The 2023 Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa camp that concluded in Johannesburg, South Africa, was an experience that opened new horizons for various young African players including Rwanda's Jane Dusabe. The four-day camp, which attracted 80 high-school aged top prospects from across the continent, gave opportunity to the youngsters to learn advanced basketball skills from current and former coaches and players in the NBA and WNBA. Times Sport’s Damas Sikubwabo, who was in Johannesburg for the coverage of the camp, takes a look at the key things that stood out, ranging from the award that The Hoops kid Dusabe took home to the motivational tips that top NBA officials shared with to the young basketball stars. Rwanda’s Dusabe named Most Improved Player Rwanda was well represented at the BWB Africa camp during which 18-year-old Jane Dusabe was awarded the Most Improved Player prize. ALSO READ: Rwandan youngster Dusabe named Most Improved Player at BWB camp The award was a good gesture as it recognized her as one of the best players in the camp. Dusabe commended the insightful lessons that she learned from top NBA and WNBA officials that she met during her four-day stay in the camp. ALSO READ: Khaman Maluach and Aisha Hassan named BWB Africa 2023 MVPs I benefited a lot because I met players from different countries in Africa. I had the opportunity to be trained by great NBA coaches. I gained a lot,” she said. The BWB has previously been attended by young players who went on to become top basketball players. They include NBA stars like Joel Embiid, a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers, and Pascal Siakam, another Cameroonian professional who features for the Toronto Raptors. ALSO READ: Kings’ coach Brown on how African youngsters can reach their full potential Top coaches, players show up Congolese and Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga Nigeria and Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo were among top NBA players who headline the just-concluded BWB Africa Camp. they travelled to Johannesburg with renowned NBA coaches including Sacramento Kings head coach and Nigeria National Team head coach Mike Brown, Dwane Casey (most recently with the Detroit Pistons) and Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham among others. Inspiring future African basketball stars The top players and coaches tipped the players on what they need to do to take their game to the top level Mike Brown, for instance, said, “They should keep working on their individual skill set, but do not lose sight of playing five on five, because everybody works on their individual game, and they're extremely talented as individuals.” ALSO READ: NBA, FIBA to hold Basketball Without Borders camp in South Africa “So, spend a lot of time on your individual game. But try to go to the playground and play five on five or three on three. So you know how to do the simple things very easily. Passing, cutting, screening to help your teammates get better. Because not everybody can be Steph Curry. Not everybody can be Michael Jordan,” he added.
