Leicester Riders BBL team officially opened Bosworth Academy’s outdoor basketball courts on Monday 30 October with Head Coach Rob Paternostro hailing the outdoor courts as the “best” he has seen in over 20 years of coaching in the UK.

Paternostro was also impressed with the basketball skills of around 100 Bosworth Academy students who played mini games with the Riders players during the event.

Before shooting hoops, the two outdoor basketball courts were unveiled in a ceremony with words from Paternostro, MP for Hinckley and Bosworth Dr Luke Evans and Bosworth Academy Headteacher Simon Brown.

Leicester Riders players then joined the students in cutting the ribbon ahead of hitting the paint.

One of those students who played with a Riders player was Year 13 student Elyas B who revelled in blocking a shot attempted by a professional basketballer.

“It was a great experience as a whole. Having the team pull up to the school was a great experience to have,” said Elyas.

“The courts are exceptional, the best I’ve played on. It was surprising to see when they were first completed because it’s not something you see in England often.

“Going one-on-one with a professional Riders player was thrilling. Playing against a professional is a once in a lifetime experience, and managing to block his shot it was so much better. Overall, a great experience,” added Elyas.

The outdoor basketball courts at Bosworth Academy were developed by Bosworth basketball coach, Igor Mirković.

The coach, who started at the school with a team of five, was overwhelmed with the amount of students who now use the new courts daily. These students include the Bosworth Bears team who have won back-to-back school county championships and assisted in the relaunch of basketball at Bosworth.

Headteacher Mr Brown shared with those in attendance that the students’ creativity was shown in designing the Bosworth Bears logo which now adorns the centre circles of the outside courts and that the students actively encourage others to participate in playing basketball at school.

Dr Evans MP agreed that playing sports such as basketball has great benefits for mental and social well-being as well as physical health:

“These facilities are exactly what we want to see for young people to be able to aspire to, to take part in sport for their health, their mental health, but also to create careers and to have a trajectory that many people may think they cannot aspire to,” said Dr Evans MP.

The outdoor basketball courts will soon be available to the wider community to use and enjoy whilst plans are in place for professional BBL teams to use the facility as well.

The Bosworth Bears are also seeking sponsors for the kit which features the new logo. If you would like your business featured on our basketball kits please contact Igor Mirković here.