Empowering youth through basketball, from grassroots to the game's highest levels

At Airtime Basketball, we are dedicated to empowering youth through basketball to spark imagination and inspire change. Our mission is to provide innovative opportunities that help youth excel both on and off the court, positively impacting their communities and athletic careers.

Airtime Basketball offers a dynamic range of youth programs designed to engage players through basketball while supporting academic achievement, vocational skills, and pro-social outcomes. We believe in developing the whole person—helping young athletes build character, discipline, and leadership skills that extend far beyond sports.

For elite athletes, Airtime Basketball provides an advanced, high-performance training environment. Our team has extensive experience and valuable connections to guide top talent towards college and professional basketball opportunities in both Australia and the United States. Whether it’s collegiate recruitment or preparing for a professional career, Airtime Basketball is committed to helping athletes reach their fullest potential.

Our Programs:

Youth Engagement

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Development Training

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Youth Engagement

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The Team

Michael Houben

CEO

Michael Houben

  • Position: CEO
Michael Houben - CEO

With a background in basketball media (with work featured on The Pick and Roll, NBA Australia, NBL), as well as a scout, I came to learn the stories of many athletes, as well as observe the inefficiencies in the Australian basketball development landscape.

Having worked in the youth work sector and in schools, my philosophy is that young athletes need to be seen and supported, not just as athletes, but as people - no more so than in this current time where athletes are being treated further and further like commodities. This belief has informed our holistic approach to athlete development and is the backbone of Airtime's inception.

With strong networks throughout the US high school and college space, as well as the NBL and NBA, I’ll be hands-on in guiding our elite athletes towards opportunities beyond Airtime programs and onto greater success.

Manny Hendrix

Director of Coaching

Manny Hendrix

  • Position: Director of Coaching
Manny Hendrix - Director of Coaching

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Manny Hendrix Jr. played college basketball across the Junior College, Division One and NAIA levels before starting his professional career, which led him to Australian shores.

Retiring in 2024 after over a decade living and playing in Australia, Manny's focus is on developing the next generation of athletes, utilising his talent and experience to develop players into creative, dynamic and high intensity athletes.

Passionate about the impact of basketball as a vehicle for inclusion, personal development and social change, Manny spearheads both Airtime's high performance development within Melbourne, as well as our youth engagement programs.