August 07, (THEWILL) – 17-year-old Nigerian-born basketball prospect, David Ugonna Ike, has won the most valuable defensive player at the just concluded 20th Basketball Without Borders Africa (BWB Africa) camp in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The towering 6’11 player from Imo State was adjudged the best defender for his numerous blocks and guards during the championship games competed by the 30 boys in the 20th BWB Africa 4-day camp this year.
Ugonna, who is currently an NBA Academy Africa prospect in Senegal, is happy to win the award, saying it him an inch closer to realising his dream of playing at the National Basketball Association (NBA) league in the USA, where his biggest mentor, another Nigerian basketball superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo, plays.
“I am happy to win the best defensive player award and also be selected amongst the all-stars at the BWB Africa camp. My dream is to be in the NBA someday soonest and I will continue to work hard in the NBA Academy Africa in order to realise this dream,” Ugonna stated.
Another Nigerian, Chidalu David Ajala, also won the BJ Johnson award for the most improved player in the 4-day BWB Africa camp while the boys and girls teams, Hawks and Aces, coached respectively by the Nigerian duo of Ekpe Udoh and Ikenna Smart, were declared champions. Ekpe is the current assistant coach of the Atlanta Hawks and Ikenna is the Portland Trailblazers assistant video coordinator, both in the USA.
Egyptian youngsters, Mohamed Warl Shahin and Haya Elhalawany won the overall Kim Bohuny most valuable players of the BWB Africa camp for boys and girls respectively.
BWB Africa is a global collaboration of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) geared towards developing high-school-age basketball prospects across Africa. 60 boys and girls (including three Nigerians) from 24 African countries participated in the 20th edition in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
