Source: National Basketball Association (NBA) |

First National Basketball Association (NBA) Academy Showcase Africa to be held April 6-9 in Senegal

NBA Africa today announced the 71 high-school-age prospects from 26 countries who will participate in the first NBA Academy Showcase Africa at NBA Academy Africa in Saly, Senegal

The first-ever NBA Academy Showcase Africa will provide impactful development opportunities and exposure to promising young prospects

SALY, Senegal, April 5, 2023/APO Group/ --

Inaugural Showcase Will Feature 71 High-School-Age Prospects from 26 Countries Representing NBA (www.NBA.com) Academy Africa, NBA Academy Latin America, SEED Academy and Mountain Stars Basketball Club Competing at NBA Academy Africa in Saly, Senegal

NBA Africa today announced the 71 high-school-age prospects from 26 countries who will participate in the first NBA Academy Showcase Africa at NBA Academy Africa in Saly, Senegal from Thursday, April 6 – Sunday, April 9.

NBA Academy Showcase Africa will feature a series of exhibition games between six teams from around the world, including three teams comprised of prospects from NBA Academy Africa, as well as teams representing 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).  The showcase will provide an opportunity for the prospects to compete with and against each other and showcase their skills in front of NCAA coaches and NBA scouts.

Additionally, the prospects will participate in activities to promote cultural exchange and life skills development, including visiting UNESCO World Heritage site Gorée Island.

“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,” said NBA Africa Head of Basketball Operations Franck Traore.  “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.”

Twelve NBA Academy Africa prospects who will participate in the upcoming showcase are competing in the 2023 Basketball Africa League (BAL) (https://apo-opa.info/3l3EZIf) season as part of the BAL Elevate program (https://apo-opa.info/3JAQhNO).

NBA Academy is a year-round elite basketball development program that provides top high-school-age athletes from outside the U.S. with a holistic approach to player development and a predictable pathway to maximize their potential.  The NBA Academy program includes four academies across Australia (NBA Global Academy), India (NBA Academy India), Mexico (NBA Academy Latin America) and Senegal (NBA Academy Africa) for top prospects from their respective countries and continents.  In 2018, NBA Academy Africa opened a new facility in Saly, Senegal, which features two indoor basketball courts, a multipurpose activity center, a weight room, conference rooms, dormitories and educational facilities.  Since NBA Academy Africa opened in 2017, 29 male and female participants have committed to NCAA Division I schools in the U.S. or signed professional contracts.

Fans can follow the showcase on Facebook (https://apo-opa.info/3FUGnEc), Instagram (https://apo-opa.info/3m7Augi) and Twitter (https://apo-opa.info/3zev2uY).

