LEARN TO PLAY
LITTLE HOOPERS
3 - 5 YEARS
HORNETS ACADEMY
5 - 16 YEARS
HDP
U9 - U18 YRS
Follow us
#hillshornets
SUMMER HOLIDAY CAMPS | ON SALE NOW
Summer Holidays are coming up and there`s something for everyone in the HIVE this holiday season! Check out the calendar to see when would work best for you as our Holiday Camps are on sale NOW!
HORNETS ACADEMY CAMPS | 2-DAY & 1-DAY OPTIONS | 5 – 16 YEAR OLDS
HDP CAMP | WED 28 JAN | U9 - U18 YEARS
🔗: https://hillshornets.com.au/train/holiday-camps/
2026 WARATAH MEN HEAD COACH | NICK GRAHAM
Hills Basketball is proud to announce Nick Graham as Head Coach of our Waratah Men`s team for the 2026 season.
Nick is a long-standing member of the Hornets community, having contributed extensively as a coach across multiple junior teams, as well as being a valued player within our senior program. His deep understanding and commitment to player development makes him an excellent leader for the Waratah Men’s program.
Nick says, "I’m proud to be part of the Hills community and I’m excited for the opportunity to continue building on the success of the Waratah Men’s program."
HBA is excited to see what Nick and the team bring next season.
View our website to register for trials.
🔗https://hillshornets.com.au/hornets/rep-trials/
THANK YOU | NATHAN PAFF
Tonight marks the end of an incredible chapter as Nathan Paff takes the court for his final official refereeing duties at Hills Basketball local competitions before heading off to new career opportunities in Newcastle.
Paff has been instrumental in shaping the Hills Officials Program into what it is today. Over the years, he’s worn many hats, from Referee Education Coordinator to founder of the Intensive Referee Training Program (IRTP), driving growth, professionalism, and passion across every level of our officiating community.
As a current NBL Referee, Paff has set the benchmark for what it means to be a Hills official. His leadership, mentorship, and constant drive to give back, from grassroots through to senior ranks, have inspired countless referees to chase their own pathways in the game.
Paff has left an enduring mark on Hills Basketball. The lessons he’s shared and the referees he’s guided will continue to carry his influence for years to come.
If you see him around the courts tonight, make sure you say a massive thank you and wish him all the best in his next adventure. We know this isn’t goodbye, just a “see you later” and we can’t wait to see him back supporting Hills again soon.
STATISTICIAN EDUCATION PROGRAM
This hands-on, 5-week course will train you to become a proficient statistician, capable of supporting our teams and understanding the game in a whole new way. The course is structured with one theory session followed by four practical, hands-on sessions.
Monday 10 November | Core Education Session
Mondays 17 & 24 November, 1 & 8 December | Practical Sessions
Click the link in our bio to sign up for FREE!
https://hillshornets.com.au/members/member#/storeview?category=27
2026 YOUTH MEN 2 HEAD COACH | DARREN MARSHALL
HBA is thrilled to announce Darren Marshall as the Head Coach of our Youth League Men 2 team for the 2026 representative season. Darren has been an integral part of the Hornets Representative Program, contributing across both our Junior and Senior teams. Most recently, he led our Waratah Men’s team, bringing a wealth of experience and leadership to the role.
Darren is “excited to coach this group and assist them in reaching the next level of their development.”
We’re looking forward to an exciting season ahead and can’t wait to see what this team will achieve
Keep your eyes on our socials as we continue to announce our 2026 representative coaches and view our website to register for trials.
🔗https://hillshornets.com.au/hornets/rep-trials/
2026 YOUTH WOMEN 2 HEAD COACH | AVO MAKASIAN
Hills is pleased to welcome Avo Makasian as Youth League Women 2 Head Coach for the 2026 season.
Avo is an accredited Level 2 Association Coach with extensive experience across both club and school basketball programs. Having previously coached at Norths, Avo has developed a strong reputation for fostering player growth, team cohesion, and competitive excellence. Beyond club coaching, Avo brings a wealth of experience from various school programs, most recently contributing to the basketball programs at Pymble Ladies’ College and St Augustine’s College.
