Mutombo to lead NBA talent to Dakar for youth camp

(AFP) NEW YORK — Retired NBA star Dikembe Mutombo will lead a group of NBA players and coaches to Dakar for the eighth Basketball Without Borders trip to Africa in August, the league announced on Wednesday.

The four-day basketball camp for 65 top 19-and-under players from across Africa makes its first appearance at Senegal, having previously been staged in Johannesburg since 2003. The camp will be conducted August 5-8.

More than 45 NBA players and former stars have taught almost 700 young players and the best young talent from more than 20 nations will gather for expert training by NBA coaches and players.

“I am proud to welcome Basketball without Borders Africa to my home country,” said Amadou Gallo Fall, the NBA Vice President of Development in Africa.

“The Basketball without Borders program has a long tradition of helping create positive change through the values of our game and I look forward to assembling the top basketball talent on the continent as we continue to help grow the game of basketball in Africa.”

Senegal’s Mouhammed Sene became the first participant in the Basketball Without Borders Africa camps to play in the NBA when drafted by Seattle in 2006.

Cameroon’s Luc Mbah a Moute of the Milwaukee Bucks, a 2003 camp participant, served as a coach and mentor in the program last year.

The trip will also see NBA players and coaches take part in community outreach programs in Dakar.

The NBA will open an office in Johannesburg later this year.

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