NEW YORK, United States of America, June 17, 2022/ — Series of Exhibition Games Featuring Top Male Prospects from the League’s Four Academies in Australia, India, Mexico and Senegal Will be Held at Holy Innocents Episcopal School from July 6-10; Inaugural Women’s NBA (www.NBA.com) Academy Games Will Feature Top High School-Age Prospects from Outside the U.S. Competing at the Same Venue from July 21-22
The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced that the 2022 NBA Academy Games for top male and female prospects from outside the U.S. will take place at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in Atlanta, Ga., in July. The fourth NBA Academy Games will be held Wednesday, July 6 – Sunday, July 10, and the inaugural Women’s NBA Academy Games will be held Thursday, July 21 – Friday, July 22.
The NBA Academy Games is a series of exhibition games featuring top prospects from outside the U.S., including from the league’s four academies located in Australia, India, Mexico and Senegal, competing against each other and elite select teams in front of NCAA coaches and NBA scouts. This year’s men’s event will feature eight teams: NBA Academy Africa (two teams), NBA Academy Latin America, NBA Global Academy, NBA World Select (two teams), and Atlanta-based The Skill Factory National and The Skill Factory Global. The final three days of the event will feature a single-elimination tournament that will culminate with the NBA Academy Games Championship on July 10.
New this year, the inaugural Women’s NBA Academy Games will bring together more than 40 of the top high school-age prospects from outside the U.S. to compete against each other and showcase their skills in front of NCAA coaches and WNBA scouts. The women’s event will feature four teams made up of top international players and two local teams.
In addition to the exhibition games, the NBA Academy Games and Women’s NBA Academy Games will feature NBA Academy coaches and staff leading prospects through a variety of on- and off-court activities, including anthropometric and athletic testing, movement efficiency training, strength and conditioning and life skills seminars focused on education, health and wellness, leadership and communication. The men’s event will feature a Q&A with former NBA player Marvin Williams, and the women’s event will feature a panel discussion about leadership and player pathways led by former WNBA players Elaine Powell and Tamara Moore.
“We are excited to once against host the NBA Academy Games as part of our commitment to developing top prospects from outside the U.S.,” said NBA Associate Vice President and Head of Elite Basketball Chris Ebersole. “International players are making a significant impact at all levels of the men’s and women’s game, and this event will help the next generation of international prospects connect with their peers, learn directly from experienced coaches and continue their development.”
In addition to being open to NBA and WNBA team personnel, both the men’s and women’s events will be NCAA certified and held during an NCAA live recruiting period. The men’s event will be open to NCAA coaches from Wednesday, July 6 at 1:00 p.m. ET to Sunday, July 10 at 6:00 p.m. ET, while the women’s event will be open to NCAA coaches on Thursday, July 21 and Friday, July 22 beginning at 8a.m. ET each day.
The events will be supported by NBA Academy partners Nike, which will outfit the participants with apparel and footwear, and Gatorade, which will keep the players and coaches hydrated throughout each event.
