Uncategorized

Hi,

I hope you’re doing well. I’m reaching out to share an upcoming training opportunity this spring and to ask if you would be willing to pass this information along to your athletes and their families.

My name is Brooke Hussey, and I’m currently a player with Queen’s Women’s Basketball. I was honoured to be named Rookie of the Year in 2025, and I have a strong interest in athlete development and supporting young players both on and off the court. This spring I’ll be running clinics in Kingston with Eurostep, an organization led by Boris Bakovic.

Boris is a former professional athlete, a Canadian National Team silver medalist, and the U SPORTS all-time leading scorer, with over 10 years of experience developing athletes who have gone on to play post-secondary basketball in both Canada and the United States. Together, our goal is to provide high-quality, supplemental training that supports what athletes are already doing within their team environments.

The clinics are open to boys and girls in Grades 3–12 and will run across four separate weekends, each featuring different workouts so athletes may register for more than one session. To ensure a high-quality training experience, athletes will be grouped by age and ability and split into five time slots per day, allowing for small-group instruction and individualized feedback.

Clinic dates:

• April 18 & 19

• April 25 & 26

• May 30 & 31

• June 6 & 7

If you’re open to it, I would greatly appreciate you sharing this opportunity with your athletes and parents. Registration details can be found at the link below:
https://www.eurostepbasketball.com/products/kingston-skills-clinics-2026?bg_ref=dLPSMjC5YD

For anyone interested in receiving updates about future opportunities, they can also sign up for the Eurostep Kingston newsletter here:
https://mailchi.mp/b28bef5beaf8/eurostep-kingston

Thank you very much for your time and continued support of athlete development in our basketball community. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or would like more information.

Best regards,
Brooke Hussey

Congratulations to the following players:

Team Name:
U16 Barbeau

Total Years Coaching:
20 years

Teams Played for:
– Belleville Spirits (Grades 4-12)
– Nicholson Crusaders (2003-2007)
– University of Western Ontario (2007-2012)
– Baskets Vilsbiburg- German Pro B League (2012)

Favourite Practice Drills:
Player led scrimmage and game situations

Top 3 Qualities You Want in a Player:
– Someone who loves the success of their teammates
– Players who are willing to play a role
– Resilient

Your Favourite Basketball Memory:
– Winning 3 consecutive OFSAA Provincial Basketball Championships in high school
– signing my first professional basketball contract
– As a coach my favorite memory has been helping to get my Senior girls’ team at St Theresa to OFSAA last year

Basketball Pet peeve:
– careless turnovers
– players not being prepared coming out of timeouts

Pre-Game Playlist:
Nas or Jay-Z

Hobbies outside of basketball:
Gymnastics, basketball or swimming with my son Freddy.

Favourite Current Player:
Shai Gilgeous Alexander

Name & Team:
u16 Shakell

Years Coaching Basketball:
10 years total

Playing Background:
Moira Trojans for 5 years (under the great Ken Smith)

Favourite Basketball Drill:
Any competitive drill that produces lots of sweat (maybe a bit of blood)

Top 3 Qualities You Want in a Player:
WE before ME attitude, hard worker, laughs at my jokes

Your Favourite Basketball Memory:
Building a 275 link chain as a team

Basketball Pet Peeve:
ME before WE

Pre-Game Playlist Must-Have:
Anything that gets the toes a tappin…
E.g. pink pony girl

Favourite Thing to Do Outside of Basketball:
Trailer with family, coaching football, watching Buffalo Bills 

Favourite Current Player:
Dennis Rodman, or any gritty player

2025-2026 Team:
U12 Belleville Spirits

Years Coaching Basketball:
20 years, 18 with the Spirits

Playing Background:
I played volleyball and ball hockey as a kid. I got involved in coaching when my daughters started to play school and competitive basketball in London, Ontario

Favourite Basketball Drill:
2on2 Frenzy – it’s a fast-paced drill that works on transition, offense, defense, passing, outlets, closeouts, rebounding. The kids love this drill

Top 3 Qualities You Want in a Player:
1. Quickness
2. Intensity at both ends of the court
3. Committed to working hard in practice

Favourite Basketball Memory:
Watching the U16s win the Provincial Championship with Coaches Tom Callahan, Darryl Drain, and Jeff Bechervaise. Most of those players started with me back in Grade 5 and 6, Tom was gracious enough to ask me to give out the gold medals at the end of the game

Basketball Pet Peeve:
Wasting time in practice
Not paying attention
Not giving 100%

Pre-Game Playlist Must-Have:
AC/DC, Thunderstruck

Favourite Thing to Do Outside of Basketball:
Hang out with the grandkids, particularly swimming together at our cottage

Favourite Current Player:
Paige Bueckers

Name & Team:
Coach McGrath – U19

Years Coaching Basketball:
7 years with Belleville Spirits

Playing Background:
Loyalist College

Favourite Basketball Drill:
First to 10 team lay-ups�
Top 3 Qualities You Want in a Player: Attitude/Effort/Willingness to learn�
Your Favourite Basketball Memory: back to back to back OBA championships�
Basketball Pet Peeve:
a busted mesh�
Pre-Game Playlist Must-Have:
Warm It Up – Kris Kross�
Favourite Thing to Do Outside of Basketball: Horseshoes and Fishing�
Favourite Current Player:
Sabrina Ionescu

A huge thank you to everyone who has already signed up — the momentum is building!  We’re thrilled about the possibility of having multiple teams at u13, u14, u15, and u16 levels this season.

That means even more opportunities for athletes to develop their game, compete, and be part of the Spirits family. 

 Find our tryout schedule and registration at bellevillespirits.com/tryouts/