By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas is set to become the focus of the international basketball community as the NBA hosts its vaunted Basketball Without Borders programme in the capital.

As he spends his offseason training preparing for his sophomore season with the Sacramento Kings and hosting camps across the globe, Buddy Hield - the biggest name in Bahamian basketball - cited the impact the event can have.

“The passion for the NBA and the game of basketball is very strong in the Caribbean. Having the Basketball without Borders Americas in my home, the Bahamas, for the first time ever this July is a great way to continue to grow the game and help youth basketball development in the region.”

The group of student-athletes to represent the Bahamas at the event includes three boys - Dominic Bridgewater (Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves), Samuel Hunter (British Colombia Prep Panthers) and Derryn Johnson (St Anne’s Blue Waves) and two girls - Briontae Riley (Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins) and Diondrea Nixon (Tabernacle Baptist Falcons).

“On behalf of the Bahamas Basketball Federation, I’d like to thank the NBA and FIBA for bringing Basketball without Borders to the Bahamas for the first time,” said BBF President Charles Robins.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming some of the best young basketball players from across North and South America to Nassau in July for what will be a truly historic event.”

Basketball Without Borders will feature the top 66 boys and girls from 16 countries and territories who will travel to the Bahamas for the ninth edition of the BWB Americas Camp. The camp will be held July 5-8 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

It marks the first time that the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach programme will be held in the Bahamas. Nike will serve as the official partner.

Said Brooks Meek, NBA vice president of International Basketball Operations and head of Elite Basketball: “Bringing Basketball without Borders to new locations is part of our continued commitment to growing the game of basketball around the world. In partnership with FIBA and the Bahamas Basketball Federation, we’re looking forward to hosting North and South America’s top male and female prospects in the Bahamas this July and giving back to the local community.”

NBA and FIBA players and coaches, including J.J. Barea (Dallas Mavericks; Puerto Rico), Dwight Powell (Dallas Mavericks; Canada) and Sasha Vujacic (New York Knicks; Slovenia), will coach the high school age campers. Barea, Powell and Vujacic, will be joined by WNBA Legend Ebony Hoffman (US).

Yesterday, the BWB Americas camp also added Tiago Splitter (Philadelphia 76ers; Brazil), Anderson Varejao (13-year NBA veteran; Brazil) and former NBA player Acie Law (US) to the camp staff

Current NBA assistant coaches James Borrego (San Antonio Spurs), Jim Boylan (Cleveland Cavaliers), Darvin Ham (Atlanta Hawks) and David Vanterpool (Portland Trail Blazers) will also serve as BWB Americas coaches.

Patrick Hunt (President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches; Australia) and Ronald Cass (FIBA Coach) will serve as camp directors for the boys and girls, respectively. Armando Rivas (Chicago Bulls) will serve as the camp’s athletic trainer.

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

FIBA National FederaSports and Sport Director Zoran Radovic said the Bahamas continues to develop as an attractive destination for the sport with its strong resume of events.

“It is a pleasure to bring Basketball without Borders to the Bahamas. In recent years the archipelago has hosted a regular early NCAA season tournament, which shows the growing interest in our sport on these shores. Holding a BWB camp and welcoming the best young talents from across the continent is further proof of the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s commitment to reaching and maximizing its basketball potential.”

As he spends his offseason training preparing for his sophomore season with the Sacramento Kings and hosting camps across the globe, Buddy Hield - the biggest name in Bahamian basketball - cited the impact the event can have.

“The passion for the NBA and the game of basketball is very strong in the Caribbean. Having the Basketball without Borders Americas in my home, the Bahamas, for the first time ever this July is a great way to continue to grow the game and help youth basketball development in the region.”

The group of student-athletes to represent the Bahamas at the event includes three boys - Dominic Bridgewater (Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves), Samuel Hunter (British Colombia Prep Panthers) and Derryn Johnson (St Anne’s Blue Waves) and two girls - Briontae Riley (Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins) and Diondrea Nixon (Tabernacle Baptist Falcons).

“On behalf of the Bahamas Basketball Federation, I’d like to thank the NBA and FIBA for bringing Basketball without Borders to the Bahamas for the first time,” said BBF President Charles Robins.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming some of the best young basketball players from across North and South America to Nassau in July for what will be a truly historic event.”

Basketball Without Borders will feature the top 66 boys and girls from 16 countries and territories who will travel to the Bahamas for the ninth edition of the BWB Americas Camp. The camp will be held July 5-8 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

It marks the first time that the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach programme will be held in the Bahamas. Nike will serve as the official partner.

Said Brooks Meek, NBA vice president of International Basketball Operations and head of Elite Basketball: “Bringing Basketball without Borders to new locations is part of our continued commitment to growing the game of basketball around the world. In partnership with FIBA and the Bahamas Basketball Federation, we’re looking forward to hosting North and South America’s top male and female prospects in the Bahamas this July and giving back to the local community.”

NBA and FIBA players and coaches, including J.J. Barea (Dallas Mavericks; Puerto Rico), Dwight Powell (Dallas Mavericks; Canada) and Sasha Vujacic (New York Knicks; Slovenia), will coach the high school age campers. Barea, Powell and Vujacic, will be joined by WNBA Legend Ebony Hoffman (US).

Yesterday, the BWB Americas camp also added Tiago Splitter (Philadelphia 76ers; Brazil), Anderson Varejao (13-year NBA veteran; Brazil) and former NBA player Acie Law (US) to the camp staff

Current NBA assistant coaches James Borrego (San Antonio Spurs), Jim Boylan (Cleveland Cavaliers), Darvin Ham (Atlanta Hawks) and David Vanterpool (Portland Trail Blazers) will also serve as BWB Americas coaches.

Patrick Hunt (President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches; Australia) and Ronald Cass (FIBA Coach) will serve as camp directors for the boys and girls, respectively. Armando Rivas (Chicago Bulls) will serve as the camp’s athletic trainer.

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

FIBA National FederaSports and Sport Director Zoran Radovic said the Bahamas continues to develop as an attractive destination for the sport with its strong resume of events.

“It is a pleasure to bring Basketball without Borders to the Bahamas. In recent years the archipelago has hosted a regular early NCAA season tournament, which shows the growing interest in our sport on these shores. Holding a BWB camp and welcoming the best young talents from across the continent is further proof of the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s commitment to reaching and maximizing its basketball potential.”