Indian prospects Harshwardhan Tomar and Grishma Niranjan to take part in Basketball Without Borders Global Camp at 2019 All Star Weekend

The biggest basketball stars in the world will be in Charlotte this weekend for the NBA All Star extravaganza. So will local, national, and international celebrities, bringing in their own star power. The global media will turn its lenses for this massive basketball festival.

But in midst of all the fun, there will also be a lot of serious sport, of course. And while most of the world keeps its eyes on the NBA stars, a new crew of young international prospects will be taking the courts in Charlotte, too, with the hope to announce their presence as basketball's next big things. The NBA and FIBA announced that the top 63 boys and girls from 31 countries and regions around the world will travel to Charlotte for the fifth annual Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global Camp. The camp, which will feature several NBA players and coaches as mentors, will be held from February 15-17 at the Queens University of Charlotte Levine Center for Wellness and Recreation as part of NBA All-Star 2019.

And, as it has been the case for the past few years, a couple of rising hoop stars from India - Harshwardhan Tomar and Grishma Niranjan - will be representing our tricolour flag in Charlotte, hoping to make a big impression in front of scouts and coaches to further their own careers, and also return home with an experience of a lifetime.

Originally from Madhya Pradesh's Bhind district, the 6-7 forward Tomar (18) made waves several years ago when he was picked to play for Italy's Stellazzurra Academy. Since then, Tomar has represented India's national teams at the U18 and U16 FIBA Asia stage. Last year, he was among the 8 winners of the ACG-NBA Jump programme to win admission to the NBA Academy India in Greater Noida.

Niranjan (17), a point guard from Bengaluru, is the reigning MVP of the NBA Academy India's second women's camp, held in Greater Noida last month. She also represented India at the last FIBA Asia U16 Championship.

According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, the BWB Global Camp has quickly ascended to the top of NBA executives' calendars as a must-scout event. "It's become somewhat of a "rite of passage" for internationals vying to join the NBA, something that is reflected in the number of players drafted since its inception in 2015," Givony wrote. Some of the big international names to watch will include Deni Avdija (Israel), Amar Sylla (Senegal), Killian Hayes (France), Khalifa Diop (Senegal), and Matej Rudan (Croatia).

2019 NBA All-Stars Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets; Serbia) and Nikola Vučević (Orlando Magic; Montenegro), 2018 No. 1 overall draft pick and former BWB camper Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns; Bahamas; BWB Global 2016), and 2017-18 All-Rookie Second Team member Bogdan Bogdanović (Sacramento Kings; Serbia) will serve as coaches at the BWB Global Camp. They will be joined by NBA veteran Festus Ezeli (Nigeria), former NBA players Adonal Foyle (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) and Michael Ray Richardson (USA), Women's Basketball Hall of Fame member Jennifer Azzi (USA), former WNBA players Allison Feaster (USA), Ashley Battle (USA), Taj McWilliams-Franklin (USA), Astou N'Diaye (Senegal) and Andrea Stinson (USA), as well as select players participating in NBA All-Star 2019. Charlotte Hornets assistant coaches Dutch Gaitley (USA), Nate Mitchell (Canada) and Ronald Nored (USA), along with 76ers assistant coach John Bryant (USA) and Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Mark Madsen (USA) will also serve as BWB Global coaches.

Photo: NBAE/Getty Images

Players and coaches will lead the campers through a variety of activities on and off the court, including movement efficiency, skill development stations, shooting and skills competitions, 5-on-5 games, and daily life skills seminars focusing on health, leadership and communication. One boy and one girl will be named BWB Global Camp MVPs at the conclusion of the three-day camp.

The campers will attend the Rising Stars event, All-Star Saturday Night, and the 68th NBA All-Star Game at Spectrum Center.

The full list of BWB Global Camp 2019 participants is available here.

Last year's BWB Global Camp featured India's Pushpa Senthil Kumar, Princepal Singh and Sejin Mathew.

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.

Two Indian youngsters in NBA All Star Weekend's Basketball Without Borders Global Camp rosters

The NBA All Star Weekend features the best talent in the world: the NBA's finest and most-popular players, the best shooters, dunkers, dribblers, and the entire larger multiverse of basketball. But in 2015, the All Star Weekend added a taste of the world basketball's future to the festivities, too, with the addition of the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global Camp. The camp brings together more than 50 of the most-talented high-school age boys and girls from outside the US to the All Star Weekend for an elite training session and the opportunity to be a part of the All Star experience.

There is good news this year: the rosters of the BWB Global Camp were revealed on Tuesday, and two young Indian basketball players - Priyanka Prabharaka and Aashay Verma - will be among the 67 boys and girls from 32 countries and territories heading to New Orleans for the NBA All Star Weekend from February 17-19.

Priyanka Prabharaka (18) is a 5'10" shooting guard from Nemmara (Kerala) who represented India at the 2016 FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Women in Bangkok. She was an important starter for the team led India in rebounds (8.2 rpg) in the tournament.

Aashay Verma (17) is a 7'1" center from Hyderabad who was chosen by NBA/FIBA to be one of three Indians in last year's BWB Asia camp in Melbourne (Australia). Verma is reportedly new to the game but showed great potential at the camp.

The coaching participants at the All Star BWB Global Camp will include Cheick Diallo (Pelicans), Wayne Ellington (Miami Heat), Justin Holiday (New York Knicks), Meyers Leonard (Portland Trail Blazers), Thon Maker (Milwaukee Bucks) and Emmanuel Mudiay (Denver Nuggets). Current NBA assistant coaches Joe Connelly (Denver Nuggets), Jay Hernandez (Orlando Magic) and Fred Vinson (New Orleans Pelicans), along with Brooklyn Nets scout and NBA D-League Assistant GM Matt Riccardi, will also serve as BWB Global coaches. Patrick Hunt (President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches; Australia), Gersson Rosas (Houston Rockets; Colombia), Marin Sedlacek (Philadelphia 76ers; Serbia) and Masai Ujiri (Toronto Raptors; Nigeria) will serve as camp directors. Former NBA trainer Wally Blase (U.S.) will serve as the camp’s athletic trainer.

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Players and coaches will lead the campers through a variety of activities on and off the court, including movement efficiency, positional skill development, shooting and skills competitions, 5-on-5 games, and daily life skills seminars focusing on health, leadership and communication. One boy and one girl will be named BWB Global Camp MVPs at the conclusion of the three-day camp.
The campers will attend the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge, State Farm NBA All-Star Saturday Night, and the 66th NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center.

This camp is a great opportunity for Prabhakara and Verma to learn in the presence of NBA players, coaches, and other great young players from around the world. Hopefully, this experience can help improve their game as their future potential.