Established by Basketball Australia 12 years ago, the program has produced most of Australia’s current crop of Boomers and Opals and many current NBL and WNBL players and coaches.

There are two division scholarships, the National Intensive Training Centre Program (NITCP) and the Athletic Identification Program (IAP).

The AIP is a stepping stone into the NITCP and usually players complete a season in the AIP before graduating into the higher program.

Bronte Clark graduated from the NITCP while Ashley Niutta, Jack Saunder, Ward Dickeson and Jo Lanyon completed their year in the IAP.

As part of the scholarship players receive training on a weekly basis with appointed local coaches and attend three camps where all aspects of player development are addressed including time management, planning, personal development and life management skills.

Players also have the opportunity of experiencing international competition in Australia, the US, Asia and Europe.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Thursday’s Sunraysia Daily 5/11/2009.