12/05/2026
When I was 18, all I wanted was to go to college in the US so that I could play basketball at university level (NCAA). It wasn’t my parents’ dream. Great free university in Switzerland vs not so good and extremely expensive university in the US. Go figure.
I finally convinced them by saying that I would get a full scholarship. And I did. A few months later, I was on my way to the College of Charleston in South Carolina – a place I hadn’t even visited before. It was a dream come true.
Today, many young basketball players dream to have the chance to go play in the US and they give it their best shot. It has become popular so more difficult to get a full scholarship. And it is still not their parent’s dream. Even less so with the current political climate.
Five years ago, Antoine Gillespie, a former NBA and professional player, created Ball Academy. He had a vision to bring players from around the world to play here in Switzerland. As an Americain, he saw Switzerland as a place that is safe in the middle of Europe –well located – that could become an alternative to prep schools and junior colleges for young players.
It was hard to imagine young players coming to Switzerland where basketball is so undervalued, where facilities lack and are often old and uninviting, and where the level of competition as a whole is nowhere near the great European championships.
But guess what. He did it. He created Europe’s first Athletic Prep School and University where players from around the world are coming to seek an immersive experience, skill develop with Antoine Gillespie, play on a Swiss national competition and get a high school or university degree or a language certificate. It has become a steppingstone before the NCAA, a pro basketball career or avenues that they hadn’t dreamt of before.
Besides Swiss dedicated players, Ball Academy now has young women and men from Kenya, Bosnia, Tunisia, the United States, Madagascar, Nigeria and more joining the programs!
He’s created new lanes for young people. He tailored to their dreams and reassured their parents that these were building years where through their passion, their child could learn to be autonomous, confident, open-minded and committed young adults.
And I’m happy to share that we just put online the academy’s new website. I am proud to present it because I know that my 18-year-old self would have loved it and maybe stayed in Switzerland a few more years before seeking a scholarship. ;)
Thanks a lot to Angela and pixandnet for the great work you did designing this website. And much continued success building this inspiring project and supporting young motivated young people, Antoine. I hope this website will help to make your dream even more visible to young people and their parents!
👉 Check out:
Europe's 1st Athletic Prep School & University designed to develop the next generation of basketball student athletes. Based in Switzerland. Founded by Antoine Gillespie and Phil Handy.
