The National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Co-op Live and the City of Manchester today announced the top 60 high-school-age boys and girls from 27 countries who will participate in the 22nd Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Europe camp, which will be held at the National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester, England, from Tuesday, August 12 – Friday, August 15, marking the first time the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program will be held in the United Kingdom.
The camp will tip off a series of local NBA activities in collaboration with the City of Manchester and Co-op Live following the recent announcement that the league will play the its first regular-season game in Manchester at Co-op Live in 2027.
Amongst the campers will be rising British players Barking Abbey's Obinna Ekufu, London Elite/NBA Global Academy's Emmanuel Ahamefule, Charnwood Academy/NBA Global Academy's Ike Davids, Oaklands Wolves' Bo Guttormsdottir-Frost and Blair Academy's Athena Thompson.
They and the other campers will be coached by 2024-25 Kia NBA All-Defensive Second Team member Ivica Zubac (LA Clippers; Croatia), 2018-19 Kia NBA All-Rookie Second Team member Kevin Huerter (Chicago Bulls; U.S.), 2011 NBA champion Tyson Chandler (U.S.), five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher (U.S.), two-time WNBA champion Sylvia Fowles (U.S), Philadelphia 76ers head coach and two-time British Basketball League champion and coach of the year Nick Nurse (U.S.), 76ers assistant coach Bryan Gates (U.S.), and former NBA player and veteran assistant coach Roy Rogers (U.S.).
The players and coaches will lead the campers through a variety of activities, including movement efficiency drills, offensive and defensive skill stations, three-point contests, 5-on-5 games, and life-skills and leadership development sessions.
A ceremony on the final day of the camp will award the Kim Bohuny Camp MVP, the Patrick Baumann Sportsmanship Award, the Three-Point Champion and the Defensive MVP to the male and female players who distinguish themselves on the court and as leaders.
The camp will also include Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA and Her Time to Play clinics for more than 250 youth ages 12-16 from the local community. In conjunction with the camp, the City of Manchester and Basketball England will also launch the Manchester Coaches Program to develop the next generation of basketball coaches in the city.
Open to aspiring Manchester-based coaches, the program will provide participants with tools and techniques to help them enhance their player development strategies.
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BWB has reached more than 4,600 participants from 144 countries and territories since 2001, with 142 former campers drafted into the NBA and WNBA or signed as free agents. Fifty-three former BWB Europe campers have been drafted into the NBA and WNBA, including Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers; Israel; BWB Europe 2018), Nicolas Batum (LA Clippers; France; BWB Europe 2005), 2025 NBA champion Isaiah Hartenstein (Oklahoma City Thunder; Germany; BWB Europe 2015), 2023 NBA All-Star Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz; Finland; BWB Europe 2014), Domonique Malonga (Seattle Storm; France; BWB Europe 2022), Nika Mühl (Storm; Croatia; BWB Europe 2018), Jonas Valančiūnas (Denver Nuggets; Lithuania; BWB Europe 2008) and Amari Williams (Boston Celtics; UK; BWB Europe 2019).
BWB Europe 2025 will be supported by Nike, a global partner of BWB since 2002, which will outfit participants with Nike apparel and footwear.
Fans in the UK can find more NBA information at NBA.com, on Facebook (NBA Europe) and Instagram (NBAEurope), and by downloading the NBA App. They can also purchase the latest NBA merchandise at the NBA Store in London and at NBAStore.eu.
Follow the camp using the hashtag #BWBEurope on Facebook, Instagram and X. Find out more about BWB at BasketballWithoutBorders.com, on YouTube (Basketball Without Borders) and on Instagram (@basketballwithoutborders).
“Hosting Basketball Without Borders in Manchester for the first time reflects the city’s thriving basketball culture and the growing level of talent in England and across the UK. We look forward to bringing together the next generation of European prospects to learn from players and coaches who have succeeded at the highest levels of the game.”
“This year’s Basketball Without Borders in Manchester marks an exciting milestone for the region’s growing basketball landscape. This camp will bring together promising young athletes from across Europe to train and learn from experienced international coaches and players, offering a unique opportunity to inspire and develop the next generation of basketball talent. We’re confident that participants will walk away not only with valuable skills, but also with lifelong lessons and memories.”
“Manchester is honoured to host Basketball Without Borders Europe for the first time, marking another milestone in our journey as a global basketball city. With the NBA’s regular-season debut at Co-op Live on the horizon, this camp showcases our commitment to nurturing talent, inspiring communities, and celebrating the power of sport. We’re proud to welcome the next generation of European stars to a city that truly understands and supports basketball at every level.”
“Helping to bring Basketball Without Borders to Manchester as part of our work with the NBA aligns perfectly to Co-op Live’s ongoing commitment to both improving our local community and actively supporting rising talent. By sharing these core values across the full collaboration, we are thrilled to help elevate and nurture these sporting stars of the future, and to further cement the city’s basketball legacy.”
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