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NBA Academy Africa Technical Director, Roland Houston, and BWB Alumni, Gorgui Dieng at Basketball Without Boarders Africa program on August 1, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
NBA Academy Africa Technical Director, Roland Houston, and BWB Alumni, Gorgui Dieng at Basketball Without Boarders Africa program on August 1, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
NBA Academy Africa Tim Ighoefe pump fakes during a Basketball Without Boarders Africa scrimmage on August 2, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Mike Malone and Jaylen Brown during post-guard breakdown drills the Basketball Without Boarders Africa at August 2, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Basketball Without Borders Africa invited members of the NBA Academy Africa to take part in basketball and life-skills development activities in the week-long event at the American International School of Johannesburg on August 1, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
NBA Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo and DeMarcus Cousins of the New Orleans Pelicans runs post drills during the Basketball Without Borders Africa at the American International School of Johannesburg on August 2, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Head Coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat goes through offensive drills during the Basketball Without Borders Africa at the American International School of Johannesburg on August 2, 2017 South Africa.
Victor Oladipo of Team Africa goes through a leadership clinic during the Basketball Without Borders Africa at the American International School of Johannesburg on August 3, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The NBA Academy Africa won the first-ever NBA Academy Games Championship in a 74-51 victory against The NBA Global Academy, at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Australia. Patrick Mwamba earned Championship Game MVP with 15 points and 14 rebounds and his teammate Efemina Abogidi was crowned NBA Academy Games Tournament MVP.
11 players were selected in the first-ever NBA Academy Games All-Tournament team. See link to All-Tournament Roster in Games Notes below.
The NBA Academy Africa coaches Astou Ndiaye, Jules Camara and Roland Houston with Champsionship Game MVP Patrick Mwamba and NBA Academy Games Tournament MVP Efemina Abogidi.
Efemina Abogidi was crowned first-ever NBA Academy Games Tournament MVP, at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Australia.
Patrick Mwamba earned Championship Game MVP with 15 points and 14 rebounds during the championship game, at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Australia.
Coach Roland Houston speaks in a timeout during the NBA Academies Championship Game against The NBA Global Academy, at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Australia.
The NBA Academy Africa player dunks in a 74-51 championship game victory against The NBA Global Academy, at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Australia.
The NBA Academy Africa team picture at the first-ever NBA Academy Games at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Australia.
The NBA Academy Africa Technical Director, Roland Houston speaking with an athlete at the first-ever NBA Academy Games, at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Australia. See the results and box scores below.
NBA Academy Africa Technical Director, Roland Houston, and BWB Alumni, Gorgui Dieng at Basketball Without Boarders Africa program on August 1, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
NBA Academy Africa Tim Ighoefe pump fakes during a Basketball Without Boarders Africa scrimmage on August 2, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Mike Malone and Jaylen Brown during post-guard breakdown drills the Basketball Without Boarders Africa at August 2, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Basketball Without Borders Africa invited members of the NBA Academy Africa to take part in basketball and life-skills development activities in the week-long event at the American International School of Johannesburg on August 1, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
NBA Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo and DeMarcus Cousins of the New Orleans Pelicans runs post drills during the Basketball Without Borders Africa at the American International School of Johannesburg on August 2, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Head Coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat goes through offensive drills during the Basketball Without Borders Africa at the American International School of Johannesburg on August 2, 2017 South Africa.
Victor Oladipo of Team Africa goes through a leadership clinic during the Basketball Without Borders Africa at the American International School of Johannesburg on August 3, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The NBA Academy Africa won the first-ever NBA Academy Games Championship in a 74-51 victory against The NBA Global Academy, at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Australia. Patrick Mwamba earned Championship Game MVP with 15 points and 14 rebounds and his teammate Efemina Abogidi was crowned NBA Academy Games Tournament MVP.
11 players were selected in the first-ever NBA Academy Games All-Tournament team. See link to All-Tournament Roster in Games Notes below.
The NBA Academy Africa coaches Astou Ndiaye, Jules Camara and Roland Houston with Champsionship Game MVP Patrick Mwamba and NBA Academy Games Tournament MVP Efemina Abogidi.
Efemina Abogidi was crowned first-ever NBA Academy Games Tournament MVP, at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Australia.
Patrick Mwamba earned Championship Game MVP with 15 points and 14 rebounds during the championship game, at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Australia.
Coach Roland Houston speaks in a timeout during the NBA Academies Championship Game against The NBA Global Academy, at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Australia.
The NBA Academy Africa player dunks in a 74-51 championship game victory against The NBA Global Academy, at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Australia.
The NBA Academy Africa team picture at the first-ever NBA Academy Games at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Australia.
The NBA Academy Africa Technical Director, Roland Houston speaking with an athlete at the first-ever NBA Academy Games, at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Australia. See the results and box scores below.

