Basketball Without Borders, Americas Returns to Brazil


The final day of Basketball without Borders Americas 2011 was full of fun and basketball, all day with the BWB All Star Game as the highlight. Campers took in a tour of Rio’s famous Corcovado in the morning, while a group of about 40 girls from Mangueira's basketball teams participated on a day clinic led by NBA Legend Sam Perkins.

In the afternoon, ten campers represented seven countries on All-Star rosters for the Blue and White teams with Argentina having the most representation with seven players. The White team was led by NBA Legends Adonal Foyle and Dominique Wilkins and NBA coaches Kaleb Canales, Alex English. NBA Legends Allan Houston and Sam Perkins coached the Blue team along with NBA coaches Phil Weber and Austin Ainge.






Basketball without Borders Americas moved outside into Rio’s beautiful winter sunshine for the third day of camp on outdoor courts at Aterro de Flamengo, a beachside park in the shadow of iconic Sugarloaf Mountain. The entire day of camp – including two clinics, camper games and a skills challenge - was open to the public to observe.

The day began with a life skills session on leadership led by BWB community partner YMCA. The campers then broke out into a set of morning skill stations to continue to work on refining their fundamentals. Afternoon games featured an exciting match up between Alvin Gentry’s Phoenix Suns and Phil Weber’s New York Knicks that went down to the wire, with the Knicks coming out on top.






The second day of Basketball without Borders Americas began with another Life Skills session, this time focused on HIV/AIDS. Along with BWB community partner UNICEF, NBA Legends Sam Perkins and Adonal Foyle spoke to the campers about risks and prevention and the importance of living a safe, healthy lifestyle.

Morning skill stations focused mainly on offensive technique today with the NBA legends and coaches showing the campers fade-away jumpers and the best way to use a screen to get an open shot.






Tudo bem Brasil? Basketball without Borders Americas 2011 tipped off on Friday in Rio de Janeiro, bringing together NBA legends, coaches and 40 of the best young basketball players from across the region. The campers started their day with a Life Skills session where they learned what to expect over the course of the camp. New York Knicks Legend Allan Houston led the session and answered camper questions about playing in the NBA. Whether in Spanish, Portuguese or English, there were plenty of questions. What was your biggest challenge? What is your best piece of advice for someone to make it to the NBA? What was it like to play against Michael Jordan?






-- The Event Will Feature NBA’s Dominique Wilkins, Sam Perkins, Allan Houston, and Adonal Foyle --


NEW YORK, July 12, 2011 – NBA Legend Dominique Wilkins will lead Basketball without Borders Americas taking place in Rio de Janeiro, where the first Americas camp was staged in 2004, from July 29 to August 1, the National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and the Brazilian Basketball Confederation (CBB) announced today. Basketball without Borders (BWB) is the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development program that uses the sport to create positive social change in the areas of education and health and wellness. [Comunicado de prensa en español]

“Basketball without Borders has seen amazing success over the last decade thanks to the tremendous efforts of FIBA, our marketing and community partners, and the many members of the NBA Family who have joined us along the way,” said Kathleen Behrens, NBA Executive Vice President, Social Responsibility and Player Programs. “This program embodies the NBA’s commitment to growing the game of basketball globally while also using our sport to address critical social issues in communities around the world.”


BWB AMERICAS FACT SHEET
Marketing Partners for BWB Americas include Nike and Starwood Hotels
"It is a great privilege to mark a decade of working together with the NBA on the Basketball without Borders initiative," said Patrick Baumann, FIBA Secretary General and member of the International Olympic Committee. "10 years is a strong testament to the impact of the program, the quality of instruction and guidance provided both on and off the court. Since 2001, it has been our goal to provide young people all around the world with the opportunity and the tools to improve and showcase their basketball skills by learning from some of the best players and coaches around. We have also enabled them to have a positive effect on their communities by becoming role models."

Joining Wilkins as camp coaches will be NBA Legends Sam Perkins, Allan Houston, and Adonal Foyle. NBA team personnel include Austin Ainge from the Boston Celtics, Kaleb Canales from the Portland Trailblazers, Alex English from the Toronto Raptors, Alvin Gentry of the Phoenix Suns, and Phil Weber from the New York Knicks. Will Sevening of the San Antonio Spurs will serve as the camp’s athletic trainer, while Colombian-native Gersson Rosas from the Houston Rockets will act as the camp director.

About 50 top youth players 19 and under from more than 16 Latin American countries and Canada, as selected by the NBA, FIBA and participating federations, based on their basketball skills, leadership abilities and dedication to the sport will train under NBA Legends and coaches. Campers receive top-level instruction on-court and participate in daily life-skills seminars focused on values of the game such as leadership, character development, and living a healthy lifestyle. Through NBA Cares, the NBA legends and coaches also participate in extensive community outreach efforts highlighted by the creation of places for children and families to live, learn or play including newly refurbished basketball courts and basketball clinics.

Nike, a BWB partner since 2002, will again outfit the campers and coaches with Nike apparel.

