NBA Academy Africa Blue wins 2022 tournament

NBA Academy Africa Blue wins 2022 tournament

By Robert Alfonso Jr. 

ATLANTA, GA – There is no secret. Basketball has become a global game.

International players have made an impact at the highest level in the NBA, who are motivating another generation of players on the hardwood.

This past week, high players from across the globe ascended into Georgia for NBA Academy. These players were divided into an eight team pool plays, followed by a tournament format before NBA Academy Africa Blue was crowned champion after beating NBA Global Academy.

It is the second time the continent captured the title in programs short four-year history. The celebration following the win was short of confetti falling from the Holy Innocents’ ceiling.

Players and staff were elated.

“It is a process,” Roland Houston, the technical director of NBA Acaemy. “This is our fourth academy games. We won the first one, which was nice. We were able to come back and even the series (against NBA Global).”

NBA Academy serves as a developmental stage for the players and coaches. Each team had a former professional player or aspiring coach on the staff. They spent time practicing and putting together a decent game plan for each game.

The level of preparation afforded the players the opportunity to play in front of college coaches and NBA scouts during the first week of the July NCAA Live Period.

Many of those making decisions and gathering notes walked away impressed with a few players in the process.

Thierry Serge Darlan was one of the more talked about players on Africa Blue. The 2023 combo scored a team-high 17 points in the final game. At 6-foot-7, he was smooth both ends of the floor. This Central African Republic native averaged 14 points through the six games, including a 32 point performance in the semifinal.

Frenchman Dramane Sayon Camara finished with 16 points in the victory. He ran the offense and knocked down shots at 6-foot-5. This 2023 floor general looked 

Backcourt mate Joy Ighovodja shot the lights out all weekend. The 6-foot-4 left guard, from Nigeria, intrigued coaches with his ability to shoot the ball. HIs mechanics were nearly textbook. 

NBA Academy Africa is a program many college coaches will find a player to build their program.