Jr. NBA: Tejan and Neve Rugette included in special Elite Camp in Rome

England has two representatives at a special Jr. NBA Camp in Rome – brother and sister Tejan and Neve Rugette. 

The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced a four-day Jr. NBA Europe and Middle East Elite Camp will be held at Stella Azzurra in Rome, Italy which runs until Saturday. 

The Jr. NBA EME Elite Camp will feature 60 talented boys and girls ages 13-14 from 25 countries across Europe and the Middle East where Jr. NBA programs currently operate - including the including the Richmond Knights siblings (pictured), who also have also represented England.

Tejan attends Christ’s School in London while Neve is student at Grey Court, both in Richmond. Both attended last weekend's Jnr. NBL Final fours in Manchester, with both players making the All-Star fives in their respective age groups, whilst Tejan was the overall MVP of the U14 Boys final.

The camp will focus on positional skill development, shooting, and skills competitions, culminating with three-on-three and five-on-five competition.   

The camp will be conducted by NBA Basketball Operations staff and coaches from Jr. NBA leagues in Europe and the Middle East.  Former NBA and WNBA players and NBA Europe Ambassadors Anastasia Kostaki (Greece), Zaza Pachulia (Georgia), Vladimir Radmanović (Montenegro) and Ronny Turiaf (France) and former NBA head coach Ryan Saunders will also attend and coach the youth players.  Saunders will also lead an NBA Coaching Clinic for the Jr. NBA coaches and invited local coaches. 

“We are excited to host 60 of the top young boys and girls from across Europe and the Middle East at Stella Azzurra’s facilities in Rome,” said NBA Associate Vice President of Basketball Operations, Europe and Middle East Neal Meyer.  “The Jr. NBA EME Elite Camp provides a unique and exciting opportunity for these developing players to compete alongside their peers from other countries and learn from established coaches as they advance in their young careers.”

“I look forward to seeing the talent on display at this camp from young hopefuls across our region,” said Pachulia.  “This kind of intensive basketball experience will be invaluable as they embark on the next stage of their basketball development.”  

“It’s a pleasure to help guide and evaluate these young players and support up-and-coming coaches as they strive towards the goal of becoming better players,” said Saunders.  “I know they will take away lessons from this camp that will help them continue to grow as players, coaches and people in the years to come.” 

The Jr. NBA EME Elite Camp will be supported by official NBA partners Nilox and San Carlo.  Nilox will sponsor the Shooting Challenge and the NBA Coaching Clinic, while San Carlo will sponsor a Special Olympics Unified Clinic and the camp’s Sportsmanship Awards.  

The Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball program for boys and girls, teaches the fundamental skills as well as the core values of the game – teamwork, respect, determination and community – at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents.  During the 2021-22 season, the Jr. NBA will reach nearly 37,000 youth in 28 countries in Europe and the Middle East. 

Girls' roster

Last Name 

First Name 

Country 

Košáková 

Eliška  

Czech Republic  

Fischer  

Ella Julie  

Denmark 

Rugette  

Neve  

England 

Gardziella 

Anna Frieda  

Finland 

Badibanga 

Elikya  

France 

Foirest 

Louane  

France 

Tialadze 

Lizi  

Georgia 

Heide 

Maja 

Germany  

Schulze 

Lilli  

Germany 

Foniadaki 

Efthymia  

Greece 

Ophir 

Noam  

Israel 

Zilbershlag 

Maya  

Israel 

Baldassarre 

Francesca  

Italy 

Hassan 

Isabel Mohamud Mohamed   

Italy 

Haziri 

Malvina  

Kosovo 

Miscenko 

Sindija  

Latvia 

Mansour 

Jane  

Lebanon 

Mockevičiūtė 

Justė  

Lithuania 

Makuła 

Marta  

Poland 

Pop 

Silvia Maria  

Romania 

Gamal 

Fleur  

Scotland 

Radjenovic 

Kristina  

Serbia 

Mrak 

Eli  

Slovenia 

Lostal Moron    

Claudia  

Spain 

Nieto Morales  

Laia  

Spain 

Toribio 

Ada  

Spain 

Mingert 

Elsa  

Sweden 

Awad 

Thea  

UAE 

Matthews  

Tamzin  

Wales 

Boys' roster

Last Name 

First Name 

Country 

Stampalija 

Toni  

Croatia 

Broda 

Jan  

Czech Republic 

Noorgard  

Noah Martin  

Denmark 

Ziegler 

Mads Nikolai  

Denmark 

Rugette 

Tejan  

England 

Towo-Nansi 

Aaron  

France 

Tatanashvili 

Saba  

Georgia 

Scheffs 

Jervis  

Germany 

Tsipourlianos 

Georgios  

Greece 

Saghy 

Tamas  

Hungary 

Hitkes 

Noam  

Israel 

Shmuel Aronov 

Aviv  

Israel 

Pavese 

Riccardo  

Italy 

Kastrati 

Yll  

Kosovo 

Kudrjavcevs  

Raivo  

Latvia 

Nebhan Moujaes 

Kyle  

Lebanon 

Pakamanis 

Ernas  

Lithuania 

Štombergas 

Ignas  

Lithuania 

Sitkiewicz 

Karol  

Poland 

Radu Andrei  

Cepoi  

Romania 

Henderson 

James Andrew  

Scotland 

Kovač 

Vukašin  

Serbia 

Marjanovic 

Stefan  

Serbia 

Malovcic 

Tin  

Slovenia 

Doucoure 

Mahamadou  

Spain 

Maker Bol 

Paul Ater  

Spain  

Torrens 

Pau  

Spain 

Zurita Rueda 

Marcos  

Spain 

Abou Jaoude 

Patrick Samer  

UAE 

Albora 

Ali  

UAE 

Balde 

Isaias  

Wales