2024 Adelaide Easter Classic Preview
It's one of the biggest tournaments on the basketball calendar and the 2024 edition of the Adelaide Easter Classic is set to be one of the biggest and best ever.
Adelaide will welcome over 560 junior basketball teams this weekend for the 2024 edition of the Easter Classic.
Organisers are expecting more than 18,000 participants and spectators in what is always an incredible festival and celebration of basketball.
Many players will also get the opportunity to ply their trade on the Adelaide 36ers Arena floor as it is one of the 14 venues across South Australia that will be used for the historic tournament.
To help you get up to speed with the teams and stars competing this year, here is the lowdown on the champ grade for both boys and girls in every age group.
Under 12 Champ Boys
Teams: Altona, North Adelaide, Bulleen, Sydney, Camberwell, Norths, Kilsyth, Norwood, Hawthorn, Woodville, Kingston, Sturt, Sandringham, West Adelaide, Waverley, Hornsby
Recent Winners: North Adelaide (2023), Kingston (2022)
Team to Watch: Sandringham
Undefeated so far in VC Watson in Victoria, Sandringham will be a top contender at the Easter Classic. They are the only team in the first three weeks of the VC season that are attending that haven’t lost a game.
Player to Watch: Chase Alofipo (North Adelaide)
The out-and-out leading scorer in South Australia’s state U12 competition, Chase Alofipo is averaging 19.7 points per game, which is three better than the next best in the same competition.
Ronak Sandhu (Bulleen) and Bailey Rowell (Nunawading) are two others to keep an eye on.
Under 12 Champ Girls
Teams: Forestville, Camberwell (2), North Adelaide, McKinnon, Nunawading, Norwood, West Adelaide, Kilsyth, Melbourne, Eastern Mavericks, Camberwell (1)
Recent Winners: Nunawading (2023), Kilsyth (2022)
Team to Watch: Nunawading
The reigning champions are back again and return with some serious recent form under their belt. In VC Ashes in Victoria, they have won their first three matchups by just under 30 points per game. Those wins have come against big clubs as well, knocking over Knox, Sandringham, and Frankston.
Player to Watch: Kiara Sikivou (Melbourne)
Melbourne’s Kiara Sikivou is averaging 19 points per game so far in VC Watson, and just over 16 per game across the entire season, grading included. She had back-to-back 20+ point games earlier in March and will be looking to help her team to victory with more big scoring displays.
Under 14 Champ Boys
Teams: Kingston, Sturt, McKinnon, Newcastle, Blackburn, Woodville, Sydney, Southern Tigers, North Adelaide, Norths, Melbourne, Knox, West Adelaide, Camberwell, Kilsyth, Norwood
Recent Winners: Eltham (2023), Kilsyth (2022)
Team to Watch: Norwood
Norwood is one of two undefeated teams in the top Under 14s JDL division but is the only one of those two attending the Adelaide Classic this weekend.
They are 7-0 and have won in a variety of ways, including an 86-point blowout and two victories by just a single basket. It’s that experience as a team that can help you in big tournaments like these.
Player to Watch: Jake Zeunert (Camberwell)
Tough and an elite scorer are high commodities at U14 level and Jake Zeunert ticks those boxes. He is averaging 20.8 points per game across the current season for Camberwell and also performed well at the Southern Cross Challenge in January, recording 13.3 points per outing for Vic Blue.
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Under 14 Champ Girls
Teams: Camberwell, Eastern Mavericks, Keilor, Woodville, McKinnon, Melbourne, Norwood, Forestville
Recent Winners: Kilsyth (2023), Norwood (2022)
Team to Watch: Melbourne
Reigning champions Kilsyth aren’t in town, which should open the door for a team like Melbourne. The Tigers are 3-0 in VC Ashe having already handled Knox, Nunawading and Gippsland. Should be a big threat for the title.
Player to Watch: Penny Douglass (Eastern Mavericks)
Averaging just a tick under 20 points per game so far in the JDL, Penny Douglass is the offensive leader for the Eastern Mavericks. She can knock shots from deep and also gets to the free-throw line at a good rate, will certainly be one to keep an eye on.
Under 16 Champ Boys
Teams: Camberwell (1), Bulleen, Norwood, Ringwood, Eltham, West Adelaide, McKinnon, Camberwell (2), Keilor (1), Keilor (2), Woodville, Sturt
Recent Winners: Knox (2023), Bulleen (2022)
Team to Watch: Camberwell (1)
One of two teams across the entirety of VC for U16 boys that have won every game so far in regular league play. The other is the wildly stacked Nunawading Spectres, who have five players who were named to the state team, so it’s good company.
Should be a top contender and have a role to play in the business end of the tournament.
