Currently the only club in Teesside with England Basketball Clubmark and four-star accreditation, Hartlepool Heat was one of the inaugural members of the HSA and a club that is rapidly growing in size and stature.

It is currently home to three senior men's teams, a women's team, an under 18 girls team and a large junior section.

Anthony Robinson, Club secretary said "Joining the HSA has proved a great opportunity for us to help shape basketball in the town. The elite athlete programme at the College Basketball academy has already proved a great success with Heat players making the transition from club to college with ease and gaining expert coaching along the way. Through the HSA we have the backing and expertise to make sure that any outstanding sports men or women will get the backing, both on the coaching side and on the financial side, to help them realise their potential to the full."

Michael Bretherick, Chairman of the HSA, said: "The involvement of Hartlepool Heat in the HSA has been one of great successes this first year with the most visible link between community clubs and College witnessed in the hugely successful Basketball ACADEMY programme. Not only have these elite performers benefitted so have all those participating in Basketball for the first time as the result of the new batch of coaches qualified through a jointly run Coaching course.