Team Rosters

NBA Academy Africa – Red

#

PLAYERS

YEAR

HEIGHT

POSITION

HOMETOWN

2

Seifelden Hendawy

2024

6'7

SF

Cairo, Egypt

4

Manie Joses

2024

6'5

SG

London, England

5

Parby Musongela

2024

6'5

G

Kinshasa, DRC

7

Khadim Rassoul Mboup

2024

6'9

F

Dakar, Senegal

9

Dramane Camara

2023

6'5

PG

Paris, France

10

Modou Fall Thiam

2025

6'5

G

Dakar, Senegal

11

Liberty Fusire

2025

6'9

F

Harare, Zimbabwe

14

Ulrich Kamka Chomche

2024

6'11

F

Baham, Cameroon

15

Gaetan Teumgue Wafo

2025

6'11

PF

Douala, Cameroon

17

Khaman Maluach

2025

7'1

F

Juba, South Sudan

19

Rueben Chinyelu

2023

6'10

F

Lagos, Nigeria

26

Paulino Mangar Majok

2026

7'0

F

Juba, South Sudan

NBA Academy Africa – Blue

#

PLAYERS

YEAR

HEIGHT

POSITION

HOMETOWN

1

Aginaldo Neto

2025

6'1

PG

Luanda, Angola

3

Joy Ighovodja

2023

6'4

PG

Abeokuta, Nigeria

4

Segun Ezekiel Obe

2024

6'8

F

Lagos, Nigeria

5

Akira Jacobs

2023

6'7

SF

Yokohama, Japan

6

Amar Amkou Diop

2024

6'6

PG

Thies, Senegal

9

Daniel Akoue

2024

6'9

G

Libreville, Gabon

11

Mabilmawut Mabil

2025

6'9

F

Juba, South Sudan

12

Paul Mbiya

2024

6'11

F/C

Kinshasa, DRC

13

Mahamat Tahir

2025

6'9

F

N'Djamena, Chad

14

David Ugonna Ike

2026

6'11

PF

Owerri, Nigeria

23

Churchill Abass

2023

6'8

F

Edo State, Nigeria

NBA Academy Africa - White

#

PLAYERS

YEAR

HEIGHT

POSITION

HOMETOWN

2

Marwan Diallo

2022

6'0

G

Bamako, Mali

4

Assane Mandian

2025

6'5

PG

Saly, Senegal

9

Joel Kabugi

2026

6'3

G

Goma, DRC

7

Hamad Mousa

2023

6'6

SG

Doha, Qatar

10

Manuel Camboma

2025

6'8

G

Luanda, Angola

11

Ali Assran

2025

6'7

F

Cairo, Egypt

13

Matar Wade

2024

6'8

G

Dakar, Senegal

15

Yakhya Diop

2025

6'11

F/C

Dakar, Senegal

16

Solomon Ominu

2023

6'7

F

Kaduna, Nigeria

23

Cheick Diaby

2025

7'0

F

Abidjan, Ivory Coast

25

Matong Muorwel

2026

7'1

F/C

Tonj, South Sudan

NBA Academy Latin America

#

PLAYERS

YEAR

HEIGHT

POSITION

HOMETOWN

4

Yaniel Rivera

2023

6'3

G

San Juan, Puerto Rico

6

Samis Calderon

2024

6'7

SF

Espirito Santo, Brazil

7

Guzman Vasilic

2023

6'5

SF

Maldonado, Uruguay

8

Eduardo Klafke

2024

6'5

SG

Franca, Brazil

10

Santiago Ochoa

2023

6'3

PG

Culiacan, Mexico

11

Breno Campos

2022

6'6

PF

Sao Paulo, Brazil

13

Richard Udoagwa

2024

6'7

SF

Sao Paulo, Brazil

14

Chris Tadjo

2024

6'8

PF

Montreal, Canada

16

Luis Diaz

2023

6'6

SF

Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep.

19

Gabriel Ferreira

2025

6'9

C

Recife, Brazil

21

Jonathan Griman

2022

6'8

PF

Caracas, Venezuela

22

Steven Lionel Aboky

2023

6'10

C

Lome, Togo

23

Joshua Hughes

2023

6'10

PF/C

Brisbane, Australia

SEED Academy

#

PLAYERS

YEAR

HEIGHT

POSITION

HOMETOWN

1

Gallo Mbengue

2023

6'2

G

Thies, Senegal

2

Mbaye Ndiaye

2022

6'5

G

Thies, Senegal

4

Pape Magatte Kounta

2023

6'4

G

Thies, Senegal

5

Waly Diouf

2023

6'0

PG

Dakar, Senegal

7

Abdou Khadre Kebe

2023

6'5

G

Dakar, Senegal

9

Mouhameth Camara

2025

6'7

G

Guerro, Senegal

10

Khadim Mbacke

2025

6'1

G

Rufisque, Senegal

15

Mouhamet Bitey

2025

6'4

G

Dakar, Senegal

20

Pape Demba Thialaw

2025

6'9

F

Thies, Senegal

22

Omar Diack

2025

6'7

F

Mbour, Senegal

27

Mouamet Sylla

2025

6'8

F

Louga, Senegal

28

Amadou A. Diop

2022

6'4

G

Thies, Senegal

Mountain Stars Basketball Club

#

PLAYERS

YEAR

HEIGHT

POSITION

HOMETOWN

1

LaDavian King

2025

6'1

PG

Aurora, CO, USA

3

Hunter Schenck

2024

6'3

PG

Eden, UT, USA

5

Damian Dirden

2025

6'4

PG

Denver, CO, USA

11

Andrew Miller

2025

6'3

PG

Las Vegas, NV, USA

12

Dutch Dowdell

2024

6'6

SG

Holliday, UT, USA

15

Cam Adams

2026

6'5

SF

Alpine UT, USA

23

Hunter Marc Hansen

2024

6'4

SG

Farr West, UT, USA

35

Garrett Duke Barger

2025

6'8

PF

Aurora, CO, USA

42

Wyatt Turner

2024

6'9

PF/C

Canon City, CO, USA

43

Carson McDonald

2024

6'8

F

Denver, CO, USA

44

Mason Howell

2025

6'9

PF/C

Albuquerque, NM, USA

Caden Stevens

2023

6'9

PF/C

Highlands Ranch, CO, USA

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).

Contact:
Chumani Bambani,
NBA Africa Communications,
+27 65 548 1031,
cbambani@nba.com

About NBA Academy:
NBA Academy is a year-round elite basketball development program that provides top high school-age athletes from outside the U.S. with a holistic approach to player development and a predictable pathway to maximize their potential.  The program emphasizes health and wellness, character development and life skills, and gives athletes the opportunity to learn the game from coaches with professional, collegiate and international coaching experience.  Since 2017, NBA Academies have been launched in Canberra, Australia; Greater Noida, India; San Luis Potosí, Mexico; and Saly, Senegal for top prospects from their respective countries and continents.  In March 2018, the NBA launched the NBA Academy Women’s Program, a series of basketball development camps for top female prospects from outside the U.S at the league’s academies.  To date, more than 100 NBA Academy participants have committed to or gone on to attend NCAA Division I schools in the U.S., and 18 have played, are playing or have signed to play professionally.  Find out more about the NBA Academy program at NBAAcademy.NBA.com, on Twitter (https://apo-opa.info/3Mr0T3k) and on Instagram (https://apo-opa.info/3zzuyA4).