Di National Basketball Association don close im elite basketball academy for Senegal, wey don end one eight-year programme wey help develop some of Africa most promising young players. NBA Academy Africa, wey dem launch for Senegal for 2018 as di league first elite training facility for di whole continent, train about 110 students, and plenti of dem still go attend top schools and universities for United States.
Cameroon pikin Ulrich Kamka Chomche, wey be di first NBA Academy Africa graduate wey dem pick for di NBA draft when dem select am for 2024, later play for Toronto Raptors. South Sudan own Khaman Maluach, another former student, now dey play for Phoenix Suns.
Di closure don draw criticism from former workers. Michel Chikwanine, di academy former performance and lifestyle adviser, talk say di announcement affect di confidence of students wey just start dia basketball career. Michael Abbott, former head of academic planning, question di academy commitment to students and argue say commercial matter don take priority pass dia development.
Di NBA say di closure show say dia global basketball development strategy don change. Di league point to previous academy closures for Mexico and Australia and talk say elite training activities go move go one new global academy for Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Di league still highlight say dem still dey invest for African basketball through Basketball Africa League, wey don complete six seasons, and Basketball Without Borders camps.
Troy Justice, di NBA senior vice-president, say di league still dey committed to developing di next generation of African players and point to oda youth-development programmes wey still dey run across di continent.
