Ahead of the U15 Celtic Invitational this upcoming weekend in Newforge, U15 Boys and Girls Head Coaches have named their squads that will take on Basketball Wales and Dublin in an exciting weekend of junior basketball.
This will see the squads resume their competition rivalry with Wales which saw them both win the 2024 edition 2-0. Wales have had the benefit of playing in the home invitational series earlier in the year and the games are predicted to be close run affairs. NewForge Sports Complex is a great addition to the Northern Ireland facility infrastructure, and we would urge the Basketball Northern Ireland community to come out in force to support our young athletes.
Andy Gill, Performance Pathway Co-ordinator was clear in the importance of such games, “We have a great relationship with Wales and these games are always closely fought. They are vital in the development of our young athletes as there is nothing that replicates this level of competition. This is when we find out how players cope with the demands of high-level games.”
This weekend games are sponsored by Sportsvisio. All games will be recorded through BNI’s partnership with SportsVisio, whose AI-powered technology transforms raw footage into detailed player statistics and highlight reels. This innovative approach ensures that athletes have the tools to analyse and improve their performance. Chief Revenue Officer, Sean O’Connor commented, “SportsVisio is proud to support the Basketball Northern Ireland Celtic Invitational, a showcase of top-tier talent meeting up in Belfast. We’re excited to empower players and coaches with AI-powered stats and highlights that bring every moment to life and elevate performance.”
Game schedule
Saturday 19th July
14.00: Team NI U15 boys v Wales U15 boys
16.00: Team NI U15 girls v Wales U15 girls
Sunday 20th July
10.00: Team NI U15 girls v Wales U15 girls
12.00: Team NI U15 boys v Wales U15 boys.
There will be two friendly games happening at Saturday at 11:15am and Sunday 3pm.
U15 Girls Head Coach Lexi Posset said, “This weekend’s games against Wales are a fantastic opportunity for our U15 girls to showcase their hard work and continue growing as a team. It’s an honour for them to represent their country, and we’re incredibly proud of each and every player. It’s not just about the results — it’s about development, gaining experience, and making the most of the chance to compete at this level. We’re looking forward to two strong performances and building on each game together.”
Team NI U15 Girls Head Coaches Lexi Posset and Aoife Callaghan have named the following girls for their squad:
| Caitlyn Barr | Phoenix BC |
| Katie Cassidy | UU Tigers |
| Caoimhe Daly | Queens BC |
| Sadhbh Drain | UU Tigers |
| Niamh Ferguson | Belfast Star |
| Katie Guy | Queens BC |
| Olivia McGirr | Belfast Star |
| Annie McKeever | Tyrone Towers |
| Eva McKeown | UU Tigers |
| Amelia Morris | UU Tigers |
| Katie Napier | Queens BC |
| Beatrice Reynolds | Phoenix BC |
| Élise Stratton | Phoenix BC |
| Ciara Wilkinson | Phoenix BC |
Rolandas Bartkus, Head Coach Team NI U15 Boys commented, “I’m really looking forward to the upcoming U15 Team NI weekend. It’s a great opportunity for these young basketball players to come together, challenge themselves, and represent Northern Ireland with pride. My hope is that the players not only showcase their skills on the court but also grow as a team, support one another, and enjoy the experience. We’re building a strong foundation for the future, and weekends like this are key to that journey.”
He has named the following boys to compete at the weekend;
| Matthew Allen | Belfast Star |
| Jacob Bell | Phoenix BC |
| Ethan Carr | Belfast Star |
| Finn Doherty | Hazelwood Hawks |
| Oliver Donnelly | Belfast Star |
| Dallan Holman | Phoenix BC |
| Jhake Gallo | Phoenix BC |
| Calum Hughes | BC Wolves |
| Dylan Hughes | Belfast Star |
| Danny McCaughey | Newry Fliers |
| Otis Mckee | Phoenix BC |
| John Mcloughlin | Mulroy Hoops |
| Guillermo Munoz Baena | North Star Warriors |
| Kamal Nour | Phoenix BC |
| Ignas Pudenas | BC Wolves |
| Tom Ronaghan | Blackwater Steelers |