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About The NBA Academy Africa

NBA Academy Africa is an elite basketball training center in Senegal for the top male and female prospects from throughout Africa and the first of its kind on the continent. The academy is a partnership between 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 and whose alumni include Gorgui Dieng (Memphis Grizzlies; Senegal; BWB Africa 2009).

In November 2018, the NBA opened a new elite basketball training center in Saly, Senegal to serve as the primary training location for NBA Academy Africa prospects from across the continent. The new facility features two indoor basketball courts, a multidimensional activity center, a swimming pool, a weight room, conference rooms as well as dormitories and educational facilities.

Coaching Staff

ROLAND HOUSTON
Technical Director
As the Technical Director of NBA Academy Africa, Roland Houston oversees all aspects of player development and coaching for top high school-age prospects from across the continent. Houston, a multilingual professional with more than 15 years of experience in the sports industry, has extensive coaching experience at the NCAA Division I level. Prior to his current role, Houston was an assistant coach at George Mason University in Virginia and LaSalle University in Pennsylvania, and was also an associate head coach at George Washington University, where he helped lead the team to two Atlantic 10 tournament championships and three consecutive appearances in the NCAA DI men’s basketball tournament. Houston played four years of collegiate basketball at Rhode Island University, where he served as team captain, before playing professionally for 13 years in Spain, Argentina, France and Israel.
JOE TOUOMOU
Associate Technical Director
As the associate technical director of NBA Academy Africa, Joe Touomou supports the day-to-day development and coaching of top high school-age players from across the continent. Prior to his current role, Touomou worked as a player development coach at the University of Missouri and Florida State University. Prior to that, he worked as an international scout for the Indiana Pacers before joining the Superfund Sports Academy in Austria as the director of player development for basketball. He also served as a basketball expert for the U.S. State Department’s Sports United Program for eight years and served as a coach for the Cameroon Men’s and Women’s National Teams at Afrobasket 2009. Touomou has been involved in the advancement of basketball across Africa for the past 18 years, having traveled to more than 30 countries for development camps and coaches clinics. He has served as a camp director at Basketball Without Borders Africa since the launch of the program in 2003, where he has coached NBA players including Joel Embiid, Pascal Siakam and Luc Mbah a Moute. Touomou is the co-founder of Play 2 Lead Foundation, an organization that provides education and leadership opportunities to young Africans through sports. He also supports youth empowerment programs across the continent led by organizations including Giants of Africa, SEED and Adidas Nations Africa. Touomou played collegiate basketball at Georgetown University for Hall of Fame Coach John Thompson and holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Government Studies.
ALFRED ABOYA
Player Development Coach
Alfred Aboya leads the day-to-day player development and coaching for the elite prospects of NBA Academy Africa. Alfred served as an assistant and player development coach for Iowa Wolves (affiliate of the Minnesota Timberwolves) in the G League. Alfred played college basketball at UCLA where he played in three NCAA Final Fours. Alfred also played professionally in 6 different countries; and started his coaching career in 2016 as a graduate assistant for Mississippi State Men’s basketball team. Alfred currently serves as the assistant coach for Cameroon National Men’s Basketball Team.
SIDY SALL
Player Development Coach
Sidy is a native of Senegal West Africa and graduated from SEED Academy before joining Christian Brothers University on a full athletic scholarship. As a Buc, Sall garnered multiple GSC Player of the Week Awards, earned a Tennessee Sportswriters Association Award and participated in three GSC Tournament Finals (2013 Champions). In his senior campaign Sall led his team in minutes played (811) and averaged an impressive 15 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists per game. Sidy graduated CBU with a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration with an international business focus. Upon graduation, Coach Sall played at the professional level for three years in three different countries (Bolivia ’15, Morocco ’16, and Bahrain 17’). In his final professional season Sall led the Bahrain League in points and rebounds but unfortunately had to retire earlier due to an knee injury. Upon his retirement, Coach Sall specializes in youth player development with the Memphis Grizzlies (2018-2020), NBA Basketball Without Borders (2019- Present) and NBA Academy Africa (2020- Present)
KARIM NESBA
Player Development Coach
Karim Nesba supports the day-to-day development, coaching and scouting of top high school-age athletes from across the continent of Africa. Prior to joining the NBA Academy Africa, Karim was coaching in NBA grassroots programs in Morocco. Karim played professionally in his home country of Morocco for more than 10 years and with his national team for 8 years. Before coming back to his native country to play professionally, Karim played in the USA at Auburn Montgomery University.
ISAIAH WEST
Strength and Conditioning Coach
As the strength and conditioning coach at NBA Academy Africa, Isaiah "Zay" West is responsible for optimizing athletic performance, improving player health and reducing the risk of injuries for top high school-age players throughout the continent. Prior to his current role, Zay served as a performance coach at Healthy Baller in Rockville, MD working with elite high school, college, and professional athletes across multiple sports. Zay attended George Mason University where he majored in Kinesiology and assisted with both Men’s & Women’s basketball for three seasons. During his collegiate tenure, Zay spent time interning in the WNBA with the Washington Mystics, and at the NBA Academy Africa in 2018. Zay is an NSCA (CSCS) certified coach, and he is dedicated to empowering and building relationships with his athletes in efforts to help them achieve their full potential both on and off the court.

Current Roster

Player Name Position Country of Origin Age Height
STEVEN LIONEL ABOKY f Togo 17 6'11
DRAMANE SAYON CAMARA g/f France 19 6'5
RUEBEN ABUCHI CHINYELU f/c Nigeria 19 6'11
THIERRY SERGE DARLAN g Central African Republic 19 6'7
CHEICK MOHAMED TIDIANE DIABY f/c Ivory Coast 18 6'11
AMAR ANKOU DIOP g Senegal 17 6'4
LIBERTY TAKUDZWA FUSIRE f Zimbabwe 17 6'9
SEIFELDIN HENDAWY f Egypt 17 6'8
JOY IGHOVODJA g Nigeria 18 6'4
JOEL NTALE KABUGI g Democratic Republic of Congo 14 6'3
ULRICH KAMKA-CHOMCHE g/f Cameroon 17 6'11
CONNOR GRAY LIEBENBERG f South Africa 18 6'6
MABILMAWUT KON MABIL f South Sudan 0 6'9
KHAMAN MADIT MALUACH c South Sudan 16 7'1
ASSANE MANDIAN g Senegal 16 6'4
SERIGNE SALIOU MBAYE g Senegal 20 6'3
PAUL KABENGA MBIYA f Democratic Republic of Congo 18 6'10
KHADIM RASSOUL MBOUP f Senegal 16 6'8
PARBY MUSONGELA g Democratic Republic of Congo 17 6'6
SENGUN EZEKIEL OBE f Nigeria 17 6'7
DANIEL JOSHUA OGOEMEKA f Nigeria 16 7'0
EMMANUEL EBERECHUKWU OKORAFOR f Nigeria 18 6'9
DANIEL QUANTIN AKOUE g Gabon 17 6'8
MAHAMAT TAHIR f/c Chad 16 6'10
ALY TOUNKARA f Guinea 18 6'11
MATAR WADE g/f Senegal 17 6'7