Itchen College has developed one of the top basketball academies in the country over the last 5 years and through a strong partnership with Solent Kestrels (the third biggest club in England), we offer an elite pathway to talented 16-19 year old students.
The Academy has celebrated a large amount of team and individual success during recent years, including: winning six consecutive Hampshire League and Cup competitions; our men's team becoming National Champions in 2016; and our ladies' team becoming National Champions in 2017.
Itchen College basketball was awarded AASE status in 2013, which is the highest standard a sports academy can achieve.
The Basketball Academy can offer you:
- 14 individual and team practice hours per week;
- 3 strength and conditioning sessions per week with a UKSCA qualified coach;
- an on-site physiotherapist;
- video analysis and performance evaluation;
- high quality coaching;
- games in the Elite Academies Basketball League (EABL);
- a link with Solent Kestrels Basketball Club;
- strong pathways to universities both in the UK and abroad, including the USA;
- and opportunities to achieve coaching and refereeing qualifications.
What is the AASE?
The Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) is designed to meet the needs of elite athletes aged 16-19 who wish to continue their sporting career and gain qualifications at the same time. It is a two-year programme where apprentices receive additional support and guidance for their basketball development and education.
The AASE is aimed at athletes 'who have the realistic potential to achieve excellence in their sport and are seeking to perform at the highest level as their main career goal.'
The programme has also been designed to give students the skills, knowledge and qualifications to pursue a secondary or supplementary career such as: coaching; sports development; fitness instructing; or entering higher education.
The college takes great pride in its basketball by supplying physiotherapy and strength and conditioning sessions so that you can stay in peak condition throughout the year. As well as Academy time, extra training sessions are put on throughout the week in order to give the team the best chance of winning. Itchen has the best basketball programme in the south and it works very hard to maintain that status.
Academy news
Ladies Basketballers Win National Championships
From Friday 21 to Sunday 23 April, our ladies basketballers have been playing in Nottingham for the AoC National Championships. The ladies have already won…
Read more >Itchen Basketballers Win National Championships
Itchen's men's basketball team were crowned National Champions yesterday in the AoC Elite Cup competition, beating Myerscough College 77-67.
Read more >Itchen Coach Awarded 'Coach of the Year' for the Second Time
Congratulations go to our Basketball coach, Matt Guymon, for being awarded 'East Conference Coach of the Year' by the EABL (Elite Academy Basketball League) for…
Read more >Key personnel
Matthew Guymon - Men's Basketball Coach

Matt Guymon is the head of the AASE and men's Basketball Academy and also is Head Coach for the Solent Kestrels Basketball Club. Matt was able to achieve a successful playing career earning a scholarship to America and also representing his country at all levels he turned to coaching in 2012, where he has focused on junior development.
Vicky Milner - Woman's Head Coach

Vicky Milner is a qualified Level 3 Head Basketball Coach with 15 years experience of coaching National League and Regional Basketball. She has come through the Solent Sun programme playing senior women's from a young age and representing her region at all age groups.
023 8043 5636 ext. 208 mguymon@itchen.ac.uk
023 8043 5636 ext.208 vmilner@itchen.ac.uk