I modified the title - Phil's not as precious these days about use of his name on Hoops.

Talked with him a couple of months back and he mentioned this venture, though it was still in the planning stages at that point. The scheme was based on something being done in golf, actually, and it sounded like it was worth trying in basketball. Wish I could remember more because there were some good ideas behind their strategy.

Others who are more familiar with pathways within basketball might be able to offer more of a critique of this sort of opportunity. Practical or nice but of limited use?

Great photos on the site - makes the NBL look great. NBL site should take note.

so is it a 1 or 2 year full or part time diploma ?

college network will be interesting.

2 Year diploma with a $40K hecs debt at the end for players who aren't good enough to be in NBL programs.

Will be interesting to see if some of these players graduate into NBL/WNBL teams over time.

Especially with all the players coming back from US Colleges.

good on them and all the best.

some big aus basketball names involved - will bring a great network.

So a student athlete finishes Year 12, has dreams to go on and play professionally, and is faced with a choice...

Go and pursue the great dream and experience the awesome lifestyle of US college ball, or

Go to Dandenong Stadium and be part of Phil's new venture.

I just can't see it being a success. It seems it would only appeal to second-tier players and below, who will not graduate into NBL/WNBL programs anyway.

Is it all basketball or does it set them up for other basketball related opportunities too?

There was a key advantage to the program that I can't remember - something to do with subsidies or funding?

Other than that, college in the US has always seemed like a good choice to me - study costs covered, good experience, etc. You'd probably only want to bet against that if you had good interest from NBL teams (Newley, Ingles, Maher, Creek, etc) or were really not academically inclined at all.

agree completely with cat in the hat, it offers less appeal than a US college and takes away the fun and excitement of travelling away overseas. therefore will not be able to sustain success.

Good luck to Smyth in this venture, good to see him involved in basketball, this could be a good way for him to get in touch with the young players and develop them, something he was criticised about in his NBL coaching days,

i wonder if this will lead to him being back as a NBL coach, i would be happy to see it, he coached a great/entertaining style imo.

It would, like most tertiary establishments, provide government support for local students however I wonder if this venture has a business model that is also reliant on attracting 'students' from outside Australia.

Local students are not the cash cows for our tertiary educational establishments, never have been. Anyone in the know able to confirm if international students will be able to apply?

more avenues can only be a good thing i think.

if you look at afl and plenty of players who were never thought to be amazing prospects have gone on to have great careers. even if they miss the afl draft they have had other opportunities and come on surprisingly well.

could this give an opportunity to some who may miss out on a college scholarship?