... Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Rwanda to benefit
Masai Ujiri and Giants of Africa (GOA) announced they will be holding camps in four countries across Africa this summer for the first time. Celebrating its 12th year supporting the growth of basketball in Africa, Giants of Africa will be expanding its camps from Nigeria and Kenya to include Ghana and Rwanda this summer. Camps will be held in Nigeria from August 3-5, Ghana from August 7-9, Kenya from August 10 -12 and Rwanda from August 13-15.
Giants of Africa camps ?bring together top coaches from across the country to help run the sessions and are designed to help young basketball players develop athletically, achieve life goals and become better players. In addition to on-court basketball skills development, Giants of Africa strives to help foster participants via life skills support and local community outreach initiatives. ?
“Running the Giants of Africa camps every year has become very important to us,” said Ujiri. “ We have to give back and encourage the youth. While we all want to do well in our daily jobs, we must never forget what got us here. Using basketball to educate and develop African youth is just the beginning of what needs to be accomplished. Coaching the coaches and building infrastructure is key for the growth of the game on the continent. These kids are motivated, aspire to learn and continue to work hard. It is a responsibility for us to inspire them to keep aiming high by providing them opportunities to grow."
Since the Giants of Africa camps began more than 100 camp attendees have moved on to high school or university in the United States, with around 20 now playing professionally in Europe.
Modeled after the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders outreach program, Giants of Africa holds two types of annual camps – Top 50 Camp and Big Man Camp. Its approach is to use the game of basketball as a means to teach and nurture important life skills. The Top 50 Camp focuses on the top 50 kids from across the country and provides campers with three intense days of instruction. The Big Man Camp teaches young athletes at six-foot-eight and above the basic fundamentals of the game with a focus on running, catching, footwork and shooting. The goal for both camps is to begin to develop each of these athletes’ skills at a young, and still developmental age. This approach provides an opportunity for ongoing improvement as each child continues to develop, learn and grow.
This summer’s camps are made possible through the support of partners from across the globe with special thanks to the NBA, Nike, Nestlé Milo, Ecobank, MLSE Foundation and Sportscorp Travel.
Giants of Africa was founded in 2003 to make a difference for kids in Africa using basketball as a tool. The organization’s mission is to use the game of basketball to educate and enrich the lives of the African youth by providing quality facilities, coaching and instruction.
