Hungry NBA Academy Africa aim improvement from last year

 

JOHANNESBURG (South Africa) - The talented NBA Academy Africa returns to action in Johannesburg aiming to measure its potential against some of the seven teams vying for the last three tickets still on offer for the fourth Basketball Africa League (BAL) season. 

The East Division Elite 16 will run between November 21 and 26 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

It's the NBA Academy Africa's second straight appearance in the competition. 

Khaman Maluach 

Four players  - Khaman Maluach, Ulrich Chomche, Seifeldin Hendawy and Aginaldo Neto - who featured in the Elite 16 last year are back with the team that is coached by Cameroonian Alfred Aboya and former Morocco national team guard Karim Nesba.

Aboya, a former Cameroon national team player, currently coaches his country's men's team.

"We are going to the Road to BAL with high expectations," Aboya told FIBA.basketball, adding: "We aim to improve from last year, play better and smarter, but, more, importantly, we aim to measure the progress and the growth they went through this past year."

The NBA Academy Africa finished 2-1 in the 2022 East Division Elite 16

The NBA Academy Africa team heading to Johannesburg consists of players from nine African countries with Senegal (3) and Egypt (2) as the most represented in the group of players whose age group varies from 15 to 18 years old.

Other nationalities represented in the team includes South Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad, Angola, Cote d'Ivoire and DR Congo.

The Aboya-coached team is drawn in Group A alongside South Africa champions, Cape Town Tigers , Pazi Basketball Club from Tanzania and Burundi's Dynamo who benefited from a FIBA Africa wild card.

"The team is young, but hungry and excited about the opportunity," Aboya added. 

Unlike the other seven teams in the East Division Elite 16 teams, the NBA Academy Africa's result won't affect opponents as its Elite 16 participation aims to give players international basketball experience  and exposure.

Ulrich Chomche

How valuable has the Elite 16 been experience for the youngsters? Terrific is an understatement so to say.

Seven out twelve players, who played for the NBA Academy Africa last year, ended up attracting BAL teams' interest as part of the Elevate Program, including Dramane Camara who helped Al Ahly to the 2023 BAL title. 

Some of the NBA Academy Africa's positive storylines last year came from Serge Darlan and Rueben Chiniyelu.

While the Central African Republic native Darlan, who last year led the team in scoring in the Elite 16 with 23 points per game, went on signing with the NBA G League Ignite, Nigerian Chinyelu not only helped Stade Malien to the Third-Place of the 2023 BAL season, but he subsequently joined the Washington State University. 

A year ago this group of top prospect basketballers made quite a splash in Johannesburg where they finished 2-1 thanks to wins over Burundi's Urunani and Kenya champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). 

Although they opened their Elite 16 campaign with a 85-60 loss to Cape Town Tigers, the meticulously scouted group of players took home several positives from the experience of the competing against more experienced and professional teams. 

Meet the NBA Academy Africa team:

 

NAME (COUNTRY) - HEIGHT- POSITION - AGE
Khaman Maluach (South Sudan) - (7ft 1n) - Center - 17
Ulrich Chomche (Cameroon) - (6ft 11in) - Center - 17
Amar Ankou Diop (Senegal) - (6ft 4in) - Point Guard - 18
Seifeldin Hendawy (Egypt) - (6ft 8in) - Guard - 18
David Ugonna Ike (Nigeria) - (6ft 10in) - Forward - 16
Mahamat Tahir (Chad) - (6ft 10in) - Forward - 17
Mouhamed Camara (Senegal) - (6ft 8in) - Forward - 18
Aginaldo Neto (Angola) - (6ft 1in) - Point Guard - 17
Zie Cheick Conde (Cote d'Ivoire) - (6ft 8in) - Forward - 17
Assane Mandian (Senegal) - (6ft 4in) - Guard - 17 
Joel Kabugi (DR Congo) - (6ft 3in) - Guard - 15
Ahmed Abdouelela (Egypt) - (6ft 8in) - Guard/Forward - 17 

 FIBA