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Basketball has increased in popularity at St Paul’s, no doubt due to the various age group teams’ consistent performances in LISBA, the London Independent Schools Basketball Association, with regular placings in the Final Fours against traditional rivals.

The senior school operates teams at the U14, U15 and U19 level and this complemented by the junior basketball clubs, run during the lunch time, at St Paul’s Juniors to provide a holistic sporting offer for basketballers. Additionally, the School offers basketball as a junior and senior games option in both the Autumn and Spring terms. The programme is led by Mr Maguire, the Master for Basketball and the team coaches have experience at National Level who are dedicated to improving the fundamental skills of the players and their connection as a team.

Westside Basketball Club, one of London’s top National League clubs, are based at the school and deliver an extensive community programme which St Paul’s students also have the option of attending if they are interested. The clubs ethos is to develop young talent in West London and recent successes have seen two of the clubs juniors represent England and Great Britain at U15, U16, U18 and U20 and move on to scholarships in the USA.

Our players have the option to compete at school, borough, regional, national and international level at basketball and over the years, we’ve had pupils compete at all those levels.

LISBA

The London Independent Schools Basketball Association is the long standing basketball competition for private schools in London and the surrounding counties. St. Paul’s has had teams competing in the competition since it’s genesis. After an influx of new schools, the competition has been split into North and South Conferences. St Pauls are in the South Conference with traditional rivals like Whitgift, Alleyn’s and Dulwich College and fixtures are played in the Autumn and Spring terms. The top two teams from each conference win through to the showpiece LISBA Final Fours which take place just prior to Easter, more recently at Dulwich College. In recent years, we placed third at the Final Fours and the aim is to improve on that showing.

In addition to the League and Playoffs, there is also a knockout completion called the LISBA Cup against teams from each conferences and a final held at Whitgift School.

Alumni Game

In recent years, we have welcomed back alumni who have previously represented the school to take part in a annual fixture at the conclusion of the school year.

Teachers vs Leavers

In 2018/19, we introduced a leavers vs teachers game in the sports hall, which proved wildly popular with both pupils and staff, and has since become a highly anticipated event in the school calendar.