The U19 and U15 competition format includes a round-robin phase, with top sides going on to play in the knockout stages, while U13 age-group categories play a festival format over the four days.

Expect exciting court-side action throughout the event. The Tournament features local schools and inter-provincial teams from the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as teams from neighbouring country Zimbabwe. We are thrilled to welcome both returning teams and newcomers to the courts.

This four-day event promises loads of fun for the whole family, with food vendors providing plenty to eat and drink, a bar open from 10h00 until 18h00, and Chill Out Lounges in the Basketball Village where you can relax between games.

“It is an honour to host talented teams from across Southern Africa at the St John’s College Basketball Tournament,” says Mr Stuart West, Executive Headmaster of St John’s College. “This event is about more than just competition. It’s a reflection of sportsmanship, camaraderie, and our shared passion for basketball.”

“Competing on the courts offers valuable opportunities for growth, fostering passion, resilience, and the ability to handle both victory and defeat with dignity. We encourage our players to uphold fair play and embrace the new connections and experiences that come from participating in a tournament like this.”

This tournament would not be possible without the support of our sponsors. Thank you to our headline partner, Standard Bank, for their ongoing partnership with St John’s College. We are also grateful to Avis for joining us again this year and to our media partner, SuperSport Schools, who are live-streaming the tournament to families and fans back home. We also thank PPS for bringing the Mangaung Knights from the Free State back to the tournament this year.

“The Basketball Committee has put in tremendous effort to bring this event to life. I would like to extend my gratitude to Mr Jameson Hlongwane, Chairman of the Parents’ Basketball Committee, and his team for their support of basketball at St John’s College. A thank you also goes to our staff for their dedication, expertise, and commitment to making the Tournament a great success,” said Mr West.

We wish players, coaches, managers, officials, and spectators – both at the courts and at home – an exciting weekend of competitive basketball. We trust that our boys will build many friendships, hone their skills, and compete keenly on the court.

We look forward to seeing you at the courts. And if you can’t make it to the games, download the SuperSport Schools app to enjoy them live from wherever you are. You can also download the Tournament app and follow the St John’s College social media pages and the hashtag #SJCBasketball2025 for regular updates on what is happening at the courts.