube

U16I Review: Mission Completed.

After very successful recruiting summer 21′. Our expectations grew big on our upcoming u16 squad. It did not take us long to enter this talented squad into prestigious EYBL. Season started with multiple wins Coach Mauro DiNunzio had lots to look forward to. His troops improved with each week of fixtures and claimed South II conference title behind fantastic 19-1 record! After regular season was finished, Our boys entered promotion play offs where in first round we faced Milton Keynes. Convincing win (79-54) came behind great defensive performance, our squad sealed final where We faced Woking Blackhawks away. As it was last game of the season, our boys came out firing and claimed a Promotion to Western Premier competition with convincing 106-78 victory!

U16II review: Purpose Fulfilled

With numbers constantly going up, we had more then 12 players showing talent good enough for playing at NL level. With placement of U16II into NL, we have invested resources and time which was very beneficial investment for our club . The evident progress made by our team which was mainly year 10 players was really impressive. Team members proved that they deserve to be on A team in upcoming season. Hard work from coach Kieran resulted in team coming to nearly 500 record as they ended up 8-12 in whole campaign! Well done!

U18I Review: Bright Future

After successful summer 21 and securing multiple players with scholarships in USA, We knew that upcoming season will be a tough test. With 90% squad being in first year it suppose to be a learning curve. But it was more then that. Our talented troops led by Oskar Striuga, Anthony Wilson and David Jesubayode, have proven that they are capable of beating any team in their league. Our team came 2nd out 10 and have proven to be a force to look out to in coming season. Eligible players from that squad formed our U17 EYBL team which was capable of sweeping stage in Romania. We can clearly see that right foundation have been laid for next 12 months.

U18II Review: Progress Made.

Do not sleep on this team. Formed with multiple talented U17 players, with whom many travelled with our U17’s team across Europe. It was a big headache in offseason how to classify which player goes to A or B. But we are glad that many players who started off on our second team are now considered strong candidates for our first team in upcoming season. great work by coach Daniel and coach Kieran.

Men’s Review: Undefeated Squad.

There was only one goal for this team. Knowing how much talent, experience and skills we have acquired in last summer, goal could be one. Winning our division 3 league. And team led by coach Sam Stiller did it in perfect way. Going undefeated in whole season shows that there is pure potential is in our men’s section. But best part of it: it is just a beginning! Look out for exciting news coming up in this summer!

Our GM Daniel Szatkowski said: “First ever National League season was a true accomplishment for our program. We have achieved what we set out as a goal. Promotion of 3 out of 4 teams is remarkable achievement. We still have to remember that despite high ambitious, this was our first ever NL campaign. With more fantastic excitement coming to our home, Capital City Academy, we can say one thing. Season 22/23 cannot come any sooner!”

History in the making

4 games. 4 wins. 0 losses. Our U17 squad made history as the first London Elite team to go undefeated at the EYBL stage.

The first stage of the U17 campaign took place in mid-November in Sopron, Hungary. It was the first international tournament for our squad and results did not go the way players wanted, eventually finishing with a 1-3 record. However, the response to these frustrating results could be any better. Countless hours of hard work boys put in helped the team in areas progress was needed.

2nd stage of group A of U17 EYBL was held in the capital of Romania, Bucharest. The first game on Thursday evening saw our team getting first Win against home team Stiinta Bucharest II and provided an opportunity to provide good minutes to every player on the roster. 12 hours later, on Friday early afternoon our Boys versed Moldavian team Admirals Chisinau. the eastern European team has put our boys through a good test however our team continued their good form into game 2 and claimed the second win of the tournament.

3rd game of the tournament gave our boys a chance to face again Turkish side Suadiye which we lost to at stage 1. A game that went back and forth saw our team seal 3rd win of the tournament 71-62 behind 20 points from D.Jesubayode.

The last game of stage 2 provided our team with the toughest test. Facing tough Italian team Kouros Napoli. Led by legendary Italian coach Antonio Petillo. The game started in our favor, with a strong 10 point lead at Half time. However, adjusted defense by the Italian side caused our team to change the style of the game and as a result, Napoli took a 1 point lead halfway through 4th. However, T. Istrefi and A.Wilson’s strong and1 plays secured our side 55-51 win.

This type of performance would not be possible without individual contributions from our talented players. Anthony Wilson was named team MVP. Anthony recorded 11.25 points per game, 9.6 rebounds on efficiency 13.9 per game.

