CapeTown_BwB_09

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – AUG. 26, 2009 60 of the top young basketball players from across Africa have been selected to participate in Basketball without Borders Africa, the National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and Basketball South Africa (BSA) announced today. Basketball without Borders, which is returning to Africa for the seventh time, is the league’s global basketball development and community outreach program, which uses sports to influence positive social change, and features dozens of current and former NBA/WNBA players and team personnel as camp coaches.

The players (ages 19 and under) from 23 countries spanning the African continent and were selected by FIBA, the NBA and participating federations based on their basketball skills, leadership abilities and dedication to the sport. Basketball without Borders Africa, which takes place Sept. 2-6, will be hosted by the American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ), the site of BWB Africa since 2003.

For the duration of the five-day event, campers will work on improving their basketball skills through drills, scrimmages, and competitions with top instruction from NBA players and coaches. To promote friendship and diversity, campers will be split into teams irrespective of nationality or race. The campers will also participate in daily life skills sessions, in partnership with Hoops 4 Hope, in which NBA players will speak about the importance of education, leadership, healthy living and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.

For the seventh consecutive year, Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo will lead a contingent of NBA/WNBA players including NBA All-Stars Boozer (Utah Jazz), Bosh (Toronto Raptors) and Howard (Orlando Magic), teammates on the 2008 Senior Olympic Men’s Team.

Also attending the camp are Jason Maxiell (Detroit Pistons), Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks), Vladimir Radmanovic (Charlotte Bobcats), Nate Robinson (New York Knicks), Congo native DJ Mbenga, and Luc Mbah a Moute (Milwaukee Bucks) a former participant in BWB Africa 2003 from the Cameroon. Former WNBA players Teresa Edwards and Nykesha Sales will also be present at the camp.

Co-organized by the NBA, FIBA, and BSA, the camp features Nike, South African Airways, Sprite and Spalding as BWB Marketing Partners. A Basketball without Borders marketing partner since 2002, Nike will again outfit all the camp participants and coaches with Nike footwear and apparel. South African Airways will provide transportation for players, participants and NBA staff for this year’s event. EA SPORTS will host a gaming tournament for the campers.

Information supplied by Felicia Ntisa