Coaching at Topcats

Meet Coach AJ—where passion meets performance. AJ is committed to building champions through discipline, hard work, and a whole lot of fun.

Coach AJ lives on the defensive end—where effort meets execution. Passionate about developing student-athletes, AJ molds disciplined, high-IQ players who own the classroom and the court. Hard work isn't optional; it's the standard. Defence travels. So does success.

2 x BBL MVP, 3x BBL champion, Former GB national team player, NCAA athlete, Topcat alumni. 15 year pro career in Europe/UK. Has lead u12 & u13 to three league titles.

3 x British University league titles. Multiple-time league and cup-winning coach across Division 1, 2 and National League. Former London Girls Head Coach & Under-18 Women's London Regional Coach.

8 x BBL Trophy winner. Commonwealth Bronze medalist. One of England's most capped players. An extensive playing career ranging 30 years+ playing 540 games.

From being a basketball parent to becoming a coach, I am proud to now give back to the community that has given so much to me. Since 2016, I have been coaching at TopCats as Assistant Coach under Head Coach Jimmy Rogers, helping to develop young athletes both on and off the court.

My coaching achievements include leading the U16 Boys to an undefeated National League Championship in the 2021/2022 season and guiding the U12, U13 & U14 Boys to the CBL Championship in the 2025/2026 season.

Beyond competitive basketball, I am actively involved in community sessions and basketball camps, focusing on teaching the fundamentals of the game while inspiring the next generation of players.

Basketball has been at the heart of my life since I joined the Brixton Topcats in 1991. What began as a young player's passion has grown into a lifelong commitment to the club that shaped me, and today I am proud to serve as the Men's Under-18 Head Coach.

As a player, I had the privilege of being coached by Paul Ambrosius and the late, great Jimmy Rogers. They taught me far more than basketball. They instilled in me the values of hard work, discipline, respect, resilience, and what it truly means to be part of a team. Those lessons have stayed with me throughout my playing career and continue to shape the way I coach today.

During my playing career, I competed at the highest levels of the game, representing Crystal Palace in the British Basketball League (BBL), London Towers in the BBL and European competition, Bamberg Basketball Club in Germany's top division, and Kingston Wildcats in Division One. Every experience helped develop my understanding of the game and strengthened the values first taught to me at Brixton Topcats.

Now, as a coach, I strive to pass those same values of hard work and discipline on to every young person I work with. My goal is not only to develop talented basketball players but also to help build confident, respectful, and resilient young men who can succeed both on and off the court.

For me, Brixton Topcats is more than a basketball club—it's family. It gave me opportunities, lifelong friendships, and mentors who changed my life. Coaching is my way of honouring the legacy of Paul Ambrosius and Jimmy Rogers, and I hope to continue the proud Brixton Topcats tradition by inspiring and developing the next generation of players, just as they inspired me.

"Success isn't measured only by wins and losses, but by the character, discipline, and confidence that young people take with them long after they leave the court."