“For the past decade, Basketball without Borders has been teaching young basketball players around the world the importance of hard work, dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship,” said Lynn Merritt, Vice President, Global Basketball Sports Marketing, Nike. “These characteristics are all crucial to helping promote success for these young campers both on and off the court, and we are proud to work with the NBA and FIBA to promote these values and celebrate the tenth anniversary of this program together.”

BWB Americas, taking place at Centro de Educação Física Almirante Adalberto Nunes (CEFAN), will include the following marketing partners: Nike, TAM Viagens, Starwood Hotels, and Spalding.

Basketball without Borders Americas is one of three BWB camps that will be held this summer as the program celebrates its 10th anniversary. Basketball without Borders Europe, taking place in Ljubljana, Slovenia Aug. 8-11, marks the first camp held in one of the former Yugoslav republics, which was where the 50 campers who attended the inaugural BWB camp in Treviso, Italy hailed from. Basketball without Borders Africa will be returning to Johannesburg, South Africa, Sept. 1-4, after being held in Senegal last year.

Since its inception, the NBA and FIBA have staged 27 BWB camps in 16 cities in 14 countries. More than 100 different current and former NBA/WNBA players have joined with nearly 100 NBA coaches to act as mentors for nearly 1,500 campers from just over 100 countries, with 17 BWB campers drafted into the NBA.

The following is a tentative list of NBA Legends and coaches who are scheduled to participate in Basketball without Borders Americas 2011:

Former FIBA/NBA Players*TeamCountry
Adonal Foyle NBA Legend USA
Allan Houston NBA Legend USA
Sam Perkins NBA Legend USA
Dominique Wilkins NBA Legend USA

FIBA/NBA Coaches Team Country
Austin Ainge Boston Celtics USA
Kaleb Canales Portland Trailblazers Canada
Alex English Toronto Raptors USA
Alvin Gentry Phoenix Suns USA
Phil Weber New York Knicks USA

Trainer Team Country
Will SeveningSan Antonio Spurs USA

Camp Director Team Country
Gersson Rosas Houston Rockets Colombia


The following is a complete list of campers participating in Basketball without Borders Americas 2011:

CountryFirst nameLast name
Argentina Matias Bernardini
Argentina Martin Massone
Argentina Gonzalo Torres
Argentina Lucas Gonzalez
Argentina Franco Barroso
Argentina Luciano Tognon
Argentina Gabriel Deck
Argentina Rodrigo Hagg
Bahamas Jabari Wilmott
Barbados Lamar Grazette
Brazil Leonardo Roese
Brazil Henrique Coelho
Brazil Gustavo Scaglia de Paula
Brazil Leonardo Simoes Meindl
Brazil Lucas Fernandes Mariano
Brazil Felipe Braga Alfredo
Brazil Deryk Ramos
Brazil Felipe Rech
Canada Olivier Hanlan
Canada Negus Webster-Chan
Canada Albert Junior Lomomba
Canada Dyshawn Pierre
Chile Ignacio Sanino
Chile Pablo Barraza
Colombia Tonny Jose Trocha Morelos
Dominican Republic Israel Martinez
Dominican Republic Luis David Montero Carrasco
Dominican Republic Rody Ramirez
Jamaica Rushane Hamil
Mexico Daniel Jaso
Mexico Miguel Ramirez
Mexico Jose Alfredo Vargas
Panama Alejandro Grant
Paraguay Leandro Evair Ferreira Massare
Paraguay Fernado Gabriel Dose Rodas
Puerto Rico Bryan David Rodriguez
Puerto Rico Carmelo Betancourt
Puerto Rico Keven Caban
Puerto Rico José Ramirez Velez
Uruguay Luciano Parodi
Uruguay Hernando Caceres
Uruguay Lucas Vassallucci Fitipaldo
Venezuela Juan Jose Mejias Jaspe
Venezuela Franco Missael Torres Gonzalez
Venezuela Deyran Arcangel Guevara Rivera
Virgin Islands Amadius Derweer
Virgin Islands Merwin Potter
  • 40
    players from Latin America and Canada
  • 16
    countries represented
  • 9
    NBA Legends and coaches will run the camp
  • Adonal Foyle
    Foyle, who hails from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, was a revered defensive presence during his time in the league. Active in the community, Foyle was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame in 2009.
  • Allan Houston
    One of the most prolific 3-point shooters in the history of the NBA, Houston's now an assistant general manager for the New York Knicks. After 10 years in New York, he became a fan favorite not only for his play on the court, but his work off of it.
  • Sam Perkins
    An 18-year veteran of the NBA, "Big Smooth" was one of the league's best-shooting big men during his playing days. Before entering the NBA, Perkins co-captained the gold medal-winning US team at the 1984 Olympics.
  • Dominique Wilkins
    "The Human Highlight Film" will bring the skills and knowledge that made him a nine-time All-Star and a 2006 Hall of Fame inductee to the camp, along with the commitment to the community that's made him a legend in Atlanta and around the world.
  • Sponsors

  • BWB Americas
    Rio de Janiero, Brazil -- July 29 - August 1

  • BWB Europe
    Ljubljana, Slovenia -- August 8 - 11

  • BWB Africa
    Johannesburg, South Africa -- Sept 1 - 4