About The NBA Academy Africa

The NBA and SEED Project (Sports for Education and Economic Development), a non-profit organization based in Thies, Senegal, that uses basketball as a platform to engage youth in academic, athletic and leadership programs, have partnered to launch The NBA Academy Africa. An elite basketball training center in Thies for the top male and female prospects from throughout Africa, The NBA Academy Africa is the first of its kind on the continent. Twelve elite male prospects will be selected following scouting programs conducted with local federations across Africa and elite skills camps hosted in Thies. All twelve prospects will receive scholarships and training at The NBA Academy Africa.

The NBA Academy Africa builds on the NBA’s existing basketball and youth development initiatives in Africa, including Jr. NBA programs for boys and girls ages 16 and under in Cameroon, Congo, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Uganda, Senegal and South Africa. Basketball without Borders, the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program, has been held in Africa 14 times, with nine former BWB Africa campers drafted into the NBA.

“Today is an important milestone for the growth of basketball on the continent as we begin to welcome the first group of young student athletes who will form the inaugural roster of NBA Academy Africa. NBA Academy Africa will provide student athletes with world-class, comprehensive training and education so they have the resources to achieve on the court and in life. I’d like to thank SEED for sharing our commitment to building a predictable path for African youth, and I am confident we will see the number of African players in the NBA continue to grow because of this initiative.”
-Amadou Gallo Fall, Vice President and Managing Director of NBA Africa

“NBA Academy Africa will play an important part in developing elite young players on the continent, and we are excited to be partnering with the NBA on this project we look forward to working with the top young prospects and playing our part in providing them with the skills and supportive environment to succeed.”
-Mohamed Niang, SEED Project Executive Director

Coaching Staff

ROLAND HOUSTON
Technical Director
Coach Roland Houston was team captain for the University of Rhode Island’s basketball team before embarking on a 13-year professional career, playing in Spain, Israel, France and Argentina. After his playing career ended, he began coaching and has acquired over two decades of experience as the associate head coach at LaSalle University, George Washington University and George Mason University.
ASTOU N'DIAYE
Associate Technical Director
Coach Astou N’Diaye was a two-time NAIA first-team All-American at South Nazarene University before going on to play eight seasons in the WNBA for the Detroit Shock, Indiana Fever, Houston Comets and Seattle Storm. Astou was also a member of the Senegalese National Team and competed in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. After her playing career, Coach N’Diaye served on the staff at Utah State University.
JENNIFER AZZI
Global Technical Director, Women's Program
Coach Jennifer Azzi oversees all regions of the NBA Academies Women’s initiative.  A former WNBA player (1999-2004), USA National Team Player (1988-2000), two-time NCAA All-American and Olympic Gold Medalist (1996), Jennifer has an abundance of basketball experience on the court and as a coach on the sidelines.  The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (2009) led the University of San Francisco women’s basketball program from 2010-2016.
BLAIR HARDIEK
Global Technical Director, Women's Program
Coach Blair Hardiek oversees all regions of the NBA Academies Women’s initiative. President and CEO of Azzi Camp (2007 - present), Former Associate Head Coach of the West Coast Conference Women's Basketball Champions at the University of San Francisco (2010-2016), Former NCAA International camp; Domestic Recruiter (2010-2016), Former PG/Captain at the University of Missouri (2003-2007).

Current Roster

Player Name Position Country of Origin Age Height
IBOU DIANKO BADJI c Senegal 14 7’1
CHEIKH FAYE g Senegal 19
MUDIAGA TIMOTHY IGHOEFE c Nigeria 17 6’11
PATRICK MWAMBA g/f Democratic Republic of Congo 17 6’6
MODIBO SANOGO f Mali 16 6’9
EFEMINA TENNYSON ABOGIDI f Nigeria 15 6’10
KURT-CURRY WEGSCHEIDER g Central African Republic 16 6’3