Atlas Select
Atlas Select

Atlas Ballers

Atlas Select —
Your Next Step
Towards Competitive
Play

The Programme

What Is Atlas Select

Led by

Ben Olajide

Atlas Select Head Coach

Atlas Select is a dedicated development tier within the Atlas Ballers Senior Academy, built for players aged 14 to 18 who have the potential to compete at the highest level of our programme — but need the right environment to get there.

This isn't a consolation. This is a deliberate investment. We identified a group of players who are ready to be pushed harder, trained with more intent, and given a clearer path forward. Atlas Select exists to give them exactly that.

Through the season, Select players will train under Coach Ben Olajide and compete in regular internal scrimmages against our HPDT and U14 Dev squads — so every session has a benchmark, and every player knows what they're working toward.

01
Selected, not settled
Invitation only. Every player here was chosen for their potential.
02
Compete up
Regular scrimmages against HPDT and Dev — real competition, real feedback.
03
Individual focus
Clear benchmarks for each player. You'll know where you stand and what's next.
04
Built for next season
Everything we do this season is preparation for stepping up.
Atlas Select — The Pathway

The Pathway

Your Road To The Top

01
Academy
02
Atlas Select
You are here
03
HPDT / U14 Dev
04
Elites
Atlas Select — Who This Is For

Who This Is For

Are You A Select Player?

Atlas Select is invitation only — but knowing what we look for helps you understand what we're building toward. These are the traits that define a Select player.

You're a fit
You compete, not just participate Every session, you're pushing yourself. You want to be tested, not comfortable.
You're a fit
You're coachable You take feedback seriously. You don't just hear it — you apply it the next rep.
You're a fit
You're hungry to move up HPDT isn't a dream — it's a target. You know the gap and you're willing to close it.
You're a fit
You show up consistently Talent without attendance means nothing. You're here when it counts.
Not yet
You're looking for easy playing time Select is not a shortcut. It's a harder room with higher expectations.
Not yet
You're not ready to be challenged You'll train and scrimmage against better players. That's the point.
Atlas Select — The Standard

The Standard

What Ready Looks Like

These are the benchmarks we use to evaluate whether a Select player is ready to ascend to HPDT. They're not secrets — they're your targets.

01
Skill & Execution
  • Handles ball pressure without turning it over
  • Shoots with consistent mechanics off the catch and off the dribble
  • Makes the right read in pick-and-roll situations
02
Defence & Effort
  • Stays in front of their man in one-on-one situations
  • Communicates switches and screens without being told
  • Competes on the glass regardless of size
03
Basketball IQ
  • Understands spacing and doesn't crowd the ball
  • Reads the tempo — knows when to push and when to slow down
  • Makes team-first decisions under pressure
04
Character & Mentality
  • Responds to setbacks without shutting down
  • Holds teammates accountable — leads by example
  • Trains the same whether coaches are watching or not

These benchmarks are reviewed every scrimmage. Coach Ben tracks progress individually — so you always know where you stand.

Reviewed Each Scrimmage
Atlas Select — Selection Notice

Selection Notice

How You'll Know

Selection for Atlas Select is by invitation only. We have identified our players — there is no application process.

If your child has been selected, Coach Ben Olajide will notify them personally during an Academy session. Parents will receive a follow-up message directly from the club shortly after.

Who Senior Academy players, ages 14–18
How Personal notification during Academy sessions
Launching May 2025
Atlas Ballers
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