Sheila Dixon Co-Founds Basketball Academy in Andorra Blending Sport and US University Pathways

Sheila Dixon, a former US basketball player who has competed in Scotland, Barcelona, and Andorra—including a stint with Barça CBS—co-founded the Dixon Sport Academy in 2018 alongside Gerard Casamiquela. The programme targets players aged 13 to 21 and aims to blend high-level basketball training with academic opportunities, particularly pathways to US universities.

The academy began as an idea to organise a 3x3 basketball tournament in Andorra, but after initial setbacks—including discussions with Alain Cabanes—the founders pivoted. They created a travelling team of European players to compete in the United States each summer. Demand from families soon grew, leading to support for players seeking both sports and study placements abroad.

Now based at Àgora Andorra International School in L'Aldosa, La Massana, the academy runs a high-performance programme with over 20 hours of weekly training. It has attracted international talent, including players from the US, France, Norway, Spain, and Scotland. Andorran participants include Ignasi Armengol—described as the country's top 2007-born player—who is pursuing postgraduate studies in the US and fielding offers from top universities—along with Adrià Pallerola and Àlex Peral.

The team competes in the European Youth Basketball League (EYBL), regarded as Europe's second-best youth competition, with recent camps in Rome and an upcoming event in Bucharest. Demand has surged, with 150 applications but spots limited to 50.

Dixon, who studied at Brown University and holds a master's in sports management from the University of Edinburgh, moved to Andorra five years ago seeking a natural environment after the pandemic. "What I want is for my players to have life opportunities, to be good people, and to access experiences they might not have without sport," she said. She emphasised helping athletes continue studies while playing basketball in the US, drawing from her own career that exposed her to new cultures.

Casamiquela, the team manager, noted challenges in establishing a local club due to monopolies in Andorra and restrictions in Spain, particularly around BC MoraBanc. Fees stand at €250 monthly for extensive training, with discounts for Andorrans and travel costs covered separately for tournaments. The programme is self-funded through parents, with plans to seek sponsors.

Looking ahead, Dixon and Casamiquela hope to expand into women's basketball within three to five years, addressing a gap in the region. Coach Brayant Peña, previously an assistant with Barça CBS women, sees strong potential: "The players are at Preferent B level but have huge room for improvement."

The academy promotes a US-style model, balancing European season play from September to February with college cups and 3x3 events, fostering well-rounded development beyond basketball.