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10 February 2026  3 min read

Ekufu LA-bound for Basketball Without Borders camp and All-Star game

Hosted by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the 2026 camp will be held in Los Angeles, California from the 13-15 July in association with the NBA All-Star Weekend.

The former EABL-star was individually selected by the NBA and FIBA based on his outstanding basketball skills and leadership abilities.

Obi Ekufu was named Defensive Player of the Camp at the 2025 Basketball Without Borders Europe in Manchester.

Defensive stalwart 

Last summer, Ekufu attended Basketball Without Borders Europe in Manchester, where his talent shone through, with NBA and FIBA coaches judging him to be most valuable defensive player at the camp and naming him on the camp’s All-Star 5 roster. 

At 6’6”, Ekufu has also picked up England and GB caps as a junior - whilst he was with the Heat - and in the 2024/25 EABL season was named South U17 Player of the Year, alongside claiming the playoff title with Barking.

He was also selected for Team Munich in the 2025 U18 Adidas Next Gen EuroLeague Finals and suited up for Team White in the Hoopsfix All-Star Classic, where he finished runner-up in the dunk contest.

"I want to thank my family, Barking Abbey, and Basketball England for supporting me and making this opportunity possible," said Ekufu.

"I hope to make my country and my people proud, representing them to the best of my ability."

BE Head of Talent and Development Steve Bucknall said:

"This is fantastic news. Many congratulations to Obi on being selected for the BWB Global camp.

"He is a great example of the talent we have in this country that's been nurtured through our England Talent Pathway and, of course, through the coaches and elite basketball academy environment at Barking Abbey.

"Obi is hard working, a defensive stalwart and can jump out of the gym. He impressed during his time in Manchester last summer at BWB Europe and I know he'll do the same once he gets stateside at the global camp.

"Enjoy the experience and do us proud."

Obi Ekufu played for EABL outfit Barking Abbey before heading to America to play for Sagemont Prep.

Basketball Without Borders Global Camp is an elite basketball skills camp that welcomes the world’s top young players for a unique opportunity to improve their basketball talents through best-in-class coaching from FIBA/NBA players and coaches.

Over the course of the camp, players will be lead in basketball skill development, strength and conditioning, life skills sessions, and games and competitions.

Find out more - Academies 

Find out more - Basketball Without Borders