JERSEY basketball is enjoying a remarkable period of growth, both on and off the court, with the legacy of one of its most influential figures continuing to shape the sport’s future.
The Jersey Basketball Association (JBBA) enjoyed a memorable inter-insular campaign this year, sweeping all seven contests against Guernsey, while the men’s side claimed their first victory in the series for 14 years and the women ended a 27-year wait. The men also secured bronze at their own Island Games in Ynys Môn.
But, as JBBA Development Officer and men’s first-team player Callum Gilmour explains in the latest episode of The Sports Podcast, the progress goes far beyond results.
“Participation is at such a high, that this is the time where we need to make changes, keep growing and keep building as a sport,” he told Sports Reporter Archie Corbett.
The numbers certainly back that ambition. Gilmour revealed that junior participation has climbed from 180 to more than 250 registered players over the summer alone, a significant milestone for a sport looking to build on its momentum.
“When I started, we had two sessions and 15 kids in each session, and that was it. We now have over 250 juniors signed up,” he said.
“To see it grow from 180 to 250 across this summer alone is amazing. It’s incredible to see and incredible to witness.”
That growth is being matched by projects designed to strengthen basketball’s place in the island community, including the forthcoming opening of the G Court.
Named in memory of Guillaume Hoareau, whose tragic passing in May 2024 left a huge void in Jersey basketball, the court represents far more than a new place to play. The G Fund is also among the initiatives helping to carry his legacy forward.
“For the basketball community this is more than opening a court, this is remembering someone who was such a big part of Jersey Basketball,” Gilmour said.
“G had my role before it was even a role.”
In an episode that reflects on Hoareau’s lasting influence, Gilmour also discusses the development of the women’s game, efforts to make basketball more inclusive through wheelchair basketball, and the importance of Government support in making next summer’s Island Games in the Faroe Islands more accessible for Jersey athletes.
From grassroots participation to ambitious plans for the future, it is a conversation about a sport gathering momentum while remembering the people who helped make it what it is today.
The full 55 minute interview with Callum Gilmour will be available at 10am tomorrow via The Sports Podcast (Bailiwick Podcasts) on all major streaming platforms.
