Basketball Victoria Country (BVC) and Warrnambool Basketball Incorporated (WBI) officials yesterday revealed the city would host a four-day gala for under 12s.

The jamboree will include 60 boys and 60 girls, along with selected coaches and referees. It will run from September 28 to October 1 and again in 2015.

BVC general manager David Huxtable said the jamboree would replace a similar event in Albury, which could only cater for 60 juniors.

Echuca will also host an under 12 jamboree, on the preceding weekend, as it has done for years.

Huxtable said Warrnambool had a basketballers reputation which justified staging a jamboree in the city.

“It’s an obvious choice … we were pretty keen to bring something to the south-west,” he said.

Basketball officials will select the participants for the two jamborees from eight skills days in late July. The south-west skills day is in Hamilton.

Those selected will play two matches and receive specialist coaching advice.

“We want the kids there to have fun and we want the coaches to have fun so we all walk away with a great basketball experience,” Huxtable said.

WBI junior squad co-ordinator Craig McLeod said hosting the jamboree was a coup for the Warrnambool basketball community.

afawkes@fairfaxmedia.com.au