5 Young SA Basketball Hopefuls Selected for Basketball Without Borders Camp

Photo Credit: Pexels

Several NBA Basketball legends are coming to South Africa this weekend to coach and inspire the next generation of athletes – 5 South Africans are joining them.

Johannesburg, South Africa (26 July 2023) – 80 Basketball hopefuls from high schools across Africa will be arriving at the American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ) in South Africa this weekend to take part in the 19th edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa camp. The camp is highly anticipated because the youth are coached by NBA legends!

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) made the exciting announcement yesterday and of the 80 selected participants, South Africa has 3 young ladies and 2 young men joining the camp.

The big names in NBA are committed to making a difference

BWB Africa 2023 will bring together 80 young men and women from more than 25 African countries – including 19 NBA Academy Africa and NBA Academy Women’s Camp Africa 2022 prospects – to learn directly from current and former NBA, WNBA and FIBA players, legends and coaches and compete alongside their peers from across the continent. The campers will be coached by two-time NBA All-Star Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat; U.S.; ties to Nigeria), 2022 NBA champion Jonathan Kuminga (Golden State Warriors; Democratic Republic of the Congo), 2022 NBA All-Star Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers; U.S.) and Jalen Suggs (Orlando Magic; U.S.).

Five current and former NBA head coaches will also serve as BWB Africa 2023 coaches: Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff; two-time NBA Coach of the Year, Nigeria Men’s National Team head coach and Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown; 2018 NBA Coach of the Year Dwane Casey (most recently with the Detroit Pistons); Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham; and veteran NBA coach Dave Joerger (most recently with the Philadelphia 76ers).

Several former NBA and WNBA players will also serve as BWB Africa 2023 coaches, including 2015 FIBA AfroBasket champion Olumide Oyedeji (Nigeria), 2011 NBA champion Ian Mahinmi (France; ties Benin), former NBA player and Basketball Africa League Head of League Operations Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje (Cameroon), former NBA player Tacko Fall (Senegal), 2003 WNBA champion Astou Ndiaye (Senegal), two-time WNBA champion Taj McWilliams-Franklin, four-time WNBA champion Sheryl Swoopes and Mozambique basketball legend Clarisse Machanguana. Toronto Raptors Vice-Chairman, Team President and Alternate NBA Governor Masai Ujiri; New Orleans Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin; and Portland Trail Blazers Assistant General Manager Mike Schmitz will serve as camp directors, while David Crewe and Frank Adams (Phoenix Suns) will serve as the camp’s athletic trainers.

The players and coaches will lead the campers through a variety of activities, including movement efficiency drills, offensive and defensive skill stations, three-point contests, 5-on-5 games, and life skills and leadership development sessions. A ceremony on the final day of the camp will award the Kim Bohuny Camp MVP, the Patrick Baumann Sportsmanship Award, the B.J. Johnson Most Improved Player Award, the Three-Point Champion and the Defensive MVP to the boys and girls who distinguish themselves on the court and as leaders.

Basketball for good!

As part of the camp, NBA players and coaches will also participate in several community outreach initiatives around Johannesburg, including a hospital visit and a Her Time to Play seminar for the female campers on July 28, and a court unveiling in the Alexandra Township on Saturday, July 29. In addition, BWB Africa 2023 coaches will lead a development clinic for local coaches at AISJ on July 30.

Also on July 29, select NBA players will visit the NBA Store at Sandton City Mall in Johannesburg and engage with fans.

BWB has reached more than 4,100 participants from 136 countries and territories since 2001, with 112 former campers advancing to the NBA or WNBA. The NBA and FIBA have staged 70 BWB camps in 47 cities across 32 countries on six continents.

The South Africans selected include Siyanda Radebe and Gilchrist Storm. The young ladies that participated in NBA Academy Women’s Camp Africa 2022 include Onnetse Molokwame, Luhle Ndaba and Reneilwe Motebele.