NBA don close im only training academy for Africa, and don end one programme wey don dey Senegal for close to one decade wey give some of di continent most promising teenage players direct road to US colleges and professional basketball.
NBA Academy Africa, wey dey about 80km southeast of Dakar for Saly, close im door for end of September afta e open for 2017. Di place dey bring elite teenage players together from across di continent, wit selected prospects wey dey live and train for Senegal while dem dey compete for international games.
Plenty graduates don move enter big programmes, including Khaman Maluach from South Sudan, wey train for di academy before e go play for Duke University and become first-round NBA draft pick. Others don secure NCAA scholarships and opportunities for professional leagues.
NBA tell Al Jazeera say to close di physical academy no mean say dia player development work for di continent don end. Di league dey shift go one different model wey go reach young players for more countries through regional camps and scouting, instead of to put all di elite training for one residential place.
Di move dey come as Africa dey produce more and more visible pipeline of basketball talent, wit players of African heritage dey stand out well-well for NBA and di Basketball Africa League dey expand professional opportunities across di continent. NBA no don show say another residential academy go take replace di Senegal site.
