February 10, 2018

Three Indian players chosen for 2018 Basketball Without Borders camp at the NBA All Star Weekend


For the second consecutive year, a small number of young Indian basketball talents have been invited to the Basketball Without Borders camp, set to be held during the 2018 NBA All Star Weekend in Los Angeles, USA. The three Indian players - Sejin Mathew, Princepal Singh, and Pushpa Senthil Kumar - will be among 43 prospects, ranging in age from 16-18, from 36 countries around the world. Organised by FIBA and the NBA, the camp will be held from February 15-18, 2018.

Originally from Kerala, 6-5 forward Sejin Mathew (18) is one of the two dozen prospects at the NBA India Academy in Greater Noida. Last summer, Mathew was selected for the NBA Asia-Pacific Elite Camp in China and was part of India's under-18 squad for the 3x3 FIBA Asia Cup.

Like Mathew, Punjab's 6-9 forward Princepal Singh (16) is also part of the NBA Academy India. Princepal was also part of the NBA Asia-Pacific Elite Camp last year and been one of the rising forces in Indian basketball. Last year, he won the MVP award of the Youth Nationals for Punjab and was given the MVP award when he carried India to a gold medal at the 2017 U16 South Asian Basketball Championship.

Pushpa Senthil Kumar (16), who plays Center at 5-10, was the captain of India's U16 Women's team that secured promotion to Division A after a flawless performance at the FIBA Asia U16 Championship for Women in Bengaluru.

According to a report by ESPN's Jonathan Givony, the attending prospects will get measured, undergo athletic testing, practice, scrimmage and conduct drills under the watchful eyes of representatives of all 30 NBA teams at the Los Angeles Lakers' practice facility. Participants will also attend daily seminars for life skills and take in the Rising Stars challenge, dunk contest, 3-point shootout and All-Star Game at Staples Center.

Other notable players attending the camp will include: Sekou Doumbouya (France), Luka Samanic (Croatia), Killian Hayes (France), N'Faly Dante (Mali), and Charles Bassey (Nigeria).

Several current NBA players will attend the camp as coaches, including Al Horford (Boston Celtics) Goran Dragic (Miami Heat), Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers), Timofey Mozgov (Brooklyn Nets) and Sam Dekker (LA Clippers).

Last year, two Indian players - Priyanka Prabharaka and Aashay Verma - attended the Basketball Without Borders global camp in New Orleans.

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