Hanwell’s Drayton Manor High School emerged victorious last Friday (6 June 2025) at the inaugural Jr. NBA 3v3 tournament finals, hosted for the first time in the heart of London at Trafalgar Square.
The boys’ team from Drayton Manor – consisting of Lincoln Cheung, Daniel Rybalka, David Pearce and Nico Karera-Rupprecht – defeated Beths Grammar School of Bexley in a hard-fought final, earning their winner’s rings in front of thousands of spectators at the iconic central London location.
Coach Jamie Black praised the players’ achievement and the unique setting. He said: “I am blown away and am so proud for the boys to make it to the finals, let alone win. When they are my age, they can look back and say, ‘Not only did we play at Trafalgar Square, but we won’. It is an amazing story to tell their families.”
Mr Black added: “It is a great group of young men, which includes some Year 9 pupils in a tournament played mostly by Year 10s, so they really stepped up. We were calm and collected in the final and that temperament helped us through. Basketball is very popular at Drayton Manor. We have a basketball programme, and we coach them from Year 7.”
The Jr. NBA 3v3 tournament, a collaboration between the NBA and London Marathon Events, transformed Trafalgar Square into a vibrant basketball venue featuring three courts, wheelchair and primary school sessions, and activities for visitors throughout the day.
The competition brought together schools from across nine London boroughs.
Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events, said: “Seeing the square come alive with energy and talent during the Jr. NBA 3v3 Finals was a powerful reminder of basketball’s growing impact in the UK and, through our collaboration with the NBA, this is another big step in giving more children and young people access to the game. This is just the beginning, and we’re excited to build on this momentum even further in the years ahead.”
Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, deputy Mayor of London, attended the event and added: “The Mayor and I have been proud to support this innovative collaboration between London Marathon Events and the NBA, which we know will inspire more young people to play basketball in schools across the capital.”