Summit Elevate Development Program

Take your game to the next level with our 10-week development program, designed for committed players looking to build confidence, improve their skills, and perform in a competitive, challenging environment.

Each session focuses on a key area of the game, including:

Ball Control

Shooting Fundamentals

Defensive Intensity

Transition Decision-Making

Every participant will receive their own Summit Elevate Development Booklet to help maximise their improvement. The booklet includes:

Individual skill tracking

Weekly reflections

Goal setting

Progress monitoring

Take-home drills to continue developing between sessions

Program Dates

Wednesday Morning Program

10-week program

Commences: Wednesday 22 July

Time: 6:30am – 7:30am

Venue: Ray Owen Sports Centre

Saturday Program

7-week program

Commences: Saturday 15 August

Venue: St Brigid’s College

Perfect Timing for State Championships & WABL Trials

Strategically scheduled in the lead-up to the upcoming State Championships and WABL trials, Summit Elevate provides the perfect opportunity for players to sharpen their skills, improve their basketball IQ, and build confidence before representative selections begin.

Whether your goal is to make a State Championships team, earn a WABL spot, or simply elevate your game, this program is designed to help you arrive at trials prepared, confident, and ready to perform.

Summit Elite Academy

Reach Your Summit | Commencing Term 4

The Eastern Suns Summit Elite Academy is a new high-performance development program designed for ambitious young basketballers who are committed to taking their game to the next level.

Commencing in Term 4, the eight-week program will provide a select group of athletes with an intensive development experience that combines high-level basketball coaching, strength and conditioning, athlete education, performance testing and exposure to the Eastern Suns’ NBL1 environment.

The Academy will cater for athletes from Under 16 through to D-League, with places limited to 10 girls and 10 boys.

This is not simply additional basketball training. Summit Elite Academy is designed to give athletes an understanding of what it takes to perform, train and develop in a high-performance environment.

A Selective Program

Places in the inaugural Summit Elite Academy will be invitation only.

Athletes will be identified through coach nominations, scouting and observation by the Eastern Suns basketball department. Selection will consider more than a player’s current level of performance.

We are looking for athletes who demonstrate:

• Coachability
• Positive attitude
• Basketball IQ
• Performance and attendance
• Potential
• Athleticism
• Commitment to high performance

The goal is to identify athletes who have both the ability and the mindset to continue developing. As the Academy grows, the program will transition towards a broader nomination and trial process, creating an ongoing talent identification pathway within the Eastern Suns program.

What Athletes Receive

Over the program, athletes will receive twice weekly high-performance development sessions, combining on-court and off-court development.

The Academy will provide:

• Small-group coaching, with approximately one coach per five athletes
• High-level individual skill development
• Strength and conditioning
• Individual athlete assessment and performance testing
• Basketball IQ and decision-making development
• Athlete education around recovery, nutrition and performance
• Access to guest NBL1 players and coaches
• Opportunities to experience the NBL1 environment
• An Academy training top
• An end-of-program athlete review

The program is designed to complement an athlete’s existing WABL or club commitments rather than replace them.

More Than On-Court Training

A key point of difference for Summit Elite Academy is the focus on developing the complete athlete.

Athletes will have access to education and experiences from professionals working across high-performance sport, including areas such as recovery, nutrition, strength and conditioning, mental performance and athlete preparation.

The Academy will also look to integrate Eastern Suns NBL1 players and coaches into the program, giving young athletes the opportunity to learn directly from players who are competing at the highest level within the club.

The Eastern Suns Pathway

Summit Elite Academy is an important part of the Eastern Suns’ long-term player development pathway.

The vision is to create a clear progression from junior basketball through to WABL, NBL1 and beyond, while developing athletes who understand the standards, habits and expectations required at each level.

As the program develops, Academy athletes will have opportunities to experience NBL1 pre-season environments and potentially participate in representative opportunities and tournaments.

The long-term goal is to build a sustainable pathway that supports athletes to progress within the Eastern Suns program while also attracting ambitious young athletes to the club.

Reach Your Summit

Summit Elite Academy is built around a simple philosophy:

Don’t just play the game. Learn what it takes to reach the next level.

Whether an athlete’s goal is WABL, NBL1, State representation, college basketball or simply becoming the best player they can be, Summit Elite Academy aims to provide the environment, coaching and experiences to help them get there.

20 athletes. One high-performance environment. A pathway to the next level.

Summit Elite Academy

Nominations are Now Open.

For further information please email mia.valk@sunsbasketball.com.au