Keep your eyes on our socials as we continue to announce our 2026 representative coaches, and view our website to register for trials.
🔗https://hillshornets.com.au/hornets/rep-trials/
DANIEL TRIKILIS | YOUTH LEAGUE MEN 1 HEAD COACH
Hills Basketball are excited to announce the return of Daniel Trikilis as Head Coach of the Youth League Men 1 program for 2026. After a strong 2025 run that saw the team reach the Grand Final, Daniel brings back the same energy, passion, and experience that made last season such a success.
Daniel says “I am excited to return for year 2 and build on the foundations that were set last year after being in the final. We will be looking forward to it all again and for an exciting 2026 campaign to come for this group.”
We’re excited to watch this talented group continue to grow and succeed under Daniel’s leadership. Here`s to another big year ahead!
Keep your eyes on our socials as we continue to announce our 2026 representative coaches, and view our website to register for trials.
🔗https://hillshornets.com.au/hornets/rep-trials/
LACHLAN HUDSON | YOUTH LEAGUE WOMEN 1 HEAD COACH
Hills Basketball is thrilled to announce Lachlan Hudson as the Youth League Women 1 coach for the 2026 season. Lachlan brings a wealth of knowledge, passion, and experience to the role, having been involved in the Hills women’s program for several years. With a Youth Women 2 banner under his belt, he`s ready to take on a new challenge with the Youth Women 1.
Coach Lachlan says “I’m grateful for the opportunity to coach the Youth Women 1 team in 2026. Excited to work with a talented group of girls and continue building on the momentum of our women’s program. Can’t wait to get started on an exciting season ahead.”
We look forward to an incredible 2026 under his leadership and can’t wait to see the continued growth and success of our women’s program.
Keep your eyes on our socials as we continue to announce our 2026 representative coaches, and view our website to register for trials.
🔗https://hillshornets.com.au/hornets/rep-trials/
2026 NBL1 MEN HEAD COACH | REECE POTTER
Hills Basketball is proud to announce that Reece Potter will return as Head Coach of the Hills Hornets NBL1 Men’s team for the 2026 season.
Over the past five years, Reece has played a pivotal role in building a strong and competitive NBL1 program, focusing on the development of local talent and laying the foundations for long-term success.
In addition to his coaching role, Reece continues to drive player growth across our association as Hills Basketball’s High Performance Manager, helping shape the next generation of elite Hornets athletes.
Reece is “Grateful to be reappointed as Head Coach of the Hills Hornets for a sixth season. We’ve learned valuable lessons in 2025 and are committed to building on that foundation as we push for a strong playoff run in 2026. The depth and quality of competition in NBL1 East continues to grow — it’s both a joy and a challenge to coach at this level. I’m truly thankful to Hills Basketball for the opportunity to lead this program again. I look forward to working with our players, staff and the whole Hills community again next season."
Keep your eyes on our socials as we continue to announce our 2026 representative coaches, and view our website to submit an expression of interest for NBL1 trials.
🔗: https://hillshornets.com.au/hornets/rep-trials/
HORNETS OFFICIALS | STATE REFEREE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
13 Hills referees have been selected for the newly redeveloped State Referee Development Program (SRDP), delivered by Basketball NSW.
The SRDP is a 12-week initiative designed to enhance referee performance through online workshops, resource access, coaching engagement, self-regulation skill development, and structured mentoring.
Congratulations to the following officials, whose commitment and excellence throughout the 2025 Senior Representative Season, across both the Waratah Senior League and NBL1 East, have earned them this well-deserved selection.
SRDP Emerging | Brendan Lim
SRDP Accelerate | Xander Palmer, Daniel Robinson, Holly Powell, Josh Garnon, Lachlan Fevre
SRDP Breakthrough | Dave Nicholls, Jacob Brennan, Jayna Bonney, Jesse Brown, Jess Berndt, Kelsey Ortiz, Yashar Ellin
