SALY, Senegal, May 1, 2024 – NBA Africa kicked off the second NBA Academy Showcase Africa yesterday, a series of exhibition games featuring U-18 teams from Canada, Cameroon, Germany, Senegal, and the U.S. The event, which is taking place at NBA Academy Africa in Saly, Senegal, sees nearly 100 players from 19 countries competing in front of NBA scouts and NCAA coaches.
The seven participating teams include Sport Institute Dynastie (Canada), Play 2 Lead Foundation (Cameroon), International Basketball Academy Munich (Germany), Sport for Education and Economic Development Academy (SEED; Senegal), Mountain Stars Basketball (U.S.), and host teams NBA Academy Africa Blue and NBA Academy Africa Red.
“We are excited to host the second NBA Academy Showcase Africa as we build on the success of last year’s inaugural event,” said NBA Africa Head of Basketball Operations Franck Traore. “This is an incredible opportunity for some of the top high-school-age prospects from around the world, including NBA Academy Africa student-athletes, to compete against their peers as they continue their development.”
The NBA Academy Showcase Africa 2024 features several players currently playing in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) as part of the BAL Elevate program. The inaugural showcase in 2023 was attended by more than 20 NBA and NCAA scouts, including representatives from the Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, and San Antonio Spurs.
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 three academies across Australia (NBA Global Academy), 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.
