Wildcats Academy NAIDOC Week Showcase

On Monday 14 July, Bendat Basketball Centre will come alive with the NAIDOC Week carnival, run by Basketball WA in partnership with BINAR Futures. As part of the celebrations, the Wildcats Academy will hit the court for an exhibition game against BINAR Futures, showcasing some of Western Australia’s brightest young basketball talent.

The schedule for the day at Bendat Basketball Centre includes the Opening Ceremony at 9.00am, Warm Up at 10.15am, and Tip Off at 11.00am.

“BINAR Futures do a fantastic job and they’re a great partner of ours,” said Wildcats Assistant Coach and Academy Director Keegan Crawford. “They help us identify a lot of Indigenous talent who we bring into our program. It’s a great way to kickstart the week with so many teams involved in the tournament. We’ll be playing an exhibition game after the opening ceremony.”

Adding extra intrigue to the matchup, four current Academy players will be suiting up for BINAR Futures against their Academy teammates, promising plenty of friendly rivalry on court. Among the talented group are Aaron Briggs, well-known for his social media persona “Cooking with Briggs,” Marley Sam, a standout in NBL1, Lasi Edgar, who has been involved in national Indigenous pathways, along with Dante Woods, and James Dalton.

“There will definitely be some pride on the line,” Crawford said. “They talk a bit of smack at our early morning sessions, and I’m sure Marley will yell something at me during the game. It just shows the competitiveness and fire we try to build at 6am practices.”

Crawford describes leading the Academy as one of the most rewarding parts of his job.

“Being part of the Wildcats is a dream, and the Academy in the off-season is a really engaging project for me,” he said. “My career started in youth development, so it’s special to go back to where my roots are and help expose these kids to professional resources and opportunities.”

The Wildcats Academy benefits greatly from the support of Rio Tinto, which provides resources such as training courts, uniforms, food, and access to professional facilities. This support allows the program to be completely free for the young athletes involved.

“We are really lucky to have Rio Tinto as a partner because they supply everything the kids need. The program is free because of their support, and that makes a huge difference,” Crawford said.

For aspiring young athletes, the Wildcats Academy represents a clear pathway to high-level basketball and potentially professional opportunities in the future. Crawford said the program is selective, with coaches like Head Coach John Rillie regularly scouting junior competitions throughout the year. Invitations for next year’s Academy trials will be sent out through clubs and partner organisations once the next off-season begins.

Fans are encouraged to get down to Bendat on Monday to watch some of WA’s emerging talent and celebrate NAIDOC Week with the Wildcats family.

“We want these kids to know what it’s like to be part of a professional environment,” Crawford said. “Some of them dream of playing for the Wildcats, and others have their eyes set on the NBA. We’re here to help them with basketball and with life.”

Come and join the celebration, and see the future of WA basketball in action.