Rockets to expand AASE programme / Matt Davis departs to Spain

Reading Rockets will have 20 players on the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) programme for the 2015/2016 season at both the John Madejski Academy and Henley College. 9 returning players will be completing their second year this term whilst 11 new players will be enrolled on the programme for the first time. All the players will be part of the club’s two main academies with Rockets Director of Coaching Matt Johnson and Under 18 Head Coach Pedro Garcia Rosado heading up the JMA site and Rockets Division One Head Coach Manuel Pena Garces and Head of AASE Ben Fisher in charge of the Henley College Academy.

The AASE programme allows elite players to learn the skills needed to attain qualifications and develop sporting excellence alongside studying A-Levels and B-Tech’s as well as competing in the Elite Academies Basketball League (EABL) Under 19s which will this year be head coached by Manuel Pena Garces. In speaking about the expansion of the club’s academy and AASE programme, Ben Fisher commented that the value of AASE and the development of players was an integral part to the club. He said,

“To be able to have 20 players on the AASE programme this year is going to be great for both the club, coaches, and players. It is a great apprenticeship which allows all to learn and develop as well as work together for the common goals of each of the athletes and their futures. We are all looking forward to this exciting time and it will be good to see some of the players get the opportunity to also perform at the men’s and women’s level.”