)
Senegal will be the host for the first NBA Academy Africa showcase.
The first NBA Academy Showcase Africa, which will take place at the NBA Academy Africa in Saly, Senegal from Thursday, April 6 to Sunday, April 9 will feature 71 high school-age prospects from 26 different countries.
Six teams from around the world, including three teams, made up of prospects from NBA Academy Africa, will compete in a series of exhibition games at the NBA Academy Showcase Africa.
The teams will represent NBA Academy Latin America (located in San Luis Potosi, Mexico), Mountain Stars Basketball Club (located in Salt Lake City, Utah), and Sports for Education and Economic Development (SEED) Academy (located in Thies, Senegal).
In front of NCAA coaches and NBA scouts, the showcase will give the prospects the chance to compete with and against one another and display their skills.
)
NBA in Senegal
The prospects will also take part in exercises that encourage cross-cultural learning and the development of practical skills, like visiting Gorée Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
NBA Africa Head of Basketball Operations Franck Traore explained the importance of the showcase.
He said, “The first-ever NBA Academy Showcase Africa will provide impactful development opportunities and exposure to promising young prospects, while demonstrating Africa’s capacity to host best-in-class basketball development events here on the continent.
“We look forward to welcoming teams and stakeholders from around the world and helping the next generation of players showcase their potential in a competitive and fun environment.”
As part of the BAL Elevate program, twelve NBA Academy Africa prospects who will take part in the forthcoming showcase will compete in the 2023 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season.
NBA Academy is a year-round elite basketball player development program that offers top international high school athletes a comprehensive approach to player development and a clear path to achieving their full potential.
)
The NBA Global Academy in Australia, the NBA Academy in India, the NBA Academy in Mexico, and the NBA Academy in Senegal in Africa are all part of the NBA Academy program.
The best candidates from every country and continent are catered to by these academies.
At Saly, Senegal, the NBA Academy Africa recently unveiled a new structure with two indoor basketball courts, a multipurpose activity center, a weight room, meeting spaces, dorms, and educational amenities.
29 male and female competitors have signed NCAA Division I university commitments or professional contracts since the beginning of NBA Academy Africa in 2017.
Background
The new development by the NBA comes after a basketball clinic in Ghana for girls.
At an event held in conjunction with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff's first visit to Ghana, WNBA Champion Astou Ndiaye led a clinic and a life skills seminar for 60 girls from the neighborhood.
The first all-girl Jr. NBA clinic in Ghana was organized by NBA Africa and conducted in Accra's Trust Sports Emporium to coincide with the arrival of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff.
Following the developments in Ghana and now Senegal, Nigeria has not been considered in recent NBA events.
Nigeria will not be considered when the NBA looks into scheduling a preseason game in Africa in 2024.
According to reports, the NBA is already planning to hold basketball matches across the African continent.
The NBA, the top basketball league in the world, is working to make its best players more widely known in Africa.
)
20:30 - 17.01.2023
BAL Nigeria not considered as NBA set to host preseason game in Africa
The NBA will look at hosting a preseason game in Africa in 2024 with Nigeria not considered.
Amadou Gallo Fall, the President of the Basketball Africa League, revealed the concept for an NBA match in Africa (BAL).
In 2015, 2017, and 2018, the NBA played three exhibition games in Africa.
The games, however, were a special Team Africa vs. Team World matchup rather than NBA teams.
The NBA continues to expand programs in Africa to develop basketball and rival football on the continent.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)