Saly, Senegal — The NBA has closed its only elite basketball training academy in Africa, ending an eight-year program that helped some of the continent’s top young prospects pursue professional careers in the United States and other international leagues.

NBA Academy Africa opened in Saly, Senegal, in 2018 and trained about 110 players during its operation.

Among its graduates is Cameroon’s Ulrich Kamka Chomche, who in 2024 became the first NBA Academy Africa graduate to be selected in the NBA Draft.

South Sudan’s Khaman Maluach, another academy graduate, was selected 10th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Closure raises concerns for young African basketball prospects

Former academy staff have raised concerns that the closure could reduce opportunities for promising African players, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds who relied on the program for elite coaching, education and exposure to professional scouts.

Former performance adviser Michel Chikwanine said the closure had also affected the confidence of young players involved in the program.

NBA shifts elite player development to Abu Dhabi

The NBA said the closure is part of a wider restructuring of its global player-development strategy.

Under the new approach, elite academy training will be concentrated at a global facility in Abu Dhabi, where selected African prospects will train alongside young players from other regions.

The league said it remains committed to developing basketball across Africa through other initiatives, including the Basketball Africa League and Basketball Without Borders.

The closure of the Senegal academy brings an end to the NBA’s only dedicated elite training facility on the African continent.