Hoopdarshan 108: NBA Academy India's Pritish Kokate + Finals talk

After years of perseverance, Pune-based Pritish Kokate found his dream come true in true 'filmi' fashion to become one of the recruits in the prestigious NBA Academy India. Kokate joins Hoopdarshan 108 to speak to Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok about his hoops journey, the 'Coco On Air' podcast, and to discuss Giannis Antetokounmpo's legacy after the amazing NBA Finals. 

 Also in Episode 108, Kaushik and Karan break down more of the NBA postseason, celebrate Milwaukee's long-overdue title, preview the Olympic Men's basketball tournament, and speak about Karan's trip to the holy grail of Butter Chicken, Aman Chicken in Ludhiana.

 

Hoopdarshan is the truest voice of Indian basketball, and since we're such hopeless fans of the game, it will become the voice of everything basketball related we love, from the NBA to international hoops, too. On every episode of Hoopdarshan, we will be inviting a special guest to interview or chat to about a variety of topics. With expert insight from some of the brightest and most-involved people in the world of Indian basketball, we hope to bring this conversation to a many more interested fans, players, and followers of the game.

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8 winners of ACG-NBA Jump programme set to join NBA Academy India

Earlier this week, 50 of the best young basketball players from around the country were invited from a national talent-search programme - the ACG-NBA Jump - to take part in the ACG-NBA Jump National Finals at the NBA Academy India in Greater Noida. After two days of rigorous training, scouting, and tryouts, the NBA has chosen eight winners from around the country. These eight young players will join the ranks of other prospects at the NBA Academy India and be at the forefront to receive what the NBA has called a "holistic, 360-degree approach to player development with focuses on education, leadership, character development and life skills."

After the finals on May 3-4, the ACG-NBA Jump winners are:

• Harsh Dagar (13) - Haryana
• Lokendra Singh (13) - Rajasthan
• Pranav Prince (15) - Kerala
• Lalhnepuia Chhakchuak (16) - Mizoram
• Abhi Joshi (14) - Punjab
• Aryan Kumar (14) - Delhi
• Harshwardhan Tomar (17) - Madhya Pradesh
• Pritish Kokate (16) - Maharashtra

17-year-old Tomar is the most experienced member of this group, after having represented and captained India in FIBA U16 Asia Championship and previously played at Italy's Stellazura Academy. Pune's Kokate has also played at a high level in the past, including an U15 international camp in Qatar.

NBA center Brook Lopez of the Los Angeles Lakers was in attendance for the National Finals of the ACG-NBA Jump as well as the Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA Finals at the Academy this week. Indian basketball star and recently a player for the NBA G-League's OKC Blue Amjyot Singh also attended the programme.

The NBA Academy India - an elite basketball training centre connected to similar NBA Academies around the world - opened at the Jaypee Greens Integrated Sports Complex in May 2017. Read more about how the Academy hopes to help realise India's basketball potential in my feature for SLAM Magazine.

Maharashtra's Pritish Kokate chosen for U15 international camp in Qatar

14-year-old post-player Pritish Jitesh Kokate has been selected to take part in an U15 international basketball camp in Qatar from June 18-22, 2016, reported Ekalavyas. Kokate, who is six-foot-tall, will be joined by Indian coach Vibhor Bhriguvanshi at this camp organized by the Qatar Basketball Federation.

Born in Pimpri-Chinchwad in the Pune district, Kokate has been playing basketball since the age of nine. For the 2013-14 and 2015-16 seasons, he was part of the Maharashtra State Team (SGFI) and has been the captain of the Sub-Junior squad.

The International Basketball Camp in Qatar is open to kids between the ages of 12-15. It will include an interenational U15 Coaching Clinic & Certification for Bhriguvanshi. The camp will be useful for education and the development and upgrading of basic skills of players, and participation and interaction with players from different countries.