Player to Watch: Jacob Bugler (Ringwood)
They may not have won a game in their VC division yet, but Ringwood has a serious player running its offence. Jacob Bugler is a great floor general, elite defender and can score the ball in a variety of ways. Through the first three games in VC Ashe, he is averaging 16 points per game and has been rewarded with a DP spot with the Youth Championship team at Ringwood.
Under 16 Champ Girls
Teams: Keilor, West Adelaide, Melbourne, Sturt, Camberwell, Norwood, Forestville, McKinnon
Recent Winners: Forestville (2023), Norwood (2022)
Team to Watch: Norwood
Winners in this division back in 2022, Norwood will be one of the top contenders in 2024. The Flames are undefeated in JDL so far this season, even recording a 115-point victory. Yes, you read that right.
There will be some quality coming from Victoria, but in their home state, Norwood will be tough to stop.
Player to Watch: Jayda Scarafilo (Keilor)
An emergency in the U16 Victorian Metro team, Jayda Scarafilo has been on an absolute tear.
Since the end of VJBL grading, Keilor have played three games. In those fixtures, Scarafilo has registered 30 points (vs Ballarat), 32 points (vs McKinnon), and 29 points (vs Waverley).
It’s a serious run of form that has her ready to fire for the Thunder in Adelaide.
Under 18 Champ Boys
Teams: Adelaide, Limestone Coast Academy, McKinnon, Southern Tigers, Lockdown Academy, Norwood, Camberwell, Kingston, Woodville
Recent Winners: Southern Tigers (2023), Central District (2022)
Team to Watch: Norwood
A tough division to decipher with such a wide variety of teams, but at home, Norwood should play a factor.
They’ve won four of seven games and contended well against the ladder-leading Forestville Eagles who aren’t taking part.
Player to Watch: Emre Fiske (Woodville)
One of our key players to watch in the National Junior Classic back in 2022, Emre Fiske has continued on his merry scoring ways.
He is averaging 25.1 points per game this season and has had some big games. Plays with a slightly off-beat tempo that makes him hard to guard and a handful for opposition teams.
Under 18 Champ Girls
Teams: Geelong, North Adelaide, Camberwell, Phantoms, McKinnon, Lockdown Academy, Norwood, West Adelaide
Recent Winners: Norwood (2023), Norwood (2022)
Team to Watch: McKinnon
Another mixed group of contenders, but McKinnon stands out as a big threat from Victoria. The Cougars are currently sitting third in VC Watson with a 2-1 record in the regular season.
Daisy Nousis is a star player, but they share the ball well and have plenty of contributors. It's always a key asset for any team wanting to win a tournament were depth is always tested.
Player to Watch: Daisy Nousis (McKinnon)
As mentioned earlier, Daisy Nousis is a crucial player for McKinnon and is averaging 13.75 points per game across all games so far this year. She’s had six games of 15+ points and will be hoping that consistency carries over the border to SA.
Under 21 Champ Boys
Teams: Camberwell, Papa Jax Baked Potatoes, Eastside, Sunshine Coast, Modbury, Lockdown Academy
Recent Winners: Adelaide (2023), Woodville (2022)
Team to Watch: Camberwell
Sitting tied at the top of the ladder in the early part of the U20s VJBL season, Camberwell looks to be one of the teams to beat.
Post-grading they’ve had two wins against strong clubs in the shape of Dandenong and Diamond Valley and now they have their eyes set on championship glory in the most senior boys division of the Easter Classic.
Player to Watch: Harrison Thomas (Camberwell)
A solid contributor in a strong team, Harrison Thomas is our player to watch in the Under 21 Champ Boys division.
He has scored 14+ points in half of Camberwell’s games so far this season across grading and the regular season. Thomas delivered big in the crucial VC Crossover game against Blackburn that helped the Dragons solidify their spot in the top division. He will be hoping he can turn up in the big games again over the long weekend.
Under 21 Champ Girls
Teams: Camberwell (1), Norwood, Kingston, Camberwell (2), Melbourne
Recent Winners: Melbourne (2023)
Team to Watch: Melbourne
Beware the reigning champions.
They aren’t even in VC, but the Tigers are still the team to watch in this competition. Ousted out of top-division contention in the crossover games, Melbourne will arrive with a real point to prove, especially considering there is a VC team in the mix.
They were winners last year and could surprise a few to go back-to-back.
Player to Watch: Chloe Kamberis (Melbourne)
Five games across grading and the regular season and Chloe Kamberis has been a real weapon for the Tigers.
She’s averaging 17.2 points per game, with her best performance coming in the form of a 25-point outing against the Sherbrooke Suns.
Will be a player at the top of opposition scouting reports across the weekend.