Sept. 7, 2008 -- The sixth edition of Basketball without Borders Africa wrapped up today under the blazing African sun. For the first time ever, a clinic was held for young girls under the expert tutelage of former WNBA player Jennifer Azzi. The clinic, run in partnership with Hoops for Hope, featured young girls from the surrounding communities and involved the NBA players and coaches as they taught the basic fundamentals of shooting, passing, dribbling and defense.

Jennifer then did what she did best – aside from shooting hoops – which was to give a brief motivational speech followed by a Q&A session with the girls. ‘If you see it, believe it’ Jennifer explained. ‘Success is following your own passion; you are brought into this world to make a difference. Maximize yourself, your talents and your abilities.’ As the children listened on intently she continued; ‘Learn how to lead and how to follow. Have a vision; embrace and overcome obstacles and you can achieve anything.’

The outdoor courts at the American International School of Johannesburg were also the scene of the two All-Star games; tightly fought contests that saw the best kids at the camp compete in two highly athletic games. The three-point contest also took place, and saw the winning player compete against Matt Bonner of the San Antonio Spurs. Following the completion of the games and the awards ceremonies, the campers all regrouped for a final barbeque where they would bid farewell to friends old and new and take back to their respective countries memories to last a life time.

Sept. 6, 2008 -- The Basketball without Borders train rolled on today as the group gathered at the American International School of Johannesburg for a final morning of skill sessions with the coaches and players.

For the fifth year in a row, the NBA players and coaches were treated to a tour of Kliptown, a ghetto in the township of Soweto. The tour attracted the attention of many as it made its way through small dirt streets strewn with glass and litter. At various points along the journey, the children of Kliptown performed ceremonial dances that represented the different tribes of people living in the area. They even offered local delicacies for tasting – fried caterpillar!

The tour finished up at Soweto Kliptown Youth (SKY) Trust where the dancing and celebration continued. Dikembe Mutombo even had a chance to showcase his rhythm for everyone. The children flocked to the players, asking them questions and marveling at their height. Lunch was served in the NBA sponsored dining hall created three years ago, and the players and coaches were able to get up close and personal with the people of the community.

The BWB campers were back at the gym for an afternoon of scrimmages. They also had their height, weight, wingspan, and vertical leap measured. Tomorrow is the last day of team play and the competition is strong. All of the campers are eager for the chance to showcase their talents and are looking forward to the selection of teams for the All-Star games tomorrow.

Sept. 5, 2008 -- If home is where the heart is, the NBA players and coaches can now claim Orange Farm Township as their home. This afternoon, the group was in the poverty stricken township neighborhood put their heart and hard-work into building three homes with Habitat for Humanity.

Alongside the future homeowners, Dikembe Mutombo and Shareef Abdur-Rahim mixed cement as Caron Butler and Charlie Bell passed bricks. Matt Bonner, Jennifer Azzi, Thabo Sefolosha, Nick Collison, and Bob Lanier all showed off their bricklaying technique as the walls of the houses grew higher and higher. At the end of the build, the three houses were nearer to completion and three families were closer to having safe, comfortable housing.

Back at the American School, the BWB campers started their day with a life skills session led by Caron Butler, Nick Collison and Jennifer Azzi in partnership with Hoops 4 Hope. The session focused on the importance of healthy living and AIDS awareness and prevention. The campers continued to improve in the morning skills sessions lead by the coaches and players. After some afternoon scrimmages, the campers took a special trip to visit the lion park where they had a chance to get up close and personal with some lion cubs.

Sept. 4, 2008 -- The first full day of Basketball without Borders began with a tip-off press conference this morning at the American International School of Johannesburg here in South Africa. All of the players, coaches, and campers were on hand to celebrate the sixth installment of the BWB camp. After a photo session and interviews, the players ran the campers through stretches before coaching them in their morning skill sessions.

Passing, shooting and dribbling were on the afternoon agenda as the NBA players and coaches hosted a basketball clinic for 100 Special Olympics athletes. “Big Bob” Lanier kicked of the program with a big welcome for the children before sending them off to their stations. The afternoon concluded with the athletes presenting Special Olympics hats and pins to the NBA group.

Eager to start camp competition, the coaches had the afternoon to train their teams they selected in last nights draft. The campers ran through plays and practiced defense in preparation for scrimmages later that afternoon. Competition for the camp title will be fierce this year as the talent pool is very deep and all of the teams are very strong.

Sept. 3, 2008 -- On day one of Basketball without Borders Africa 2008, the NBA players and coaches were introduced to the history of South Africa and the community of Johannesburg with visits to the Apartheid Museum and Cotlands pediatric AIDS hospice.

For 43 years, South Africa was in the grips of the Apartheid system which classified citizens based on the color of their skin. The NBA players and coaches walked through history starting with the roots of Apartheid beginning with the first settlers through to the peaceful resolution of the modern day government led by Nelson Mandela and the ANC.

The group continued on to Cotlands, a pediatric AIDS hospice in downtown Johannesburg, to tour the facility and visit with the children that live there. Where Cotlands once served as a place to comfort the dying, the organization now thrives as a place where children can live a normal life and receive preventative treatment for their disease. The children showed off their moves at an impromptu dance party in the courtyard - Matt Bonner of the San Antonio Spurs and Thabo Sefolosha of the Chicago Bulls even joined in the fun.

Meanwhile back at the gym, the campers had a chance to take on Caron Butler of the Washington Wizards and Charlie Bell of the Milwaukee Bucks on the virtual court in the EA Gaming tournament. In basketball news, the campers had their first chance to showcase their basketball talent during evaluation scrimmages. Based on these games, the coaches will draft their teams for competition throughout the remainder of the camp.