NBA star holds clinic for youngsters at Legon
Ghanaian-born professional basketball star Ben Bentil last Saturday took 94 young players through some important drills in the game at a clinic at the University of Ghana basketball court at Legon after which outstanding players were selected to form an all-star team to be groomed further.
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Bentil, who played for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the US, with assistance from other coaches like Ben Cechini, screened hundreds of young players aged between 14 and 21 from academies and clubs in the Greater Accra Region who stormed Legon for the clinic which lasted over five hours.
Bentil, who plays for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the US, with assistance from other coaches like Ben Cechini, screened hundreds of young players aged between 14 and 21 from academies and clubs in the Greater Accra Region who stormed Legon for the clinic which lasted over five hours.
It was the second of the ‘Ben Bentil Skills Camp’ clinic to be conducted by the NBA star following the first one held in Takoradi last week. He led the participants, who were drawn from teams including Novas Basketball Academy at Kanda, Galaxy at Tudu, Junior Reformers at Cantonments, Icons Basketball Club at Atomic and Zest Basketball Club at Adenta, through various drills like dribbling, passing, shooting and defence.
After many sweltering hours on the court, the outstanding players were divided into Red and Ash teams to compete among themselves from which the best 30 performers were selected to form the “Ben Bentil All-Star” team.
Frederick Asante of the Zest Basketball Academy emerged the star of the clinic after he was adjudged the Most Valuable Player, while 13-year-old David Botchwey was named the Youngest and Most Talented Player.
The clinic was witnessed by guests from the University of Ghana Sports Directorate and Mr Iddrisu Gamel, vice-president of the Ghana Basketball Association (GBBA).
At the end of the programme, Bentil was excited he had fulfilled a personal dream to impart his knowledge acquired in the world’s best competition to younger players in Ghana.
"It has always been my dream to come home and help other kids who have aspirations like me to realise their dreams. Playing out there is a blessing that everybody would love to experience so I came to help the kids get the same opportunity,” Bentil told the Graphic Sports.