Train in Europe.
Study in English.
A full-time basketball and academic programme for players aged 14–19 relocating to Gran Canaria — 365 days of training weather, a British curriculum, and a home inside the European Union.
The advantages no American academy can copy
Gran Canaria sits off the west coast of Africa but inside the European Union — which changes almost every practical decision a family has to make.
Train outdoors all year
Average 20–25°C in every month of the year. No indoor-only winters, no lost weeks to snow.
Inside the EU
EU passport holders need no student visa. Short, cheap flights home and a European time zone for families.
A British diploma
IGCSE and A-Levels — recognised by universities across Europe, the UK and North America.
English every day
A genuinely bilingual school, so players arrive into English rather than having to learn Spanish first.
European basketball at the door
Gran Canaria is an ACB city. Players grow up around professional European basketball, not just school gyms.
Lower total cost
Tuition, accommodation and travel that sit well below comparable United States prep academies.
Where they live, eat, study and recover
Sending a teenager 3,000 km from home is a decision about trust before it is a decision about basketball. These are the answers we give first.
Accommodation
Supervised student accommodation close to campus, with shared rooms, study space and laundry. Room allocation is agreed with families before arrival.
Meals & nutrition
Three meals a day built around the training schedule, with guidance from our strength and conditioning staff. Dietary requirements accommodated.
Supervision
Named residential staff on duty daily, including evenings and weekends, with a clear escalation route and 24-hour emergency contact.
Health & medical
Registered medical cover, physiotherapy for training and match injuries, and a structured return-to-play protocol.
Guardianship & documentation
Support with legal guardianship, residency paperwork and, where needed, student visas — handled alongside admissions, not left to families.
Travel & weekends
Airport pick-up and drop-off at the start and end of each term, plus organised weekend activities: beach, hiking, cultural trips and open gym.
Basketball does not replace the classroom
Every player in the programme is a full student of Canterbury School, following the British curriculum in English.
IGCSE (ages 14–16)
The core British qualification, taught in English, with subject choice guided towards the player's university plans.
A-Levels (ages 16–18)
The route into UK and European universities, and a recognised qualification for North American admissions.
NCAA eligibility
Guidance through the NCAA Eligibility Center: core-course approval, transcripts and amateurism certification.
SAT & English support
SAT preparation, plus English language support for players arriving without fluent English.
Study hall
Supervised study time built into the weekly schedule, with grade tracking shared with families each term.
Two doors open
Players finish qualified for European university, an NCAA scholarship, or a professional contract in Europe — no early bet required.
How players get seen
Exposure is the reason families choose an academy over their local club. This is how it works here.
Competitive calendar
Island and regional league fixtures, plus travel to tournaments on mainland Spain and elsewhere in Europe.
Highlight reels
Game footage captured and edited into recruiting film for every player in the senior programme.
Recruiting profiles
A maintained player profile — measurements, statistics, film and academics — sent to college and club contacts.
European route
Contact with ACB and LEB club structures on the island for players whose pathway is professional rather than collegiate.
College guidance
One-to-one planning on target divisions, realistic offers, applications and deadlines.
After graduation
Alumni stay in the network — Canterbury players today compete in university and professional basketball across Europe and North America.
Santi Aldama
NBA forward. Canterbury alumnus.
Santi Aldama learned the game on this island and passed through Canterbury before Loyola Maryland, the 2021 NBA Draft and the Memphis Grizzlies. He is the clearest proof of what this pathway can produce — and the standard the programme is built around.
“Canterbury no es solo el club en el que he jugado toda mi carrera de formación, sino que también es mi segunda familia. Me ha regalado momentos y vivencias de un valor incalculable y amistades para toda la vida.”
NBA — Dallas MavericksWhere our players are now
“Canterbury ha formado parte de mi carrera deportiva y les estoy eternamente agradecida. Vaya donde vaya me siento afortunada de pertenecer a esta familia, de haber tenido buenos entrenadores y amistades.”
“Canterbury para mí ha sido una segunda casa. Un lugar donde empecé a jugar con tan solo cinco años y del cual guardo increíbles recuerdos desde los campus, los torneos, campeonatos, asaderos etc.”
“Canterbury is not a basketball Academy but a family. I've met great people who went from being teammates to become brothers. Coaches that always pushed me to bring the best out of me both on and off the courts.”
“I feel so blessed to have been a part of this Academy I can now call my home. I have learned how to be a better person, a better and stronger player.”
“When I think of Canterbury, I think of Home, I think of purpose, I think of commitment and most importantly I think of long lasting relationships I made in my years there.”
From first email to first training session
- 1Get in touchDay 1
Send the application form below with your basketball background and academic year.
- 2Film reviewWithin 5 working days
Our coaching staff watch your highlight video and full-game footage.
- 3Video callWeek 1–2
A conversation with the family: goals, level, academics, cost and expectations.
- 4TrialBy arrangement
An on-court trial in Gran Canaria, or a supervised remote assessment where travel is not possible.
- 5Offer & enrolmentWithin 2 weeks of trial
A written offer covering the sporting programme, academic place, accommodation and full cost.
- 6Documentation & arrivalBefore term starts
Visa or residency paperwork, guardianship, flights and airport pick-up.
What international families ask us
Do we need a visa?
EU, EEA and Swiss passport holders do not need a student visa to study in Spain. Families from outside the EU do, and we support the application with the enrolment documentation the consulate requires.
What does the programme cost?
Cost depends on the academic year, the accommodation option and whether flights are included. We send a full written breakdown — no hidden extras — after the first video call.
My child does not speak Spanish. Is that a problem?
No. Teaching and coaching are in English. Spanish is taught as a subject, and most players are conversational within a year.
How much basketball is there per week?
Daily team training, individual skill work and strength and conditioning, plus weekend fixtures during the season. The exact load depends on age group and competition calendar.
Who is responsible for my child?
Residential staff supervise daily life, and legal guardianship is formally arranged before arrival. Families receive a named contact and a 24-hour emergency number.
What happens if there is an injury?
Medical cover and physiotherapy are in place, and families are contacted immediately. Rehabilitation and a structured return to play are managed by our staff.
Can we visit before deciding?
Yes, and we recommend it. We arrange campus visits, a training session to watch or join, and time with the coaching and residential staff.
Is there a minimum level?
The senior programme is competitive and places are limited. Film review is honest — if we are not the right fit, we say so rather than take an enrolment.
Start your application
Fill this in as the player or as a parent. We review every submission with the coaching staff and reply within 5 working days.