The Best of the Best Shine at the 2025 National Junior Classic

The 2025 National Junior Classic (NJC) took centre stage over the King’s Birthday weekend, bringing together the most elite junior basketball talent for three unforgettable days of high-intensity competition. For the 128 teams, including 64 visiting from interstate, an invitation to compete is an achievement for a goal that’s been 12 months in the making – a chance to compete against the best teams.  

 The NJC is a true pathway tournament, with players representing their associations by competing in competitions for U12 to U18 in both boys and girls. The event continued to be played out of two of Australia’s premium basketball facilities, all 384 games played out of the State Basketball Centre and Dandenong Basketball Stadium, in the south-east of Melbourne. 

From the opening games starting at Saturday 8am, it was clear this year’s Classic would be special for those involved. Whether it was the nail biting 1-point victories or spectators filling the stands in support, creating a roaring atmosphere. Whilst live streaming of games proved to be a highly valued feature, watched by thousands around the world, it didn’t stop tens of thousands of people entering the stadiums and watching the young stars in action! 

“Another successful year at the National Junior Classic.  Congratulations to all teams that were selected to compete this year. The fierce competition all weekend really shows how important this tournament is to everyone involved, and we are grateful to be able to provide such an event. We would like to thank all teams that travelled far and wide to be present this year, including the players, coaching staff and parents, we couldn’t do this without you.  

On behalf of Basketball Victoria, I'd like to thank our partners GYG, Spalding, and Sports in Focus for their support. I'd also like to thank our volunteers, the technical and bench officials and the leagues and competitions team for ensuring the 2025 National Junior Classic was a great success. I’d also like to give a huge shout out to the terrific work of our media partners who shared hundreds of photos and videos throughout the event, our presence on social media was enormous and it was great to see so many players captured in these moments. Further to this was the expanded and more professional approach to live streaming in 2025, providing more opportunities for family and friends from afar to enjoy their experiences of the kids” said Emma Hayes, Leagues Administrator & Events Coordinator at Basketball Victoria.  

 A Celebration of Community 

Behind the scenes, hundreds of volunteers, technical officials, and event staff played a vital role in making the tournament a success. Basketball Victoria extends sincere thanks to all who contributed, including our valued partners, GYG and the dedicated media team who helped share the action far and wide. 

Referees were selected from across the state based on their performance within Basketball Victoria leagues and events, with an invitation marking a significant milestone in their officiating journey and reflecting their dedication to the role. Highlighting the depth of officiating talent across the state, this year’s NJC brought together 137 referees, supported by 47 referee coaches and 8 coordinators, with representation from 45 associations stretching from Sale to Hamilton.  

Referee coaches were appointed throughout the weekend, providing support and development whilst also identifying the highest-performing officials for finals appointments. This coaching group featured individuals with extensive experience as referee coaches in our leagues, alongside several NBL1, WNBL, NBL and FIBA-accredited referees; all committed to growing the next generation of officials. 

"The National Junior Classic continues to be a premier event for high-performing referees from across the state. It was incredibly rewarding to see officials rise to the challenges of this elite competition with maturity, teamwork, and respect, while remaining fully committed to developing their craft. The future of officiating in Victoria has well and truly arrived," said Kash Gaitely, Technical Officials Leagues & Competitions Manager. 

Final Medal Standings and MVPs 

After three hard-fought days, here are the medal winners and Grand Final MVPs for each age group: 

Under 12 Boys 

Across three huge days, the BV events team walked more than 15 thousand steps each ensuring each game tipped off on time and every team had the support they needed. With over 1,400 athletes taking the court, the National Junior Classic continues to raise the bar for what’s possible in junior sport. 

We can’t wait to see what 2026 brings – until then, congratulations to all athletes, coaches, referees, and families who made the 2025 NJC a standout event on the junior basketball calendar. 

For all of the action over the weekend click below

View Gallery

Click below to download the final standings across all of the divisions.

Final Standings