By: Sylvester Tamba
PAYNESVILLE – More than one hundred young Liberian basketball players—both male and female—are participating in the three-day Jordan Nwora Foundation Elite Basketball Camp, currently underway at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Gymnasium in Paynesville.
The camp, officially launched by the Liberia Basketball Association (LBA) in collaboration with FIBA Zone 3, runs from Tuesday, May 27, to Thursday, May 29, 2025. It is exclusively designed for under-18 athletes between the ages of 14 and 17.
At a press conference held on Monday, May 26, LBA Secretary General Calvin Diggs highlighted the significance of the initiative, stating that it is expected to benefit between 120 and 125 young players from across Liberia.
“The training is free of charge. Initially, we targeted about 100 players, but after the President of FIBA Zone 3 watched local games on Sunday, he recommended expanding the number. We are now accommodating between 120 and 125 participants, including students from secondary schools,” Diggs said.
Also speaking at the event, Coach Alex Nwora—father and director of NBA player Jordan Nwora—reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to youth development.
“Jordan made a promise growing up—to give back to the next generation once he made it to the NBA. This camp is a fulfillment of that promise,” Coach Nwora stated.
“As a coach with over 20 years of experience, I’ll focus on teaching the fundamentals of basketball over the next three days.”
Jordan Nwora, a Nigerian-American professional basketball player, was drafted 45th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020. He won an NBA Championship with the Bucks in 2021, later playing for the Indiana Pacers (2023–2024) before being traded to the Toronto Raptors in early 2024. In August 2024, he signed with Anadolu Efes in Turkey following his NBA tenure.
Representing FIBA Zone 3, Colonel Sam Amadu praised the initiative, noting its potential impact.
“During the recent FIBA Women’s Inter-Clubs competition hosted in Liberia, I observed a noticeable gap between local clubs and their regional counterparts. I believe this camp will go a long way toward raising the standard of basketball in Liberia,” Amadu said.
Taye Adeny, Assistant Coach of Nigeria’s U-18 Women’s National Team, also emphasized the importance of female participation in coaching.
“We need more female coaches. It’s my wish to see more women involved in basketball coaching—it’s a meaningful and impactful career path,” she noted.
A Broader Vision for Youth Basketball
Since its launch in 2020, the Jordan Nwora Foundation has organized elite basketball camps across Africa and other parts of the world, positively impacting thousands of young athletes. The foundation’s mission is centered on providing professional coaching, mentorship, and exposure to youth—especially those from under-resourced communities.
In Liberia, participants will receive intensive training in core areas such as shooting, dribbling, defense, teamwork, and game strategy. The camp also aims to foster leadership, build confidence, and inspire dreams of collegiate and professional basketball careers.
This initiative aligns with FIBA Zone 3’s broader strategy to strengthen grassroots basketball development across the West African sub-region.
