Three days at Bamberg, four intense training sessions and a lot of learning sum up Pro Skills Academy 2025. 19 talented kids came to work out with Stefan Weissenboeck and his Pro Skills Campus coaches and worked on their finishing and decision-making and learned what it takes to make it as a professional basketball player.
“It was clear that I wanted to come back”, said Colin who took part in last year’s Pro Skills Academy and added: “I like the workouts, and I learned a lot. A few new moves and overall how to get shiftier when attacking the basket.” Colin is an Austrian youth international and one of 14 boys to come to Bamberg and work out at the gym of nine-time German Bundesliga champion Bamberg Baskets. In addition to the boys five girls made their way to Franconia. One of them is Mia who plays for Croatia’s youth national team. “A few days ago, I wasn’t feeling so well. I was scared that I would miss Pro Skills Academy. Luckily, I made it.” Mia met Stefan for the first time. But for her there was even a bigger reason to come to Bamberg. “I wanted to work out with the coach that trained Caitlin Clark.”
This coach is Jessie Miller. During the past season she was an assistant coach at WNBA team Indiana Fever and therefore worked with the league’s new superstar. Jessie was one of many coaches that helped make Pro Skills Academy a unique experience. Like Stefan Weissenboeck or Jessie Miller some of them have worked with world-class players. For example, Kevin Kositz is still working with European Champions Andi Obst. “Thanks to the many coaches we can split into small groups and really adjust details of our game”, explained Colin.
Learning from each other – Every career path is different
While in the beginning these groups consisted only of the same gender, they started to mix in the following sessions. That’s what Mia really liked: “Playing against the boys is even more physical. That’s what I was really looking forward to. I like the challenges that come with playing against stronger opponents.”
One player that managed to beat a lot of his stronger opponents due to his consistent work ethics is Gabriel Kuku. Gabriel was not participating at the Academy because he is a pro player for Bamberg Baskets and had just scored six points in the game against ratiopharm ulm the day before. While the kids watched him play in BROSE ARENA the night before, they had the chance to get even closer on the first day of workouts. Gabriel took the time to sit down with the kids and tell them about his career. “It wasn’t always easy, and I had to make my way from the lower leagues to the BBL. But there was never a moment that made me doubt chasing that dream. It’s the love for basketball that makes it all worth it.”
With these insights, Mia, Colin and the other kids gained an extra boost of motivation to not only give their best at Pro Skills Academy but to ensure they chase their dreams no matter how big they are. Some kids might even dream of making it as far as Austrian NBA star Jakob Pöltl who once started working out with Stefan Weissenboeck and is now averaging a double-double in his ninth NBA season currently playing for the Toronto Raptors. As a big thank you to Stefan and Pro Skills Campus Jakob has once again been supporting Pro Skills Academy and made sure to help the next generation improve their game.
Thank you Jakob, thank you coaches, thank you PUMA for once again powering Pro Skills Campus and most of all: Thank you to all the participants at Pro Skills Academy 2025. We’re hoping to see you again next year. #learningisforever
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