NBA Academy Africa: Uncovering Africa's top basketball prospects
The future stars of African basketball are training together at the NBA Academy Africa in Saly, Senegal. There, everything is made to help them join the NBA but also grow as human beings. Discover their incredible journey.
Basketball
The town of Saly is renowned in Senegal and around the world beyond for its golden sand beaches.
Among those with a keen interest in the seaside city, located south of Dakar, are NBA executives - but not for tourism reasons.
They're closely monitoring the work being done at the NBA Academy Africa, located just one kilometre away from the beach.
The academy brings together 26 of Africa's most promising basketball players, aged between 14 and 20, who share the dream of playing in the NBA.
Twice a day, the players train in an environment designed to help them develop both on and off the court.
“Your job is to be the best individual you can be. That's your job. To learn as much as you can to take advantage of all the people we have here,” said Roland Houston, the Technical Director of the NBA Academy Africa.
A six-person coaching staff and an academic team support the players, who have access to top-level facilities including two indoor courts.
The NBA Academy Africa, which opened in 2018, aims to help local players grow on the continent while bringing them closer to the NBA. Only 26 players are selected through physical, basketball, and academic tests, making it a life-changing opportunity.
For example, players Ulrich Chomche and Khaman Maluach took their first plane ride to Saly and have since traveled worldwide, including to the United States, to participate in camps and games in front of international scouts.
“Nothing makes me happier than being recruited to this place," recalls Khamam Maluach from South Soudan.
"When they told me that I'm coming to the academy in three days. In all those three days, I couldn't sleep. I couldn't wait for this. I was very excited to see the NBA Academy Africa. I came to the academy and I was so happy to see how really good was this place. It's like the best experience of my life."
Days are fully packed at the NBA Academy Africa
The chosen ones lead a busy life with six hours of school and four hours of training.
“We don’t have the time to be bored”, laughs Thierry Serge Darlan reflecting on the days that can start at 6:00 am and finish at 8:00 pm.
Between the two training session, which also includes physical training, the players study. The presence of everything they need on the same campus makes this possible, with only a few minutes required to walk from the dormitories to the court and the school.
Although basketball is their main goal in Saly, studies are not neglected, as they can help shape an athlete's future.
The NBA Academy Africa aims to provide all the tools necessary for the players to enter colleges in the United States on their way to the NBA. Regardless of their native language, English classes are taught to prepare them for such an environment. If needed, additional lessons are scheduled in the evening.
“I have to make sure that when they get successful on the court that their academics are in line to support the next decision that is made for them in their basketball lives,” explains Michael Abbott, the Head of Academics.
The time spent in the classroom may be greater than the time spent on the court, but preparation for the NBA is never far away. The classrooms have references to the universities where the academy's alumni now play, as well as maps of the United States. The flags of the players' countries of origin are also highlighted, along with African culture and the memories that have marked the community life of these young people.
The NBA Academy Africa is a “big family”
While each player may have their own personal goals and unique backgrounds, the achievement is collective at the NBA Africa Academy.
“The success of one is related to the success of the other, even with personal goals. On the court, you’re not playing alone, there are four other teammates and even more on the bench. It’s important to build a team spirit”, says Alfred Aboya Baliaba, the head coach.
Baliaba's instructions seem to be well understood, as the young players appear to get along well.
Thierry Serge Darlan sees the NBA Academy Africa as a second home, and he talks about how everyone has fun during lunchtime. Ulrich Chomche considers his teammates as brothers.
For Seifeldin Hendawy, the NBA Academy Africa is like a big family because of the time they spend together, even after training.
“We’re together, there is solidarity. If something happens to one of us, we’re trying to cheer them up. We’re pushing each other to be better,” says Thierry Serge Darlan.
NBA Academy Africa: 13 different countries represented
This friendship makes the NBA Academy Africa a true human adventure, allowing the players to discover cultures from other African countries and learn new languages.
“At the NBA Academy Africa, we have players from 13 different countries. It’s like a small Africa. It’s an environment that helps the development of those young kids. You can’t have something similar somewhere else,” explains Alfred Aboya Baliaba.
Such an academy is something new in African basketball and will boost the development of the sport on the continent. The opening of a second academy is already scheduled in South Africa.
The NBA is now closer to the African youth than ever before.
Players can climb the ladder to the NBA on their home soil, something the previous generation couldn't do. This shows how much players like Dikembe Mutombo, Joel Embiid, or Pascal Siakam have accomplished. They sometimes come to Saly to talk and inspire the players of the NBA Academy Africa, which Thierry Serge Darlan and his teammates love.
“I'd like to pay homage to the African players that came before these guys because they didn't have what we have today. I believe in history. I believe in showing gratitude of the people that helped build this. So all these guys who are here today are taking advantage of the people who have put the bricks in place for them to be here,” shares Roland Houston.
The Technical Director is aware that not all the players of the NBA Academy Africa will end up in the biggest basketball league in the world, but he aims to make them unique human beings thanks to the special experience they'll have during their stay in Saly.
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