Six Young Players Get Scholarships at Ajayi Elebire Basketball Camp

The fifth Ajayi Elebire Elite Basketball Camp wrapped up in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Friday. Six players won scholarships. The state’s Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, praised the organisers for helping young people.

The four-day camp started with trials in Lagos. It brought together over 40 players from all over Nigeria. They came to compete for scholarships and improve their skills with coaches from Nigeria and the United States.

The programme ended with an All-Star game at the Ekitikete Pavilion in Ado Ekiti.

Mr Falade attended the closing activities. He said the camp can help keep young people away from crime. Engaging them in sports is a productive way to keep them busy.

“If you look at the rate of people that are involved in crime, they are youths, and for engaging them in this sport like this, at least you have taken them off the streets,” he said.

“And when somebody is engaged, you can never do otherwise; you have to do the right thing. Secondly, this is providing work because when you have the foundation, then there is no way you can miss it.”

Scott Adubato was one of the American coaches invited to the camp. He used to coach the camp organiser, Olalekan Ajayi. He said the event helped talented players improve their game.

He mentioned that the coaching team worked with the players throughout the camp. They taught them various basketball principles to prepare them for the final game.

“The players were prepared every day. We worked on the training. We did everything we needed to teach them different principles of the game. They were very receptive. They played hard to the last game. And I think they earned everything that they earned, especially the MVP and the All-Star players. So, a thumbs up to the organisers,” he said.

Mr Ajayi explained that the camp honoured his father, Ajayi Elebire. He added that his own basketball journey started at a similar camp where he was discovered.

He thanked everyone who supported the camp. He said it aims to help talented Nigerian players find opportunities that might be hard to get locally.

“Every year we come here, we impact the lives of these Nigerian kids. We have, you know, a lot of talented players; we have five scholarships guaranteed. The sky is the limit. And this is a record call. The NBBF refused to do what they’re supposed to do to get the house in order and do what is good for Nigerians.

“People like me and the rest of them, we’re going to keep coming from America and get these players out of this country. To give them an opportunity that they refuse to provide for them.”

This year, six players won automatic scholarships. They are Ejirinade Neuman, Igwe Ikechukwu, Muiz Salami, Felix Jackson, Destiny Eze, and Lucky Anyaorah.

The scholarships are expected to help these players grow their basketball careers.