David Jesubayode received a nomination for prestigious All-Star 5 of the tournament behind 14 points per game, 7.5 rebounds, and 3 assists. We cannot miss the contribution from young Conor James who recorded 11.25 points per game.

Our young squad has finished in respected 3rd position out of 11 teams competing in group A of European Youth Basketball League. What an achievement!

Our young squad will look to continue their great performance upon return in UK with last part of National League nad CBL is just ahead.

Against all odds.

“You have to achieve certain skills, enrol and attend specific basketball programme with exclusive USA programme connections, then follow the patent and recommended pathway to have a slight chance to make it to USA” They say.

But maybe not necessary? Maybe there is other way around, alternative pathway focused on your talent properly staged for others to see and as a result of your hard work and dedication .Not connections. Your hard work pays off and not necessary you are designed to bang your head against the wall.

Following this little introduction I am thrilled to announce that Stephen Ovia from London Elite team has landed full sport scholarship to attend Phelps Prep school in Philadelphia in upcoming season.

The Phelps’s School is located in Malvern, PA, a western suburb of Philadelphia. The Phelp’s Lions basketball program plays a highly competitive schedule against the best competition throughout the north east coast. Several Phelps
alumni have gone on to play college basketball at prestigious universities such as the University of Connecticut, Penn State, Temple, Drexel and Seton Hall. The Lion’s play pre-conference tournaments and exposure events throughout the season. Phelps is a member of the highly competitive Great Atlantic Conference (GAC) and the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools end of season tournament (PAISAA)

“We can not wait to get Stephen on campus. His athleticism and multi-faceted skill set will add tremendous
value to our program. A player of Stephen’s calibre will bring excitement to our upcoming season” – said Phelps School Head Coach John Harmatu

Stephen joined our program with background from West Hearts Warriors in summer 2019. Regardless long period of lockdown , which did not help in any basketball player career , against all odds Stephen prove that he can outwork everyone.

Despite missing out on EYBL experience, Stephen has made most of all London Elite provision in domestic competitions. Our club compensated lack of national League competition with great number of friendly games.

In season 2020/21 we have played over 40 games across RBL, CBL and friendly games. Stephen on many occasions contributed over 30 points with 15 rebounds alongside. His role was crucial in our clubs sweeping all competitions and being crowned RBL and CBL champions.

His outstanding performance saw him being selected for prestigious event Hoopsfix All Star Classic where he ended up 3rd top scorer.

We had a chance to catch up with Stephen before his flight to Philadelphia:

1)What made you join London Elite?

“I joined London Elite because I liked what the program had to offer and saw it as an opportunity to improve my skills by being in an environment where I can practice every day”

2)What did you learn during the stay with us?

“I would say the main thing I learnt during time in London Elite was how to be versatile and adaptable to different situations. I was able to get a feel of different positions on the a court. I realised that this taught me how to be more effective and not so one-dimensional”

3) What impressed you most with our program?

“What impressed me was the way the team was able to gel quickly in such a short period of time, players and coaches. We worked hard as a team and coaches were constantly pushing us. We also were constantly pushing ourselves which helped us work cohesively to achieve our common goal”

4) What advise would you give to players following your pathway?

“Make sure you keep you head down and focus. Both on and off the court. Listen to coaches and utilise every opportunity you have to improve. Coaches go out of their way to do extra early morning sessions and even during the day so make sure you make the most of them”

We would like to say big thank you Stephen for all effort you did in helping us achieve our goals . We are truly proud of your progress and achievement. We will be looking out for your further career overseas.

Wheels Up Mr Beckford

“It could not be otherwise” ..”

“We couldn’t see any other way forward”

This coudln’t happen to a more deserving guy”

Odaine “Mr Everything” Beckford has landed full sports scholarship to Panther Hoops Basketball located in Western Vancouver, Canada. Odaine with his new program will play in majority USA tournament. Panthers will play in approximately 65-80 games from August to April. They will play in two circuits The National Platinum Circuit and the Academy West Circuit in the US. Along with this they will also play US Junior Colleges and other major tournaments.

This does not come as any surprise. Odaine was one of most entertaining players that came through our program. Not only his defensive skills were impressive but ability to dunk in different ways made him player bringing crowd off their seats at Capital City Academy.

His arrival in summer 2020 changed dynamics of our Elite U18 team. With Odaines positive influence boys swept all competitions in London being crowned champions of Revolution Basketball League and Community Basketball League. Despite being younger, Odaine never backed down and in many games led our squad to victories.

