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Rangitoto College Basketball: A New Era of Excellence
Rangitoto College continues to construct a thriving basketball culture built on inclusivity, development, and excellence. In 2025, we are proud to field 41 teams with over 400 students involved, making basketball one of the largest and most dynamic sports at our school.
Our programme caters to a wide range of players, from those looking for a fun and social experience to high-performance athletes aspiring to compete at the highest level. There is a place for everyone in our basketball whānau.
Welcoming Home a Legend: Marco Alexander
We are thrilled to welcome back alumnus Marco Alexander (Class of 2009) as our new Director of Basketball. Returning to the campus where his journey began, Marco brings an unparalleled wealth of experience to our sports department.
As the school’s all-time leading scorer and a former leader of our Premier Team, Marco’s transition to the professional stage was seamless. His career includes:
- Professional Leagues: Eight seasons in the NZ NBL, a stint in Europe with KK Rabotnicki, and representing Melbourne United in the Australian NBL.
- National Representation: Proudly donning the black jersey for the Tall Blacks, the NZ 3×3 National Team, and the NZ Select Team.
- Coaching Pedigree: Formerly the Lead Development Coach for the Junior Breakers and founder of the Playmaker Academy.
For Marco, this is a homecoming. His mission is to foster a nurturing yet elite environment where players excel both on and off the court, blending professional standards with deep-rooted “Rangi Pride.”
Premier Coaching Leadership
Our Premier teams are led by an outstanding group of coaches dedicated to technical growth and character building:
- Premier Boys – Tom Higgins: We are excited to announce Tom Higgins as our new Premier Boys Head Coach. A familiar face at our kura, Tom is a valued PE and Health Teacher at Rangitoto College. He brings a significant basketball playing pedigree and a deep understanding of student-athlete development, ensuring our boys are supported both academically and athletically.
- Premier Girls – Brooke Blair: Brooke continues her incredible work with our Premier Girls after making history in 2024 by leading the team to the AA Secondary School Nationals Championships—a landmark achievement for our girls’ programme.
Our Premier teams compete in the prestigious Auckland Secondary Schools competition, while all other teams participate in the Harbour Basketball competition.
Program Highlights & Success
The strength of our program was on full display this past year, notably with our girls’ team winning the Auckland 3×3 Basketball Championship and placing 5th at Nationals. This remarkable result reflects the rapid growth and talent within our girls’ basketball community.
Participation & Uniforms
To support the costs associated with College Sport registration, Harbour Basketball affiliation, equipment, and administration, a participation fee will be added to each student’s school parent portal.
Requirements:
- Uniforms: Official Kukri singlets and Kukri PE shorts are required.
- Safety: Mouthguards are mandatory for all players.
- Purchase: All gear can be purchased through the Rangitoto College Uniform Shop.
We are excited for the year ahead and look forward to working closely with our athletes, whānau, and wider basketball community to achieve continued success—on and off the court.
