Our story
Hoop Life Calling
Basketball HQ is Brisbane’s premier destination for basketball enthusiasts, where cutting-edge technology meets the passion for the game. Established in 2024, our state-of-the-art facility redefines the basketball experience with its innovative design and advanced features. Nestled in the heart of Brisbane, our courts boast a sleek and modern aesthetic, complemented by top-of-the-line equipment and amenities.
From high-resolution LED screens displaying real-time stats to immersive sound systems that amplify the excitement of every game, every detail has been carefully crafted to elevate the playing experience. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a casual player, our facility offers a welcoming environment for players of all skill levels to hone their craft and compete at the highest level.
Dwight Hicks Jr
head coach & co-founder
“Growing up in SEQ from a young age I was always an all-round sporty kid. I was blessed to go to a high school that had a basketball program and from there my love for the game was born. After high school I joined the Brisbane Bullets program and then went onto play college basketball in the US. On my return I continued to play state league (The Old NBL1). Coaching and giving back were always a priority for me and it was important to give other athletes the same opportunities I received.
Coaching, Educating, and Consulting became a passion and from there I have been able to continue my growth as an elite coach. With the help of some great staff, coaches and mentors we formed 1 of the largest school-based club programs in SEQ. I also spent over 10 years in the Queensland state program coaching and mentoring some of our current crop of Queensland NBL stars. For the past 2 years I have been coaching the NBL1 Women’s team at Northside. Along the journey I realised there was a real lack of proper training facilities in Queensland and if we could create a facility that could offer more opportunities for kids and adults alike to excel it would solve a great need for SEQ.”
Marius Du Plessis
Director & co-founder
“I grew up in South Africa and have always had a great passion for all things sports. I represented my state in both Rugby and Squash along with some regional representations in cricket. This took me to naturally choose sport as a logical pathway to adulthood. I studied at the University of Johannesburg and completed a Commerce degree in Sports Management I continued on and completed my Honors degree in Sports Management a year later. After some serious knee injuries, I decided to broaden my horizons and move to Australia.
I found myself working in the field of education, or more specific content for the tertiary education sector. After 20 years in this field and the General Manager of one of the largest content providers in the world, I felt I needed a new challenge, this brought me back to what I am passionate about- sports, and that is where the initial conversations with Dwight started. The rest as you say is history.”
Our coaches
MEET YOUR
GAME CHANGERS
Nadeen
Where are you from? Townsville, QLD.
Where have you played/coached? Represented Australia at the U17 & U19 world championships then progressed into the WNBL starting with the AIS. Nadeen then returned home to play for the Townsville Fire before successful stints with Adelaide, SEQ Stars, Bendigo Spirit, Perth Lynx then returned home to finish her professional career with Townsville Fire. In between pro seasons Nadeen has had a very successful state league career mostly playing in the QBL/NBL1 North and is currently playing for Northside Wizards. Throughout her career Nadeen has done a lot of individual skills coaching and is currently a Head Coach at St James College.
What position do you play? Mostly as a 4/5.
Strengths: Efficient scorer, inside/outside game, defend multiple spots.
Why do you coach? I enjoy giving back to the game and helping the next generation of players to develop their skills both on court and in life.
Coaching style: I really value communication in all aspects of my life so that has translated into my coaching style. I love working with kids that just want to get better, I also enjoy helping them discover their strengths and confidence both on and off the court.
Troy
Where are you from? I grew up in Cornubia right up the street from Logan Thunder.
How did you get into basketball? At school with friends that played late in primary school then got more involved when I got to high school.
Where have you played/coached? I played QABL for Logan Thunder and started coaching junior rep teams there which then led to my first senior coaching role as an assistant coach for Mark Dalton. I spent some time up north as an assistant coach for Gladstone Power QBL women’s team. Then when I moved back to Brisbane, I coached at Southern Districts Spartans in their QSL program and as an assistant coach with the NBL1 team. I currently coach club and junior rep at Logan Thunder where my kids play and also assistant coach at Northside Wizards with their NBL1 women’s team with my old teammate and Basketball HQ co-founder Dwight Hicks.
Why do you coach? I coach because I love the game, and I like to compete. At the junior level I like to see the hard work and improvement that the kids put in and the confidence that builds. At the NBL1 level I really enjoy the competitive and technical side of the game and the friendships I have developed over the years.
Coaching style: You can’t skip steps. Good repetition is the key to becoming elite at anything you do.
Uche
Where have you played/coached? I went to school in Adelaide, winning a state championship in 2015 for St Peter’s College. I also represented South Australia at Nationals in 2016 where we placed 4th. I finished high school in Houston, Texas, where we won a Texas State Championship in 2018. After graduating, I earned a full ride scholarship to attend the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley for 3 years, then I transferred to St. Edward’s University for 2 years, where I graduated with a Master’s in Business Administration, as well as a 2x All Conference Team, All Defensive First Team and a 1000 point scorer. I then played my first season in WA with the Warwick Senators, and last year I played in Adelaide for the Forestville Eagles, where we won the NBL1 Central Championship.
What position do you play: I play whatever the coach needs me to play. Naturally, I am a combo-guard, but I played PG at the D1 level and have experience playing from the low block and mid-post.
Strengths: Defence, athleticism, transition, getting to the paint to create, playing off the ball.
Why you coach? Growing up, I had a handful of coaches that not only taught me how to play basketball, but who taught me how to grow into a young man. These coaches have played an instrumental role in me becoming the player and person I am today; they taught me that coaching goes far beyond a basketball coach. I am inspired to pay it forward to the next generation.
Coaching style: A little bit of old school mixed with the new school! I am heavy on fundamentals and details, and I love to compete. My coaching creates a highly focused, competitive environment for players to thrive in.
Ella
Why you coach? I have a passion for helping aspiring players to develop their confidence and skills, assisting them for continuous improvement. I specialise in shooting performance / technique as well as finishing under the rim.
Where have you played? I have been playing basketball for over 10 years starting in social basketball following through to Junior Representative programs following through to senior Representative programs. Additionally, for the entirety of my schooling, I was also heavily involved with highly competitive school basketball leading to state and national achievements. In junior basketball I extended my involvement to state performance programs playing the position of a shooting guard.
Where have you coached? I have worked within the school programs heavily over the past years as both head coach and co-coaching. Within the schooling programs I have worked with year levels 4-12 including the Sugiyama (Japanese exchange) Development program. My school coaching history includes internal/external/ state and national competitions, development programs, day camps, and basketball as an elective subject.
Within the basketball community at Southern District Spartans, I have extended my coaching to be in the club scene as well as training programs from young players aged 4 and up to develop skills and confidence. This further includes assisting in professional basketball coaching clinics and day camps.
Furthermore, I have been conducting private sessions of small groups or individual training over the past 4 years. These sessions allow for focus on players weaknesses to improve, creating signature moves and working on specific areas of their game.
Simon
Where are you from? Brisbane.
How did you get into Basketball? Parents got me into basketball, I started playing when I was 8 years old for Lang Park at Brisbane Basketball Incorporated.
Where have you played/coached? Played 15 seasons across QABL/SEABL, QBL. 2006-2008 @ Brisbane Capitals. 2009-2011 @ Southern Districts Spartans. 2012 @ Brisbane Capitals. 2013-2014 @ Northside Wizards. 2015-2019 @ Logan Thunder. Coached Indigenous U14 & U17 QLD South Boys.
What position did you play: 2/3 Wing.
Strengths: Athleticism, scorer, defence.
Why you coach? I enjoy seeing the smiles on kids’ faces and watching them grow and develop their skills in the game.
Coaching style: Calm but firm, development focused.
