Charlotte, NC – The hoopla of the 2019 NBA All-Star week festivities depends on what you can get into and what’s important to watch ranging from World Game, Dunk Contest or the highlight All-Star game.
But if you were interested in the future of the game and the talent and pathways for that talent then you were parked at Queens College for the NBA Basketball without Borders / NBA Academy Global Camp for rising stars.
The Global Camp this year was, as usual, was stocked with potential talent and even a 2019 NBA high draft choice or two. On the women’s side, this was a step up from last year’s event with more recognizable talent.
If there were any statements being made at this year’s Global Camp it was the rise of Africa as a reservoir of talent, especially on the men’s side. During the Camp there was an announcement of a new NBA Africa League that will serve to drive player skill development for those who lack the language and academic skills to go to college in the USA and as a system to develop coaches and management candidates for the future. Some want to refer this as a G-League clone, others just a first step towards development of a NBA-level division in Africa.
Even twitter had a comment about the inclusion of former President Barak Obama’s interest in helping the NBA Africa League’s development. It will take a year or two for the NBA to figure out the exact cities, arenas and management structure for this to occur. The NBA will need to deal with trustworthy partners as Africa is still riddled with pockets of corruption and suspect authorities. No one wants their investments to disappear overnight.
The NBA Global Camp was a meeting place for every important FIBA management and FIBA Federation leadership as the future is discussed across the globe from Africa to China to South America.
Right now, the focus is on the present talent.
The Global Camp had 39 players from 24 countries on the Men’s side. For the women’s this was a statement expansion with the inclusion of six players from Africa, six from the America (non-USA), six from Europe and six from Asia. Each gender group were equally treated to game time, floor time, coaching and experience.
The 24 women players divided into two groups of 12 for drills and three groups of 8 for team play. It was obvious that the more talented and effective players here were from the regular FIBA Youth power performing teams.
Fellow Blue Star Media gurus Paul Nilson and Pierre Ploszajski noted that the overall talent wasn’t as strong as could be with the omission of many FIBA region and age level all-star team selections. When asked about this issue the NBA noted that many of the players here where from former NBA Academies held around the globe over the past year and not specifically just FIBA all-stars. While many of the best players were of this caliber there were others selected for this at the NBA Academy level for the purpose of future matriculation and scholarship to NCAA institutions.
Two-time attendee Emily Bessior from Germany, one of the most highly sought players in Europe in the Class of 2021, reflects on her experiences.
Throw in the desire by a number of FIBA Federations to “hold onto” their national team level players (both male and female) and you quickly see where the “holes’ are. Noted players from Euro women’s powers like Hungary, Russia and Czech Republic were noticeable on the women’s side.
Overall, the NBA is making changes and a committed impact on the global game beyond what is already being done by FIBA. While most think these major power spheres of basketball would be at odds this BWB Global Camp is a combined effort to drive global awareness and push youth participation for the sport.
Top guard Nika Muhl from Croatia is looking at a small list of five schools in the USA took time to speak about the importance of being at the NBA Global Camp.
I’ve noted this quite often over the past decade that participation rates of basketball around the world are slipping in some places while growing in others. The basketball powers seek nothing more than making sure there is continued growth, interest and participation in basketball. Sadly, some of the “cooperation” among the powerful will also push out anyone else trying to engage, enhance and grow the sport.
The most unexpected participant here also one of the smallest in 5-5 guard Grishma Niranjan from India. She made the Global Camp with her shooting performance at the NBA Academy camp held in India last fall.
Indian sharp shooter Grishma Niranjan noted the importance of being the only person from the world’s most populace country at the Global Camp.
One of the toughest and most physical play every position athletes Charlisse Legler-Walker from New Zealand talks about her USA college recruiting process.
BEST TICKET: Outside of the on-court basketball events surrounding the NBA All-Star festivities the major event that was the place to be was the NBA Tech Summit. This event held in the morning before any game activities was the toughest ticket to get. This was where everyone in NBA leadership and NBA sponsorship congregated.
This year the place to be was the BWB Global Camp as the movers and shakers in the NBA youth development and talent assessment worlds all came together here. With the Africa announcement and global youth push many NBA teams had their international scouts here along with shoe company execs and FIBA administrators. It took this event in the USA to bring together the movers and shakers on a global front.
LOOKING AT STARS: It was apparent that the top women’s player at the camp was 6-1 Aaliyah Mckenzie Edwards (Crestwood Prep, Canada) with her dominating rebounding and slashes to the basket.
On the men’s side 6-8 forward Deni Avdija (Israel) was the MVP. I thought the most impressive player here for the men’s side was the Camp Championship team’s 6-11 Khalifa Diop (Senegal) with his impressive size and frame.
OTHER AWARDS: Patrick Baumann Sportsmanship Award: Santiago Vescovi (Uruguay) and Zoe Wadoux (France). Grit Award: Charlisse Leger-Walker (New Zealand) and Kerr Kriisa (Estonia). Three-Point Champion: Gemma Potter (Australia) and Tamuri Wigness (Australia)
BWB Global 2019 All-Stars Girls: Nika Mühl (Croatia); Ming Zheng (China); Göksen Fitik (Turkey); Zoe Wadoux (France); Florencia Chagas (Argentina); Aminata Sangare (Mali); Aaliyah Mckenzie Edwards (Canada). Boys: Santiago Vescovi (Uruguay); Tamuri Wigness (Australia); Matthieu Gauzin (France); Jermaine Miranda Perez (Puerto Rico); Jovan Kljajuc (Montenegro); Killian Hayes (France); Matthew-Aelxander Moncrieefe (Canada); Deni Avdija (Israel); Tristan Enaruna (Netherlands), Samuel Mennenga (New Zealand): Amar Sylla (Senegal), Khalifa Diop (Senegal)
BWB Global 2019 Team Champion: Toronto Raptors: Tamuri Wigness (Australia); Matthieu Gauzin (France); Cashius McNeilly (Canada); Chien-Hao Ma (Chinese Taipei); Julian Strawther (Puerto Rico); Matej Rudan (Croatia); Nelly Junior Joseph (Nigeria); Clifford Omoruyi (Nigeria); Khalifa Diop (Senegal). Minnesota Lynx: Ming Zheng (China); Misa Hayashi (Japan); Grishma Niranjan (India), Meriem Saadoui (Algeria); Emily Bessoir (Germany); Simona Visockaite (Lithuania); Aaliyah Mckenzie Edwards (Canada); Mariana Valenzuela Medina (Mexico)
THE OTHER ALL-STAR GAME: The NBA All-Star weekend wasn’t the only event in global basketball taking place. Around the globe In Moscow the 3rd annual VTB United League All-Star game was taking place at the new 27,000 seat VTB Arena Park.
The game featured many of the top Russian players across the VTB United League against a World team comprised of non-Russian league players. While not the star-studded array of global NBA men’s talent the game did have a close finish with the World All-Star defeating the Russia All-Star 118-115 as Kendrick Perry hit the game winner with :10 remaining. Sergio Rodriguez was selected as game MVP.
“Sometimes we take our jobs very seriously, forget this is a job and it’s about the game,” said Rodriguez after the game. “Tonight, it was good,” said MVP Rodriguez. “Sometimes we forget this is a game and today it was about the game and how we enjoy it.” — Viktoria Sholokhova
