The University of Akron Athletics
NBA Academy Africa standout Abdou Aziz Bandaogo Signs with Akron
June 19 | Men's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Zips men's basketball frontcourt secured a seven-footer from the NBA Academy Africa as Abdou Aziz Bandaogo signed to play for the blue and gold, head coach John Groce announced Friday.
"Aziz played at an elite level all over the world with the NBA Academy Africa," Groce said. "He brings size and length to our frontcourt, standing 7-foot tall with a 7.5 foot wingspan. He is extremely athletic and a great rim protector and rebounder."
Aziz, who is from Senegal, joined The NBA Academy Africa in October 2018. Originally based in Dakar, The NBA Academy Africa relocated to Saly in November 2018 after the NBA opened a new state-of-the-art facility which is now the primary training location for NBA Academy Africa prospects from across the continent.
Prior to joining The NBA Academy Africa, Aziz was part of SEED Project, an International NGO based Senegal that uses basketball to engage more than 2,000 youth from Senegal and The Gambia in education and leadership development programs.
In December 2018, Aziz competed alongside top prospects from the league's academies in a series of exhibition games at the NBA G League Winter Showcase in Las Vegas, Nev. He also played for the NBA Academies select team in the 2018 and 2019 Tarkanian Classic.
In April 2019, he participated in the NCAA's Next Generation Sunday event at the 2019 Men's Final Four. He participated in life-skills sessions and competed in exhibition games against his peers from around the world while experiencing aspects of the Final Four from a player's perspective.
Aziz competed for The NBA Academy Africa in the 2019 NBA Academy Games in Atlanta, Ga. The event featured prospects from the NBA Academies in Australia, China, India, Mexico and Senegal, along with select teams comprised of top international prospects.
Background on NBA Academies
NBA Academies, which employ a holistic, 360-degree approach to player development with focuses on education, leadership, health and wellness, character development and life skills, include educational development for top male and female prospects from outside the U.S. and mark a signature elite player development initiative for the NBA.
The initiative exposes elite prospects to NBA-level coaching and facilities, while providing a global framework for them to maximize their success. As part of the program, the prospects compete against top competition throughout the year and have an opportunity to be selected for travel teams that play in international tournaments and exhibition games.
Since October 2016, NBA Academies have been launched in Australia, China, India, Mexico and Senegal. More than 25 NBA Academies graduates have committed to NCAA Division I schools since the inception of the program.
Follow Coach Groce on Twitter
AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Zips men's basketball frontcourt secured a seven-footer from the NBA Academy Africa as Abdou Aziz Bandaogo signed to play for the blue and gold, head coach John Groce announced Friday.
"Aziz played at an elite level all over the world with the NBA Academy Africa," Groce said. "He brings size and length to our frontcourt, standing 7-foot tall with a 7.5 foot wingspan. He is extremely athletic and a great rim protector and rebounder."
Aziz, who is from Senegal, joined The NBA Academy Africa in October 2018. Originally based in Dakar, The NBA Academy Africa relocated to Saly in November 2018 after the NBA opened a new state-of-the-art facility which is now the primary training location for NBA Academy Africa prospects from across the continent.
Prior to joining The NBA Academy Africa, Aziz was part of SEED Project, an International NGO based Senegal that uses basketball to engage more than 2,000 youth from Senegal and The Gambia in education and leadership development programs.
In December 2018, Aziz competed alongside top prospects from the league's academies in a series of exhibition games at the NBA G League Winter Showcase in Las Vegas, Nev. He also played for the NBA Academies select team in the 2018 and 2019 Tarkanian Classic.
In April 2019, he participated in the NCAA's Next Generation Sunday event at the 2019 Men's Final Four. He participated in life-skills sessions and competed in exhibition games against his peers from around the world while experiencing aspects of the Final Four from a player's perspective.
Aziz competed for The NBA Academy Africa in the 2019 NBA Academy Games in Atlanta, Ga. The event featured prospects from the NBA Academies in Australia, China, India, Mexico and Senegal, along with select teams comprised of top international prospects.
Background on NBA Academies
NBA Academies, which employ a holistic, 360-degree approach to player development with focuses on education, leadership, health and wellness, character development and life skills, include educational development for top male and female prospects from outside the U.S. and mark a signature elite player development initiative for the NBA.
The initiative exposes elite prospects to NBA-level coaching and facilities, while providing a global framework for them to maximize their success. As part of the program, the prospects compete against top competition throughout the year and have an opportunity to be selected for travel teams that play in international tournaments and exhibition games.
Since October 2016, NBA Academies have been launched in Australia, China, India, Mexico and Senegal. More than 25 NBA Academies graduates have committed to NCAA Division I schools since the inception of the program.
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