Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) is excited to announce the 10 Kiwi athletes who will be heading to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates from 2-5 June for the 13th Basketball Without Borders Asia camp – hosted by FIBA and the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The female athletes are Elise Gilbert, Olivia Lassey, Kavanah Lene, Rebecca Moors and Amy Pateman, while the male athletes are Julius Halaifonua, Carter Hopoi, Ryan Hunt, Tamatoa Isaac and Kahuranaki Treacher.
The 2023 Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Asia camp assembles 80 of the top high-school-age prospects from across Asia and the Middle East – individually selected by the NBA and FIBA based on their outstanding basketball skills and leadership abilities – for an elite basketball skills camp at the New York University campus in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The camp provides a unique opportunity for the 40 female and 40 male participants to improve their basketball talents, be coached by FIBA/NBA players and coaches, and get to know other basketball players their age from the region. This year the campers will be coached by current NBA players Saddiq Bey (Atlanta Hawks) and Monte Morris (Washington Wizards), and NBA veterans Taj Gibson (most recently with the Washington Wizards) and Rodney McGruder (most recently with the Detroit Pistons).
NBA assistant coaches John Bryant (Chicago Bulls), Ryan Forehan-Kelly (Brooklyn Nets), Ryan Richman (Wizards), Sean Sweeney (Dallas Mavericks) and Mike Weinar (Indiana Pacers) will also serve as BWB Asia coaches, while Nina Hsieh (Charlotte Hornets) will serve as the camp’s athletic trainer.
NBA players and coaches will lead the BWB campers through a variety of activities, including movement efficiency drills, offensive and defensive skill stations, three-point contests, 5-on-5 games, and life skills and leadership development sessions. A ceremony on the final day of the camp will award the Kim Bohuny Camp MVP, the Patrick Baumann Sportsmanship Award, the Three-Point Champion and the Defensive MVP to the boys and girls who distinguish themselves on the court and as leaders.
BWB Asia 2023 will be supported by Nike, a global partner of BWB since 2002, which will outfit participants with Nike apparel and footwear, and Gatorade, which will keep players and coaches hydrated throughout the camp.
BWB, the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program, has reached more than 3,900 participants from 134 countries and territories since 2001, with 106 former campers advancing to the NBA or WNBA. The NBA and FIBA have staged 66 BWB camps in 43 cities across 31 countries on six continents.
Female Athletes (NZ):
Elise Gilbert
Olivia Lassey
Kavanah Lene
Rebecca Moors
Amy Pateman
Male Athletes (NZ):
Julius Halaifonua
Carter Hopoi
Ryan Hunt
Tamatoa Isaac
Kahuranaki Treacher
