Paynesville, Liberia—May 27, 2025: Over one hundred young Liberian basketball players, both male and female, are participating in a 3-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, and is exclusively designed for under-18 players aged 14 to 17.
At a press conference held on Monday, May 26, LBA Secretary General Calvin Diggs highlighted the initiative’s impact, stating that it is expected to benefit between 120 and 125 young athletes from across the country.
“The training is free of charge. Initially, we aimed for about 100 players, but after the president of FIBA Zone 3 observed local games on Sunday, he suggested increasing the number. We are now targeting between 120 and 125 participants, including students from secondary institutions,” Diggs explained.
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,” said Coach Nwora.
“As a coach with over 20 years of experience, I will focus on instilling fundamental basketball skills in the participants over the three days.”
Jordan Nwora, a Nigerian-American professional basketball player, was drafted 45th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020, where he played until 2023 and won the NBA Championship in 2021. He later joined the Indiana Pacers (2023–2024) and was traded to the Toronto Raptors in early 2024. After his NBA career, Nwora signed with Anadolu Efes in Turkey in August 2024.
Representing FIBA Zone-3, Colonel Sam Amadu expressed his satisfaction with the initiative:
“During the recent FIBA Women’s Inter-Clubs competition hosted in Liberia, I observed a performance gap between Liberian clubs and their regional counterparts. I believe this camp will significantly elevate the standard of basketball in Liberia.”
Adding to the discussion, Taye Adeny, Assistant Coach of Nigeria’s U-18 Women’s National Team, emphasized the importance of women’s involvement in coaching:
“We need more female coaches. It’s my wish to see more women engage in basketball coaching—it’s a meaningful and impactful career path,” she stated.
A Broader Vision for Youth Basketball
Since its inception in 2020, the Jordan Nwora Foundation has hosted elite basketball camps across Africa and other regions of the world, positively impacting thousands of youth. The foundation’s mission centers around providing professional coaching, mentorship, and exposure to young athletes, particularly those from under-resourced communities.
In Liberia, participants will receive intensive training in key areas such as shooting, dribbling, defense, teamwork, and game strategy. The camp also serves as a platform to foster leadership, build confidence, and inspire dreams of pursuing basketball at collegiate and professional levels.
This initiative aligns with FIBA Zone 3’s broader strategy to strengthen grassroots basketball development across the West African subregion.
