Aspire 5v5 All-Star Tournament expansion brings in Scotland & Wales
The Aspire 5v5 All-Star Tournament will have a new format in 2026 - with Scotland and Wales joining the annual Basketball England Talent Pathway showpiece.
Taking place again at the National Basketball Performance Centre, Manchester on 10-12 July, the three-day festival of basketball is the culmination of the Aspire Programme’s activity for the season.
Aimed at developing 11-15-year-olds, Aspire operates at regional and super-regional level before teams are selected to represent the North, South, Central and London Super Regions at the All-Star weekend.
Joining them for the U15 category this season will be the national teams of Scotland and Wales, as the Home Country Associations work collaboratively to strengthen development opportunities and provide broader competitive experiences for young talented athletes.
Steve Bucknall, Basketball England’s Head of Talent and Performance, said:
“The Aspire All-Star Tournament has become one of the highlights of our basketball calendar since we introduced it four years ago.
“We’re delighted to be working with our colleagues from Scotland and Wales to make the event even bigger and better and to provide a great stage for our young players to showcase their skills.
“We believe it is a fantastic, fun event but the driving force behind it, and the whole Aspire Programme, is to provide opportunity for young players and coaches to learn, develop and test themselves with the ultimate aim of representing Great Britain.”
The move comes after the recent announcement that the Aspire Progranmme has been expanded to cater for even younger players, with the initial intake now serving U11s.
The Aspire Programme will again feature initial Regional Skills Camps, before selected players move on to Super-Region Camps. The programme will culminate with the Aspire All-Star National Tournament.
Aspire calendar
Aspire Skills Camps
- 15 Sept 2025 - 22 Feb 2026
Inter-Regional Tournaments + Selection/Transfer (to 3x3 pathway/Super-Regions)
- 21/22 Feb 2026
Super-Region Camps + Medical & Performance Screening*
- 25 April - 3 July 3 2026
Aspire All-Star Tournaments
- 3x3: 4/5 July 2026
- 5v5: 10-12 July 2026
More about the BE Talent Pathway
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