The 2026 St John's College Basketball Tournament Returns as Southern Africa's Biggest Boys' School Basketball Event
Brought to you by Standard Bank, in association with Busamed | 19–22 February 2026
St John's College is proud to host the 2026 St John's College Basketball Tournament, brought to you by Standard Bank, in association with Busamed, from 19 to 22 February. Recognised as the biggest boys' school basketball tournament in Southern Africa, this four-day event will showcase top talent from across the region, bringing together local schools and inter-provincial teams from the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as international teams from Mauritius and Zimbabwe.
The tournament takes place across four action-packed days across three venues:
Thursday, 19 February
Brixton Multipurpose Centre: 08h00 - 20h00
St John's College: 11h00 - 21h20
Friday, 20 February
Brixton Multipurpose Centre: 08h00 - 16h00
St John's College: 08h00 - 19h00
Saturday, 21 February
St John's College: 08h00 – 20h30
Sunday, 22 February
St John's College: 08h00 – 14h30
The U19 and U15 competition format includes a round-robin phase, with this year introducing a B Division in the U19 age group category, expanding opportunities for more teams to compete at this level. The U13 age group categories will play in a festival format over the four days.
General Access tickets are R60 per day and available through Webtickets or at the gate. Saturday general access is R100, and includes The Social Experience brought to you by YFM.
Limited VIP tickets are available at R250 per day, including shaded seating on the main court and access to the VIP lounge with a dedicated bar and food vendor.
Please note that St John's College is a cashless venue – only debit and credit cards will be accepted.
Beyond the court-side action, the event promises entertainment for the whole family, with food vendors providing plenty to eat and drink, a bar open from 10h00 to 18h00, and Chill Out Lounges in the Basketball Village where spectators can relax between games.
"It is an honour to host talented teams from across Southern Africa at the St John's College Basketball Tournament," said Mr Dale Jackson, Executive Headmaster of St John's College. "This event is about more than just competition. It's a reflection of our shared passion for basketball and sportsmanship. Competing on the courts offers valuable opportunities for growth, passion, resilience, and for handling 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."
"The St John's College Basketball Tournament is a platform that continues to shape young lives and future leaders. Growth is built through discipline, sacrifice, resilience, and moments of self-belief. It is strengthened by challenges and carried forward by purpose. That is why we are so passionate about supporting youth development. We recognise the powerful role that sport and education play in building character, confidence, and unity. Through platforms like this festival, we are not only nurturing athletes — we are shaping responsible, resilient, and inspired leaders for tomorrow," says Tshiamo Molanda, Head: Youth and Mass Market, PPB SA at Standard Bank.
“Sports plays a powerful role in shaping young people, instilling discipline, perseverance, and the importance of teamwork. Supporting initiatives like this reflects our ongoing commitment to empowering our communities to live healthier and more fulfilling lives. We wish all participating teams every success and look forward to an exciting tournament," said Taryn Laas, Group Marketing Manager at Busamed.
"Y is proud to return as media partner of the St John's College Basketball Tournament. We're excited to amplify stories of youth talent and competitive spirit on and off the court, and to connect with young fans through our courtside entertainment and The Social Experience — an under-18 experience after Saturday's basketball action, with performing artists and DJs captivating players and spectators after the final whistle," said Haseena Cassim, Managing Director at YFM.
The tournament is made possible through the generous support of headline partner Standard Bank, associate sponsor Busamed, hydration partner Energade, and media partners YFM and SuperSport Schools.
"The Basketball Committee has put in tremendous effort to bring this event to life. I would like to extend my gratitude to Mr Olaotse Leepile, 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 and expertise in making the Tournament a great success," said Mr Jackson.
For those unable to attend in person, live coverage is available via the SuperSport Schools app. Fans can also download the Tournament app and follow the St John's College social media pages using #SJCBasketball26 for regular updates throughout the event.
For more information, teams, fixtures and scores, visit https://sjc.co.za/basketball and download the Basketball Tournament app.
See you at the courts!
** Some games will be played off-site if there are rain delays
