Four Cameroonian Basketball Prospects Selected For 21st Basket Without Borders Camp

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

Four Cameroonian basketball prospects have been chosen to participate in the 21st Basket Without Borders (BWB) Camp. The camp will take place at Petit Stade and BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, from Saturday, August 23, to Tuesday, August 26. The four Cameroonians include, Synthia Mbeutom and Alexandra Djonkou in the girls category and Yvesrostand Makembe and Joachim Basson in the Boys category.

This marks the first time the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program will be held in East Africa, following previous editions in Angola, Egypt, Senegal, and South Africa.

The four Cameroonians are among 60 high school-age boys and girls selected from 21 countries across Africa. The campers include two prospects from NBA Academy Africa and will receive coaching from notable figures such as Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings, 1996-97 NBA All-Rookie Second Team member Kerry Kittles, 2005-06 NBA All-Rookie Second Team member Marvin Williams, Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee, Indiana Pacers assistant coach Lloyd Pierce, and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori.

BWB Africa camp directors will include Utah Jazz Vice President of Global Scouting Luca Desta (Ethiopia), Toronto Raptors Director of Global Scouting & International Affairs Patrick Engelbrecht (South Africa), World Association of Basketball Coaches President Patrick Hunt (Australia), and Philadelphia 76ers Vice President of Player Personnel Prosper Karangwa (Rwanda). Additionally, Raptors Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Jonathan Lee and LA Clippers Director of Medical Services and Head Athletic Trainer Jasen Powell will serve as the camp’s sports performance coaches.

The players and coaches will guide the campers through various activities, including movement efficiency drills, offensive and defensive skill stations, three-point contests, 5-on-5 games, and life skills and leadership development sessions.

Participants will also engage in social responsibility programming, such as a wheelchair basketball clinic in collaboration with the Rwandan Basketball Federation (FERWABA) and a clinic for 100 elderly women in partnership with the international sport-for-development organization Shooting Touch on Sunday, August 24. On Monday, August 25, there will be a coaching clinic and a “Her Time to Play” leadership workshop for female campers.

BWB Africa 2025 will be supported by Nike, a global partner of BWB since 2002, which will provide participants with Nike apparel and footwear.

Since its inception in 2001, BWB has reached more than 4,600 participants from 144 countries and territories, with 142 former campers drafted into the NBA and WNBA or signed as free agents. Notably, 14 former BWB Africa campers have been drafted into the NBA and WNBA since the first BWB Africa camp in 2003, including 2023 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2011), 2019 NBA champion Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2012), and 2025 No. 10 overall pick Khaman Maluach (Phoenix Suns; South Sudan; ties to Uganda; BWB Africa 2023). Additionally, 72 former BWB Africa campers have been featured on Basketball Africa League (BAL) rosters over the league’s first five seasons.

The following is a complete list of players participating in BWB Africa 2025

(roster subject to change):

   *NBA Academy Africa prospect