PHOTOS: Ajayi Selects 40 Young Players For Ekiti Basketball Camp

PHOTOS: Ajayi Selects 40 Young Players For Ekiti Basketball Camp

No fewer than 120 young basketball players participated in the Olalekan Ajayi Basketball Camp in Lagos on Monday, with 40 to be selected for another camp in Ekiti.

The organiser, Olalekan Ajayi, disclosed this to Newsmen on the sidelines of the event at Ilupeju Basketball Courts.

Ajayi said he was impressed by the turnout and would select 40 participants to accompany him to Ekiti State for the next phase of the grassroots development initiative.

He said the camp was designed to develop young players’ basketball skills while equipping them with discipline, good conduct and values essential for success.

According to him, the initiative also seeks to steer young people away from unproductive activities and encourage them to pursue meaningful goals through sports.

Ajayi said taking the initiative to Ekiti, his parents’ home state, would provide an opportunity to honour them while promoting basketball development.

He stressed that the project was non-profit-making, adding that its primary objective was to nurture young talents and create opportunities for them to succeed in life.

Meanwhile, one of the coaches, Mr Scot Nnaji, commended Ajayi for sustaining the grassroots basketball development project since its inception in 2021.

Nnaji, who trained participants in basketball skills, ball handling and passing, described the initiative as an important platform for nurturing emerging talents.

He said the growing participation demonstrated young people’s interest in basketball and the value of having experienced individuals guide them towards achieving their sporting ambitions.

“It is a very good development to see many young players embracing the game and having someone to guide them in pursuing their dreams,” Nnaji said.

He said he was delighted to contribute to the project, noting that the progress recorded since its establishment in 2021 had been encouraging.

Nnaji said the Lagos camp was holding its fifth edition, reflecting the continuity of an initiative focused on developing basketball at grassroots level.

The planned Ekiti camp will extend the programme beyond Lagos, offering selected participants another opportunity to improve their skills and pursue their basketball ambitions.