Basketball Academy

Become a “student” of the game! The BISC South Loop Basketball Academy provides boys and girls in Years 4-9 with structured basketball training that teaches basic skills to complex, tactical play. On top of technical skills, players will grow their understanding of the fundamental values of basketball – playing as a team and playing for enjoyment.

Training will include drills and 3x3 tournaments to develop skills and shooting, led by two highly qualified coaches. The tournaments will be split into Primary and Middle School competitions. There’s also the potential for trips to NCAA games and visits to local collegiate basketball programs, like DePaul.

The BISC South Loop Basketball Academy will take place in the school gym from 5-6:30 p.m. on Mondays from September 12, 2016 to May 22, 2017. Training will follow the school’s 2016-17 academic calendar, so when the school is on break, so is training. There are a total of 28 sessions in the 2016-17 season.

The fee for the 2016-17 Basketball Academy is $350, which equates to $12.50 per session. The registration fee includes a t-shirt.

To sign up, complete the form on the right-hand side of this page. Please complete a separate form for each player. The deadline to register is Friday, June 17.

Payment secures your player's spot in the league. After registering, please submit a $50 deposit online here or submit a check to BISC at the reception desk or via mail: BISC South Loop, 161 W. 9th Street, Chicago, IL 60605. The remaining $300 fee is due before the start of Autumn Term.

Meet the coaches!

Coach James Brook

Coach Brook believes in the fundamental values of basketball – putting teammates first and playing for enjoyment.

A P.E. Specialist at BISC South Loop, Coach Brook fell in love with basketball after playing for a club called Lincoln Lightning in his native UK. As a Wildcat, Coach Brook played starting point guard in the state trials, averaging 12 points per game and double-figure assists. After just one season with the Wildcats, Coach Brook qualified for the 1997 England National League trials and was selected to represent his country on the team.

After three years playing for England, Coach Brook landed a basketball scholarship at the University of Wolverhampton. There, he took a lead role in coaching the women's basketball team and worked with Great Britain Basketball as a player development coach. He helped the men’s basketball team reach the collegiate final four for three straight years, averaged a career high of 15 points a game, and was selected as an all-defensive player in 2000, 2002 and 2003. 

Coach Brook continued to coach at a high level following university, working with England National League club Newham Allstar Sports Academy as well as DENG Academy, a basketball school in London launched in partnership with Nike.

He moved to the United States and joined BISC South Loop in August 2015.

If you have questions, please contact Mr. James Brook, Academy Director, at james.brook@bischicagosl.org.