WELSH COACHES LEVEL UP: COMPLETE ELITE TRAINING PROGRAM IN UNITED STATES
Article by : Akshat Kandya
All Smiles (From Left to Right): James Morgans, Bradley Payne, Sam Gilbert, Nigel Hill and Gareth Hicks.
Four Welsh basketball coaches-Bradley Payne, Gareth Hicks, James Morgans and Nigel Hill, along with Basketball Wales staff member Sam Gilbert have returned home upon successfully completing an intensive, fun-filled coaching program at Combine Academy, North Carolina, USA.
The two-week training program held between 25th July and 07th August 2025, involved the coaches being introduced to highly competitive environment and attending prestigious AAU competitions apart from regular basketball training. As part of their visit, the coaches explored the famous basketball courts of Dukes University and University of North Carolina (UNC).
MEET THE PARTICIPANTS
Bradley Payne – a proud representative of Welsh basketball at all levels (U16 till Senior). Currently working as an assistant coach for the National U17 men’s team as well as the coach of West Wales Dragons club, with the aim to nurture young players and provide a platform for them to express themselves.
“Combine Academy was an amazing experience and a great chance to develop as a coach working alongside experienced coaches and talented players, and I’m grateful to Basketball Wales for the opportunity. I head back to Wales with fresh drills, new ideas, and inspiration to help develop the next generation of Welsh players”.
Gareth Hicks- is a passionate youth coach at Cardiff City Basketball Club equipped with strong technical knowledge and the ability to connect with young players from all walks of life.
“The intensity on display during sessions at Combine Academy was an eye-opening experience. I’m taking these lessons back to raise my own coaching standards and the standards of my players”.
James Morgans – has a proven track record of developing Welsh athletes with 25+ years of experience in Welsh basketball. His Mold Basketball Club, founded in 1999, has over 140 members and 11 teams competing at various events across Wales.
“The NCAA training session and the Q&A with the Head Coach of Queens University. The chance to connect with other coaches and build networks was invaluable, and assisting on the sidelines at my very first AAU Tournament is an experience I’ll never forget. A huge thank you to Combine Academy and Basketball Wales for making it possible”.
Nigel Hill – a graduate in BSc Sports Science from Loughborough University, Nigel’s coaching style focuses on fundamentals and developing the next generation of players at his club Swansea Storm.
“Thanks to BW, I experienced the high-energy environment at Combine Academy, blending practice with specific fundamentals, competition, strategy. These sessions gave an opportunity to build strong connections with college coaches”.
Sam Gilbert – a staff member of Basketball Wales, Sam accompanied the coaches on this training program as part of his CPD.
“As a Participation and Inclusion Officer in Wales, this experience has directly influenced my approach to coaching and youth engagement, giving me new ideas to develop coaching sessions, engage young people more effectively, and inspire participation across diverse communities”.
ABOUT COMBINE ACADEMY
COMBINE ACADEMY is a top International Boarding School and Professional Sports Performance Center located in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It offers professional level sports training to Students-Athletes who wish to take their athletic career to the next level.
Basketball Wales would like to express its gratitude to the National Lottery for their support and funding of this years coaching participants.
