Kyrie Irving

Born in Melbourne : Raised on Hoops.

There was talk that Kyrie would one day pull on the green and gold, however the fact that he was the standout on the USA B team before the London Olympics, all but ensures we will see him at the next Olympics proudly sporting red, white and blue.

Irving was a standout basketball player all 4 years of his high school career. As a freshman and sophomore at Montclair Kimberley Academy he averaged 26.5 points per game, 10.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 3.6 steals. After only two seasons Irving became the schools second 1,000 point scorer. In his final years of high school, Kyrie received national attention by being selected to play on the Junior National Select Team, as well as playing in the Nike Hoop Summit, the Jordan Brand All-American Classic, and the McDonald’s High School All-American game. Irving would complete his high school career with a gold medal in the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship.

Despite injuries shortening his season, Kyrie Irving’s stellar play in his 11 games at Duke University earned him the #1 overall selection in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. In his first NBA season he was almost unanimously named NBA Rookie of the Year (117 out of a possible 120 votes), and MVP of the Rookie All Star game (Rising Stars Challenge).

In his second season he was selected for the NBA All Star game, and he made his first appearance in the 3 point shoot-out competition, winning in convincing style. His average of 22.5 points and 5.9 assists with the Cavaliers in 2012-13, suggests he is a legitimate franchise player.

Kyrie was the youngest player to ever score 40 points in an NBA game, 1 year younger than when the great Michael Jordan did it!

Kyrie has talents off the court as demonstrated by his Uncle Drew commercials that he wrote, directed and starred in, for Pepsi Max.

Drederick Irving

Born in the Bronx : Raised on Hoops.

Drederick Irving is one of six siblings raised in the Mitchel housing projects of the South Bronx where he learned to play basketball the traditional New York way; on the pavements and in the parks.

A standout shooting guard at Stevenson High School, Irving earned a basketball scholarship to attend Boston University where he went on to become the schools all-time leading scorer with 1,931 points at 15.8ppg.

During each of his four years, Irving helped the Terriers advance to the North Atlantic Conference Championship game, including the 1988 season, when the club claimed the NAC title, and earned the school's third invitation to the NCAA Tournament.

A three-time All-NAC selection, Irving led the Terriers to a 23-8 mark during the 1987-88 season. Boston University entered the NAC Tournament seeded second, but dispatched of Canisius, Hartford, and Niagara to earn the school's second conference banner. Irving, who netted a three-game total of 53 points, was named to the All-Tournament team.

A Street and Smith's Honorable Mention All-American as a senior, Drederick Irving was additionally named to the Central Fidelity Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team in 1988, the Kentucky Invitational All-Tournament Team in 1987, and the Far West Classic All-Tournament Team in 1986.

After graduating from Boston University with an Economics degree, Irving was invited to join the Boston Celtics in their Free Agent Camp but didn't secure a roster spot.

In 1992, a call from fellow Boston University Alumni, Brett Brown (current NBA Assistant with the San Antonio Spurs and former Australian National Team Head Coach) who at the time had just secured his first Senior Head Coaching position in Australia with the Bulleen Boomers of the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL). Irving accepted a contract to play for Bulleen in the 1992 season where he dominated the league scoring at 30ppg.   

Simon Mitchell

Born in Melbourne : Raised on Hoops.

A former Junior National Player. member of 5 National Junior Championships and Melbourne Tigers NBL Squad member at 18 - Mitchell accepted a scholarship to attend College in the USA at University of Maine @ Presque Isle in 1992.

A four year starter (1992-1996), Team Captain (1994, 1995 & 1996), Team MVP (1995 & 1996), 2 x All-Conference, Honourable All-American and 1996 School Athlete of the Year, Mitchell was the engine that lead his Owls to their first and only top 20 National Ranking in 1995.

Persistent injuries lead to an early retirement from playing but Mitchell was immediately drawn into coaching.  

He was an NBL Championship Assistant Coach with the Melbourne Tigers (2008) as well as a two time winner of Coach of the Year in Big V Championship Men and Coach of the Year in SEABL Youth League Women.

Mitchell is a highly respected provider of Individual Skills Training for many NBL, SEABL and other senior players as well as a provider of coaching for Elite Junior Athletes.

He is currently the Head of Basketball Operations for Frankston & District Basketball. 

Fiona Hannan

Born in Perth : Raised on Hoops

Fiona Hannon was a state representative for her native WA as a junior before accepting a scholarship to attend the Australian Institure of Sport from 1985 to 1987. In her time at the AIS, Fiona went on to captain the Junior National team and become a member of the Australian Opals squad by the age of 17.

Hannan's pathway saw her accept a scolarship to attend Southwest Texas State University and was selected as a team member of the Australian World University Games in Zagreb.

In a professional career that spanned 18 years, Hannan represented the the AIS, Perth Breakers and Canberra Capitals in the WNBL before taking plying her trade in Europe where she accepted contracts to play in Spain and Austria.

Hannan was a member of the Australian Opals that won the bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Four years later, Hannan represented Australia at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney as a member of the Women's National Handball team.

Hannan now provides Elite Basketball Coaching in Queensland as performing Motivational Speeches at various corporate and charity functions. 

Kerryn Owens

Born in Melbourne : Raised on Hoops.

A former Junior National Player and a 10 year veteran of the WNBL with the Nunawading Spectres, Dandenong Rangers, Hobart Islanders, Canberra Capitals and Perth Breakers before accepting European contracts in the Netherlands (Celeritas Donar) and then Hungary (Szolnoki Mav Coop).

Kerryn's WNBL honours include Captaining the Canberra Capitals (1996, 97), Club Defensive Player of the Year (1995, 96, 97), Club Most Assists (1996), Most Steals (1996) and Club MVP (1995).

As a PE teacher, Kerryn specialises in working with youth and is active coaching in youth basketball teams as well as performing Individual Training for elite athletes.

Cameron Rigby

Born in Melbourne : Raised on Hoops.

Cameron Rigby built a reputation as one of Australian basketball’s toughest competitors over his long and storied career. At NBL level, Cameron represented West Sydney, Canberra, Hunter Valley and Wollongong, where he was a member of the Hawks Championship Runners-Up team.

At SEABL level, Cameron spent time with Ballarat, Mildura, Dandenong, Hobart and Knox, winning multiple awards including Grand Final MVPs in 2004 and 2005. 

A qualified personal traininer, Rigby specialises in the development of core strength and agility in young athletes where he has run many camps and clinics. Cameron is also a lecturer for company TLC Mentoring where he runs a Sports Leadership program.

Suzi Porter

Born in Melbourne : Raised on Hoops

A former Junior National, WNBL and SEABL player as well as a member of the Kasas Univeristy Jayhawks Womens Basketball Team.

In 2012, Porter took over as Coach of the Knox Raiders U14 Girls team and has helped has qualified for National Tournaments both years (2012 and 2013).