Four Welsh Coaches Selected for Prestigious US Training Opportunity with Combine Academy
Basketball Wales is delighted to announce the selection of four outstanding club coaches representing Wales on a fully funded professional development trip to the Combine Academy in North Carolina this July. Congratulations to Nigel Hill, Gareth Hicks, James Morgans, and Bradley Payne, who have been chosen to take part in this exclusive two-week coaching experience.
Set to run from 25th July, the programme includes elite-level basketball training, access to high-performance environments, and attendance at prestigious AAU competitions. All travel, accommodation, and subsistence expenses will be covered. As part of their visit, the group will also tour the renowned basketball arenas of Duke University and the University of North Carolina (UNC).
Meet the Coaches
Bradley has proudly represented Wales at every level as a player, from U16 through the senior national team. In recent years, he has transitioned into coaching, with four years of experience to date, including two and a half years within the Wales National Team programme. He currently serves as the assistant coach for the National U17 boys’ team, preparing for an exciting summer schedule featuring fixtures in Northern Ireland and the Home Nations Invitational Tournament in Cardiff.
At club level, Bradley coaches with West Wales Dragons, a newly established Junior NBL team focused on growing the game in South Wales and creating opportunities for young athletes.
He said, “Representing my country is a privilege I never take lightly. I’m incredibly grateful to Basketball Wales for this opportunity to develop further at Combine Academy. I’m excited to learn in a high-performance setting and bring back new ideas and methods to inspire the next generation of Welsh players.”
Gareth is a passionate and committed coach at Cardiff City Basketball Club, working with young people from some of Cardiff’s most diverse communities. He brings strong technical knowledge, a deep love for the game, and a genuine ability to connect with young people from all walks of life — many of whom face real challenges and turn to basketball as a source of support and release.
For Gareth, basketball is much more than a sport — it’s a way to combine coaching with youth work and mentoring. He finds a real sense of purpose in helping young people grow both on and off the court and values connecting with others across Wales who share the same passion for the game.
He currently coaches the club’s U16 and U18 teams and regularly runs smaller development sessions for players keen to improve their skills and understanding of the game.
“What I’m most looking forward to,” he says, “is learning from top-level coaches in an elite environment. I want to understand what really goes into developing players at that level — not just technically, but also in terms of mindset, structure, and standards. It’s a huge opportunity for me to grow as a coach and mentor, and I’m excited to bring that learning back to support the young people I work with, as well as other coaches. It’s about raising the bar and building something truly meaningful through basketball in Wales.”
With over 25 years of experience in Welsh basketball, James has a long-standing track record of developing young Welsh athletes. He holds a degree in Sports Development and currently teaches Year 5/6 in a primary school in North Wales.
In 1999, James founded Mold Basketball Club, which has since grown to 140 members and fields 11 teams competing across Wales. One of his core coaching philosophies is fostering personal growth and resilience — values that are embedded in the club’s culture for both athletes and emerging coaches. From 2013 to 2017, James coached in the Welsh U18 Women’s programme, leading teams in several European Division C tournaments. A standout moment was securing a bronze medal in Gibraltar, bringing it home to Wales.
His service to Welsh basketball extends beyond the court. He has held roles on the Basketball Wales Board, the NWBA Committee, and worked as the North Wales Development Officer in partnership with Sport Wales. Most recently, he founded and now leads the newly established Basketball Wales National League (BWNL), marking a major milestone by launching Wales’ first national league.
“I’m very passionate about Welsh basketball and committed to driving the game forward,” he says. “I’m excited to work with Combine Academy’s elite coaching staff and athletes, and I’m especially keen to explore their approach to personal development and resilience. Visiting Duke University will also fulfil a lifelong dream.”
Nigel is currently the head coach for Swansea Storm’s U14 girls, U14 boys, and U16 boys — all of whom have recently celebrated league or cup victories this season. He also coaches with the Wales U13 Hub, supporting the development of emerging talent alongside a former national and professional coach.
A graduate of Loughborough University with a BSc in Sport Science, Nigel has built his career around coaching and sports development, with experience at Swansea College, the University of Reading, and within local authority sport development roles. His coaching is grounded in both academic theory and years of practical experience, all focused on developing the next generation of players.
Nigel’s basketball journey began in the 1990s with Swansea Men’s and the Wales U17 training squad. He later competed in two BUSA Finals while studying Sport Science and PE with Coaching at Loughborough. After university, he travelled to Phoenix, Arizona, on a recruitment and training opportunity, where he lived and worked alongside former NBA player OBE John Amaechi and his agent, Curtis Xavier. He later trialled with BBL teams and signed with the Reading Rockets in the Conference League, contributing to a title-winning season that concluded with a memorable final at Wembley Arena.
Looking ahead to the Combine Academy experience, Nigel is eager to soak up as much knowledge as possible: “I’m most looking forward to being a sponge — learning everything I can to see how Welsh basketball can benefit. I want to explore the positive differences in session planning, game coaching, and player development. I’m also excited about building a coaching network for the future — and, of course, visiting the GOAT’s university!”
Joining them on the trip will be Basketball Wales’ Participation and Inclusion Officer, Sam Gilbert, who will also be attending the Combine Academy as part of his continuing professional development.
“It’s a real honour to be selected to attend Combine Academy in the U.S.,” Sam said. “This opportunity will allow me to experience high-performance basketball in a world-class environment and bring that knowledge back to help grow and enhance the game here in Wales. As Basketball Wales’ Participation and Inclusion Officer, I’m passionate about making basketball more accessible and inclusive across all of our communities. The skills, ideas, and experiences I gain will directly support my work in creating more impactful programmes at the grassroots — developing players and coaches, and building a stronger, more connected basketball culture in South Wales and beyond.”
