A journey of passion and perseverance has transformed basketball at St John’s College into one of Southern Africa’s premier school sporting programmes.

In 1995, when Allan Laing formally established basketball at St John’s College, few could have imagined the sport would grow into the powerhouse it is today.

That first season saw only four teams compete in 37 matches, with the 1st team playing a modest nine games against local Johannesburg schools.

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Under Laing’s dedicated leadership as master in charge, the sport steadily gained traction throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. By 2000, something special was taking root.

Laing’s report in the Johannian magazine described the school’s invitational tournament as fast becoming a tradition. 10 schools competed in that three-day event, with St Alban’s claiming victory and St John’s finishing as runners-up.

When Laing departed for Michaelhouse in 2004, he left behind a thriving programme of 6 teams and approximately 90 players. The 1st team was now playing 17 matches per season, competing against established rivals, including King Edward VII, Sacred Heart College, St David’s Marist, Indanda, and Bishop Bavin.

The appointment of Enock Kamangira as master in charge in January 2005 marked the beginning of an ambitious new chapter. In 2006, the U19 tournament was rejuvenated with 6 local schools participating.

Additional basketball courts
However, St John’s faced a challenge: With only one and a half basketball courts available, the school lacked both the facilities and squad depth to compete at the highest level.

The breakthrough came in late 2008, with the arrival of the late Ronald Garura, a former Zimbabwe national team coach. His coaching expertise, combined with passionate support from parents, particularly John and Glynis Chew, transformed the programme.

The results were immediate. In 2009, St John’s won their own tournament for the first time, followed by victories in 2010 and 2012. These weren’t regular wins; they meant defeating Durban High School, then the undisputed powerhouse of South African school basketball.

As the programme expanded to 13 teams by 2012, the need for proper facilities became urgent. Initially, tournaments were held at Wits University due to space constraints on campus. The turning point came when the parents’ association advocated for infrastructure development with then headmaster Roger Cameron. Their case was strengthened by a bold move from King Edward VII School, whose headmaster had converted four tennis courts into basketball courts.

St John’s responded by constructing two additional courts next to the main court, plus a sixth form court.

The St John’s U16 Tournament, established in 2009, further strengthened the programme. By 2013, the U19 tournament had grown to 30 teams, while the U16 tournament hosted 16.

The events attracted international participation from Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe, effectively eclipsing the DHS tournament as the region’s premier basketball event. The U16 age group of the tournament was later ceded to St Stithians College and replaced by a U15 age group.

Three decades on, the St John’s College Basketball Tournament has evolved into a world-class sporting event.
The programme now features over 250 players supervised by professional coaches, competing across four tournament divisions: U19A with 20 teams, U19B with 8 teams, a new addition for 2026, U15 with 24 teams, and the U13 Prep Schools Festival, featuring 15 teams (festival format).

Games are held at St John’s College and two additional indoor venues, using up to 9 courts and featuring International Basketball Federation qualified officials. The games are live-streamed on SuperSport Schools, and the Basketball Village offers food vendors, VIP lounges, and activation zones for spectators.

The programme’s success reflects the dedication of numerous individuals who have served as master in charge, including Allan Laing, Enock Kamangira, Jean Bwasa, Ngoza Mazarura, Mhlanga, Tswatswa, and the current master in charge, Clemen Kock.

From four teams playing 37 matches in 1995 to hosting Southern Africa’s premier school basketball tournament, St John’s College has built a tradition of excellence that continues to inspire young athletes across the region.