Last Monday, the 21st edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Europe concluded with a closing ceremony and awards ceremony for the most outstanding participants. The event took place in Malaga, Spain, from 31 May to 3 June. 

Sixty of the best high school prospects from 25 countries across Europe and the Middle East, including Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia and Spain, participated in the global basketball development and community outreach programme organised by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). 

The goal of the project is to learn directly from current and former NBA and WNBA players and coaches. It was at the Embassy in Fuengirola (Málaga), where several scouts from top teams gathered in search of young talent. There were 60 players, 30 boys and 30 girls. They all showed great progress and a promising future. They received advice and practical training from experienced NBA and WNBA players and coaches who have trained at the highest level. 

Neal Meyer, Associate Vice President of Basketball Operations for NBA Europe and Middle East, presented the awards. Jovana Popovic (Serbia) and Mathieu Grujicic (Germany) were named the Kim Bohuny BWB Europe 2024 Camp MVPs for the girls and boys respectively. The Patrick Baumann Sportsmanship Award was presented to Dovydas Buika (Lithuania) and Wiktoria Haegenbarth (Poland) for the boys and girls respectively by the President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches, Vice-President of the FIBA Technical Commission and Camp Director, Patrick Hunt.

BWB Europe is a project that has reached more than 4,300 participants from 140 countries and territories since 2001. 119 campers have gone on to play in the NBA or WNBA, including some of the most recent such as Dario Šarić (Golden State Warriors; Croatia; BWB Europe 2010), 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2011) and former NBA and Spain international Marc Gasol, whose number 33 was retired by the Memphis Grizzlies last month, who attended BWB Europe 2010 in Barcelona. 

Malaga hosted the third edition of BWB Europe. Spain has been chosen for three of the 74 editions that have taken place in 33 countries. The under-18s had the opportunity to receive advice and training on movement efficiency and 5-on-5 games during the three days of activities in Malaga.

Last Saturday, 1 June, local boys and girls with cognitive functional diversity participated in a Jr. NBA clinic led by BWB Europe 2024 coaches. Throughout the week, coaches and referees attended basketball development clinics led by NBA Referee Operations, as well as an NBA/FIBA coaching clinic led by NBA assistant coaches Dutch Gaitley (Sacramento Kings), Joshua Longstaff (Charlotte Hornets) and Anna Montañana (former WNBA player and Hozono Global Jairis coach). 

Without a doubt, the most remarkable aspect was the presence of eight former NBA and WNBA players and coaches, including Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton, San Antonio Spurs guard Devonte Graham and three-time WNBA champion and NBA Europe ambassador Amaya Valdemoro.

For the young participants, their time in Malaga could be a springboard to the highest levels of the game. It is in projects like these that talent is born and is watched closely by the international basketball community.

Award Winners:

Champions:

Denver Nuggets (Popeye Jones, assistant coach Denver Nuggets)

Golden State Valkyries (Kenny Atkinson, assistant coach Golden State Warriors)

All-Stars:

Guillermo Del Pino Luque – Spain (#28)

Majus Bulanovas – Lithuania (#30)

Mathieu Grujicic – Germany (#32)

Ognjen Srzentic – Serbia (#33)

Declan Duru – Germany (#40)

Diego Garavaglia – Italy (#41)

Jahel Trefle – France (#45)

Jayden Hodge – Belgium (#46)

Luigi Suigo – Italy (#56)

Pavle Backo – Serbia (#59)

Janja Dragisic – Montenegro (#18)

Maewenn Poilve - France (#19)

Maria Madalena Martinho Amaro – Portugal (#20)

Jovana Popovic - Serbia (#22)

Maja Uranker - Slovenia (#26)

Lena Bilic - Croatia (#29)

Nicole Ogun - Finland (#32)

Lisa Sergi - Estonia (#36)

Nicole Torresani - Italy (#41)

Wiktoria Haegenbarth – Poland (#52)

Three-Point Champion:

Codrut-Alexander Dinu – Romania (#26)

Lena Bilic - Croatia (#29)

Defensive MVP Award:

Diego Garavaglia – Italy (#41)

Maja Uranker - Slovenia (#26)

Playoffs MVP Award:

Guillermo Del Pino Luque – Spain (#28)

Maria Madalena Martinho Amaro – Portugal (#20)

Patrick Baumann Sportsmanship Award:

Dovydas Buika – Lithuania (#27)

Wiktoria Haegenbarth – Poland (#52)

Kim Bohuny Camp MVP:

Mathieu Grujicic – Germany (#32)

Jovana Popovic - Serbia (#22)