Coach Kieran Matthews said: “Odaine is a great player and even better leader and player. I’m really proud of him and how much he’s developed over the year. He has such a high sealing and I think panther hoops will be a great fit for him, the opportunity to play in high profile events and with a very promising staff and group of players will no doubt aid Odaine’s development into a great player. We’ll be watching closely and supporting him over the upcoming years”

We had a chance to sit with Odaine and ask him couple question.

  1. What made you join London Elite program?

-I joined Elite because I saw an opportunity to create something never seen before, a newly founded programme with unmatched potential and skill that could take the country by force and shock the ball community.

2. What did you learn while being with Elite?

-I learnt the importance of situational circumstances such as late game situations, I solidified my reading and reacting ability which was well helped by the way we communicated as a team, team bonding was key in our success. My shot was a weak part at the start of the season, but I got it down and ended the season able to shoot the ball well enough to go to the next level thanks to the early morning sessions with continuous reps.

3. What else impressed you during your stay?

Elite put me on a platform with Nationwide competition which allowed me to thrive and show my ability to everyone else. Although coronavirus held us back, Elite was still able to give me a stage to shine on and get global recognition.

The camaraderie at Elite is unlike any other school I had came across before, there is a sense of brotherhood and welcoming love on court, off court and in the classroom; where we all pushed and helped each other reach our goals as well as being pushed by our coaches.

4. If you could recommend anyone our program, what would you say?

-Elites best thing is utilising everything around them to make you succeed and that’s what got me to where I am now. Although we did win 2 minor championships, rather than any big time championships such as the National League, Elite still succeeded in all aspects of competition and allowed me to prove a point to the nation. The CBL allowed elite to thrive with me and my peers and rebranded itself into a league which could possibly open its horizons even further, as we succeeded they did, as well as the newly begun RBL which got the programme and me myself to where we are to prove our worth.

We would like to say one and massive Thank you Odaine , for helping us lift first championship as club, for becoming one of our family members, for all effort put into our program, for trust placed in the club, passion and thrive to achieve the impossible, and example you imprinted in us by your hard work , perseverance in challanges which lead you in achieving this goal. We will be actively looking out for your progress Mr.Evertyhing.

Elite pathway always was and will be established on developing every player to reach their true potential , create right and individual platform for them to shine and show their true potential not in short perspective but in further career. . We lay the foundations for every player to progress with individual training programme, outlining areas of improvement and searching for future career opportunities within Europe and US programmes. We aim to find the right basketball and educational programme, which will tick all the boxes. At the same time its important to negotiate the right amount scholarship to cover daily needs of a student/ player. Elite works with only with reputable Basketball programmes and Universities.

Where future stars now…

Having announced details for Mens and U18’s it is right time to reveal details of upcoming U16’s season!

After very promising first year at CBL, our squads are moving to National League for domestic competition. Since the day one we saw a big increase in numbers for our U16 age group. We have started with 12 boys, just before lockdown, and now we have 37 players registered. We did enter 2 squads in CBL which turned to be very competitive league with great exposure. With such a great interest and need for basketball we can confirm that in season 2020/21 we will enter 2 teams into National League and 1 into CBL. Additionally, best players will represent London Elite in EYBL which shows exactly the philosophy of the club: Play against the best as often as it is possible!

In Season 20/21 one of squad’s National league level teams will train and play at Alec Reed Academy while other team will be based at Capital City Academy. As this was widely discussed at coaches meeting, we decided to spread this age group locations. Our GM Daniel Szatkowski said:”The Interest in playing for our club has grown so rapidly to the point that we currently face one issue: how to create more squads? Furthermore,the decision of teams playing at different venues will wider catchment area and allow various kids to join us and compete at European level.”

We are in the process of recruiting for Head coach position for Alec Reed branch, so few candidates are being considered, while we can confirm that Coach Mauri Di Nunzio will take our Italian coach had to say:

“As a new team, my goal is to create a competitive and solid group mainly focusing on the personal skill set and team chemistry. As first season together, we will try to compete as high as possible to give the kids the necessary experience to achieve goals.

All squads will have regular 2-3 training sessions a week, what is more they will benefit from access to our Osteopath Adam. Social media service run by Ivan Grotsev would make sure their best performance moments are recorded and shared, while most talented kids will play up with U18’s.

In respect of quarantine restrictions , we can confirm that we will be running trials on 1 to 1 basis, following government social distancing measures. Please check details below: