Dubai: NBA greats Ricky Rubio and Peja Stojakovic will pass on basketball tips to budding UAE players during the first edition of the BasicBall Academy Camp at Dubai Sports World in Dubai World Trade Centre from August 22-28.
Rubio, 24, a current Spain and Minnesota Timberwolves point guard, will attend the camp along with 38-year-old retired Serbia and Sacramento Kings small forward Stojakovic. Both are special guests of BasicBall Academy founder and former Yugoslavia, Barcelona and Real Madrid centre Zoran Savic.
“Places are limited because we only have four courts,” Savic told Gulf News. “But we are expecting to get between 80 and 100 kids.”
The seven-day course runs for six hours a day and is open to players aged between 5 and 25 years. They will be split into four age categories — 5 to 7, 8 to 12, 13 to 16 and 17 to 25.
“It’s a great experience for the kids because they will be able to get first hand practical and theoretical advice from two players that know exactly what it’s like to break their way into the NBA from foreign leagues,” added Savic.
“We see great potential for basketball in the UAE, but the trouble is kids here lack basketball education and the opportunity to develop at a competitive level. Hopefully BasicBall will bridge that gap and this will inspire them to pursue the sport and realise their dreams.”
The BasicBall Academy, which holds year-round competitions and camps, has grown to more than 14 locations since opening last year and currently has 300 players on its books, but Savic hopes to expand to 25 locations and 2,000 players in the coming years.
For more information on the BasicBall Academy Camp, which costs Dh2,990 per person, visit www.basicball.com or www.dubaisportsworld.ae.
