The National Basketball Association, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and Basketball without Boarders (BWB) are celebrating the 15th anniversary of their global basketball development and community outreach program by holding the first Basketball without Borders Africa Camp in Angola. It will take place at the Pavilhão Multiusos do Kilamba in Luanda from 31st of August until the 3rd of September.
Together, they announced the top 87 boys and girls from 27 African countries who will take part in the camp's festivities, giving them the chance to meet various current and former NBA players and coaches.
According to FIBA.com:
“BWB Africa, which will be supported by the Angolan Basketball Federation (Federaçao Angolana de Basquetebol) and the Angola Ministry of Youth and Sports, will bring together the top male and female players born in 1999 from across Africa to learn directly from NBA and FIBA players, legends and coaches, including Bismack Biyombo (Orlando Magic; Democratic Republic of the Congo), Eric Bledsoe (Phoenix Suns; USA), Luc Mbah a Moute (LA Clippers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2003), Salah Mejri (Dallas Mavericks; Tunisia), Thabo Sefolosha (Atlanta Hawks; Switzerland), and Cody Zeller (Charlotte Hornets; USA).
“NBA coaches Tom Bialaszewski (most recently with the Los Angeles Lakers), Johnnie Bryant (Utah Jazz), Harold Ellis (Orlando Magic), BJ Johnson (Houston Rockets), Sidney Lowe (Washington Wizards) and Lloyd Pierce (Philadelphia 76ers) will also serve as BWB Africa coaches. Duane Brooks (New Orleans Pelicans), and Steve Spiro (Cleveland Cavaliers) will serve as the camp’s athletic trainers, while Pelicans Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Dell Demps and Toronto Raptors President and General Manager Masai Ujiri will serve as camp directors.
“The NBA players will be joined by NBA Global Ambassador and Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo (Democratic Republic of the Congo); former NBA players Charlie Bell (U.S.), Jason Collins (U.S.), Olumide Oyedeji (Nigeria); and former WNBA players Astou Ndiaye-Diatta (Senegal) and Jenn Lacy (U.S.).”
From the NBA, Vice President and Managing Director for Africa, Amadou Gallo Fall said:
“We are pleased to partner with FIBA to bring the 14th edition of Basketball without Borders Africa to Angola for the first time. Africa's growing basketball ecosystem led to a record 10 African players on NBA rosters at the start of last season and five African players selected in the 2016 NBA Draft. This year’s camp will once again provide young players from across the continent with the tools to succeed on the court and in life.”
The camp will take place with the support of various new and long standing partners, including UNICEF, Nike, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa, Helmarc, and South African Airways, among others. Also, in cooperation with NBA and FIBA, all will work together in finding ways to help the local community in the long term with various other programs and initiatives.
Whether these young athletes manage to play professional basketball in the future or not, one thing is certain: they will have the chance to meet some of the world's greatest players while learning from an elite group of coaches, gaining important experiences that few get to have.
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