Sixth annual Youth Classic Basketball Tournament set to light up Cape Town courts
Lively competition is on the menu in Cape Town at the annual Youth Classic Basketball Tournament, taking place on 21 and 22 June at the German International School.
Hosted by African Grassroot Hoops (AGH), a non-profit organisation dedicated to youth development, located in Cape Town, it’s the sixth edition of the event.
Established in 2014 by Vincent Ntunja, a former South African national basketball player, and Giovanni Freeman, AGH focuses on comprehensive youth development, imparting life skills, and conducting leadership training workshops.
Through community empowerment initiatives, the organisation has effectively provided coaching clinics and support systems that empower young individuals.
In 2017, AGH successfully sent Sanelisiwe Mkula, along with 11 girls, to the United States. At that time, Mkula was the Head Coach of the Hout Bay Snipers Girls’ Team. She participated in a coaching, networking, and leadership programme in Washington, DC, organised by the US State Department’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs’ Sports Diplomacy Division. The outstanding Amber Sylvester was also among the 11 players who travelled to the US with Mkula.
The annual Youth Classic Basketball Tournament serves as a further testament to the accomplishments that AGH has realised over the years. Among its success stories are Aidan Erasmus and Lutho Tukayi.
In 2024, Tukayi won the Youth Classic Basketball Tournament in 2024 while playing for the Spartans. Earlier this year, he helped Maritzburg College capture two big titles. They won the annual Jenny Orchard Invitational Basketball Tournament by beating ESCA in the final, and they also dominated the inaugural KZN Top 10 Basketball Competition, beating Kearsney College in the title game.
This year’s event will feature teams from Gugulethu, Langa, Montana, Hout Bay, Blouberg, George, Soweto, Durban, and Botswana.
To claim the title, those teams will have one primary opponent in their sights, the formidable Soweto Basketball Academy, which not only claimed both the boys’ and girls’ championships in 2025 but also dominated every rival throughout the tournament.
In an interview last week with Putco Mafani on Ezemidlalo, which is broadcast on uMhlobo Wenene, Ntunja said the tournament has expanded. In 2025, 18 teams participated in the event. This year, that number has grown to 20.
During the interview with Mafani, Ntunja emphasised the importance of including girls’ basketball, not only in the tournament but also in broader basketball initiatives. He said they have demonstrated not only enthusiasm but also exceptional basketball skills that deserve recognition.
This year, Ntunja said the tournament would honour Craig Daniels, whom he described as a pivotal figure in South African basketball. Daniels has played a significant and direct role in the development of many players, including Ntunja.
In 2025, the Youth Classic Basketball Tournament honoured and celebrated Belinda Dyck‘s contribution and dedication to the growth and excellence of basketball in Cape Town. Ntunja recalled how Daniels had coached him when he was just 15 years old, adding that Daniels continues to provide a vital influence and sound guidance, not only in South Africa but throughout the African continent.
Daniels possesses the Level One and Two Coaching Instructor certifications from the Federation of International Basketball (FIBA) and continues to lead programmes while mentoring coaches through structured FIBA certification pathways throughout Southern Africa.
He is also registered with the World Association of Basketball Coaches. In South Africa, he is highly regarded as a basketball coach and veteran mentor. His career spans over three decades and includes playing a crucial role as a foundational pillar in the development of basketball at the school, club, provincial, and national levels, as well as in the broader region.
Fixtures for the Youth Classic Basketball Tournament have not yet been confirmed, but they will be finalised as the tournament date approaches.
The teams attempting to dethrone the Soweto Basketball Academy include KwaZulu-Natal’s Duep Basketball Academy and the Fundamental Basketball Academy in the boys’ section.
The Hout Bay Snipers, Montana Vikings, Sharks Basketball Club, Hot Shots, SA Elite, George Hustlers, and Blouberg Basketball Academy represent Cape Town’s interests.
Botswana’s Elite Basketball 8 Academy adds a measure of intrigue to the boys’ competition.
In the girls’ competition, the defending champions, Soweto Basketball Academy, will face competition from the Duep Basketball Academy and Fundamental Basketball Academy, from KZN, and the Montana Vikings, Hot Shots, and Hout Bay Snipers, from Cape Town.
The Elite 8 Basketball Academy has also entered a girls’ team.
