Our Coaches

Passionate Coaches. Proven Experience. Genuine Player Development.

John Sprakel

Experience

Founder of Ballers High Performance Centre
Basketball coach and athlete development specialist
Certificate IV in Fitness
Passionate about long-term player development
25+ years leading businesses and developing people

Junior representative player with the Dandenong Rangers.

VC Champion U18 and U20

National Classic Champion U18

Senior Big V (Formerly VBL) with Western Port Steelers

Coaching

2025/26 - Current coach Casey Cavaliers U16 boys

2024/25 - Assistant coach Casey Cavaliers Champ Mens Youth League

- Head coach Casey Cavaliers U20 boys

Dandenong Rangers - 5 years coaching U12/14/16 boys

Frankston Blues - 1 year coaching U16 girls

Previous domestic coach at Vales Basketball Club

Current head coach of Ballers High Performance domestic teams

Ryan Batte

Ryan has competed and excelled at some of the highest levels of basketball across Australia, the United States, Europe and Asia, bringing a wealth of elite playing experience to Ballers athletes.

🇦🇺 Australia
🏀 Current Big V player with the Pakenham Warriors
🏀 Former Shepparton Gators standout

🇺🇸 United States
🏀 NCAA Division II athlete at Ashland University
🏀 NAIA star at Thomas More University
🏀 NAIA First Team All-American (2022)
🏀 Led Thomas More to the NAIA Final Four

🇫🇮 Finland
🏀 Professional player with BC Nokia
🏀 Eurobasket All-Finnish First Division B Second Team (2023)

🇮🇩 Indonesia
🏀 Professional player with Bali United in the Indonesian Basketball League

Ryan's game has always been built on versatility, work ethic and consistency. Those same qualities now drive his coaching philosophy.

Bee Mullings

Bridget “Bee” Mullings brings NCAA Division I and current Big V experience to Ballers High Performance Centre.

The 6’3” forward played college basketball in the United States with UC San Diego, Utah State University and Grand Canyon University. During her collegiate career, Bee competed in the NCAA Tournament and was part of Grand Canyon’s WAC championship program. She now plays as an import for the Pakenham Warriors in the Big V Championship Women’s competition.

Bee’s size, versatility and experience allow her to provide athletes with genuine insight into post play, footwork, finishing, rebounding and playing confidently through contact. Just as importantly, she brings great energy and a supportive coaching style that helps young players build confidence while being challenged to improve.

Bee will coach across Ballers’ Development, Performance and Elite programs, working with athletes at different stages of their basketball journey.

Aussie Shelley

Austin Shelley brings current professional-level playing and training experience to the Ballers coaching team.

A talented 6’3” guard, Austin currently plays for the Frankston Blues in NBL1 South and is a training player with Melbourne United. During the 2026 season, he averaged more than 16 points and four assists per game, helping Frankston win the NBL1 South Grand Final, and was picked for the NBL1 South Select team that played against the Adelaide 36ers during the NBL preseason.

Austin’s basketball journey has included two years of college basketball with West Texas A&M, along with NBL1 experience at Knox Raiders & Mount Gambier Pioneers, and Youth League experience with Knox Raiders & Pakenham Warriors. He has also been a training player with the Cairns Taipans and South East Melbourne Phoenix.

As a junior, Austin attended Berwick College and was selected in the All-Australian Team at the 2019 Under-18 School Sport Australia Championships after averaging 16 points per game.

Austin brings specialist knowledge in shooting, ball handling, decision-making and guard play. Training regularly within an NBL environment allows him to give Ballers athletes a firsthand understanding of the skills, standards and habits required to perform at the highest levels of Australian basketball.

Our Coaching Philosophy

At Ballers High Performance Centre, we believe great coaching goes beyond teaching basketball skills.

Our role is to build confident athletes, encourage resilience and create an environment where every player feels supported to improve.

We celebrate effort, consistency and a willingness to learn, because long-term development always comes before short-term results.