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


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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).

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