
The Junior NBA Elite Camp, hosted by NBA Nigeria for U-16 basketball players, took place last weekend at the University of Lagos. A total of 40 players, consisting of 20 boys and 20 girls, participated in the camp.
The one-day camp featured a life skills session with NBA Africa Vice President and NBA Country Head, Gbemisola Abudu, and a series of skills development sessions and in-game simulations.
“As part of the league’s commitment to helping grow the broader basketball ecosystem in Nigeria, and making the game more accessible across the country, the camp highlighted NBA Nigeria’s initiatives in building the player pipeline of youth from grassroots to elite development,” said a statement.
The Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball participation programme for boys and girls, aims to teach the fundamental skills, as well as the core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents.
Last year, Jr. NBA programming directly reached more than 250,000 youth across Africa. Through the Jr. NBA Elite Camp, young athletes are given the opportunity to receive top-tier coaching, participate in competitive games, and develop both their athletic abilities and personal growth.
The first edition of the camp saw two participants, Samson Mashebinu and Lewis Uvwo, recruited to join the NBA Academy Africa, an elite training centre that develops and nurtures top prospects from the continent in Saly, Senegal.
The student-athletes have a unique opportunity to be selected to play in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) through the BAL Elevate, a programme that aims to provide an opportunity for the next generation of African prospects to participate in the new professional league, showcase their talent on a global stage.