BAL Season 4 Preview: Kalahari Conference
What to expect from the four African teams that make up the Kalahari Conference in the Basketball Africa League
The fourth edition of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) tips off this weekend — in a few hours to be exact — with the Kalahari Conference hosted in Pretoria, South Africa from March 9-17. This first leg features two newcomers to BAL competition along with the hosts and a classic African powerhouse. All clubs in the BAL qualify by first becoming champions of their domestic league and then either playing a qualification tournament or achieving a direct bid allotted to select countries.
Read on for previews and predictions of each squad in the conference as competition gets underway.
Cape Town Tigers
Overview
Hosts of the Kalahari Conference, the Cape Town Tigers enter their third consecutive season of the BAL hungry to prove themselves among the continent’s best. In the two previous editions of the BAL, they have won their division, but have yet to make it past the quarterfinals.
Style of Play
As of the BAL Qualifiers, the Tigers rely on perimeter ball movement and interior screens to isolate big men in the post. When things break down or the shot clock gets low, the guards look to attack via ball screen action. The Tigers play aggressive full-court defense to make use of their length on the wings.
Departures
Mike Gbineje 🇳🇬
Pieter Prinsloo 🇿🇦
Evans Ganapamo 🇨🇫
Josh Hall 🇺🇸
Zaire Wade 🇺🇸
Terrence Ferguson 🇺🇸
Arrivals
Cartier Ducati Diarra 🇲🇱
Storm Gilchrist 🇿🇦
Ngor Santino Yewet Manyan 🇿🇦
Abdoulaye Ndoy 🇸🇳
Billy Preston 🇺🇸
Deshawndre Washington 🇺🇸
Key Players
Samkelo Cele 🇿🇦 — 6’6” G/F , 26 years old
13.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 47.8% FG in 2023 BAL
Cele’s defense and efficiency are crucial to the Tigers’ chemistry.
Billy Preston 🇺🇸 — 6’10” WF, 26 years old
19.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 90.6% FT, 5.8 FTA in 2022 BAL
An elite scorer in this competition, Preston’s team will need his firepower to upset stronger teams.
Nkosinathi Sibanyoni 🇿🇦 — 6’10” F, 25 years old
9.5 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 2.3 BPG, 1.5 SPG in Road to BAL
Sibanyoni tripled his minutes from one season to the next and more than tripled his output during the Road to BAL. His defense and underrated perimeter skills could lead him to a big year in the BAL.
Head Coach
Florsheim Ngwenya 🇿🇦
Led South Africa’s national team from 2007-2011
Won multiple South African league titles at the helm of Egoli Magic club
BAL Elevate Player
Yakhya Diop 🇸🇳 — 6’11” C, 17 years old
Young screen-setter who offers rim protection and offensive rebounding.
Projection: 1-5
FUS de Rabat
Overview
An organized club that has knocked off Moroccan heavy hitters to win their first Moroccan championship in 19 years, FUS (or Fath Union Sport) has a solid core that has been bolstered by star-laden yet complementary recruitment, as they landed 2023 BAL Defensive Player of the Year Aliou Diarra among others.
Style of Play
FUS spreads the floor and moves the ball well , getting to the second side early in their attack, moving the defense to open themselves up for long threes and interior play.
Departures
Kevin Franceschi 🇲🇦
Arrivals
Aliou Diarra 🇲🇱
John Jordan 🇺🇸
Kendrick Brown 🇺🇸
Key Players
Aliou Diarra 🇲🇱 — 6’9” F/C , 22 years old
18.0 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 2.3 BPG, 1.5 SPG in 2023 BAL
After joining the Milwaukee Bucks for Summer League, the reigning DPOY brings his talents to the ambitious Moroccan side. The collective has a chance to make a real run at the title.
John Jordan 🇺🇸 — 5’10” PG, 31 years old
20.3 PPG, 5.3 APG, 2 SPG, 50% FG 41% 3PT in Road to BAL
A career professional scorer, Jordan’s effortless scoring and efficiency bring an electric change of pace to the steady flow of FUS.
Abdelhakim Zouita 🇲🇦 — 6’7” F, 37 years old
11 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 45% FG in Road to BAL
A do-it-all forward a la Boris Diaw, the veteran rarely makes mistakes and stays solid, making the right play on offense and defense.
Head Coach
Said El Bouzidi 🇲🇦
Won a continental title with AS Sale in 2017
Won four Moroccan Division Excellence titles total
Led US Monastir to a Tunisian title in 2019
BAL Elevate Player
Mohamed Sylla 🇸🇳 — 6’9” PF, 18 years old
Agile big man who can provide energy on both sides of the ball.
Projection: 4-2
Dynamo BBC
Overview
Qualifying for the BAL for the first time in the club’s history after a few years of local successes, Dynamo seems poised to do what it takes to proudly represent Burundi on this stage. The Green Team won their first national championship in 2016, and as of 2023 have won four of them total.
Style of Play
The Green Team prioritizes speedy guards who are capable of getting long distance shots off at a moments notice. Their local players have this quality and their recruits have followed suit as well. Their big men are powerful down low and the whole team is relatively unselfish.
Departures
Christopher Obekpa 🇳🇬
Deshaun Morman 🇺🇸
Arrivals
Guibert Nijimbere 🇧🇮
Steve Kuminga 🇧🇮
Ndikuriyo Richard 🇧🇮
Dhieu Deing 🇸🇸
Israel Otobo 🇳🇬
Morakinyo Williams 🇳🇬
Makthar Gueye 🇸🇳
Bryton Hobbs 🇺🇸
Key Players
Israel Otobo 🇳🇬 — 6’9” C, 19 years old
14.0 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 54% FG in Road to BAL
Otobo is hungry to be great and is poised to become one of Africa’s next young stars.
Makhtar Gueye 🇸🇳 — 6’10” WF, 27 years old
11.3 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1 SPG in 2023 BAL
Gueye has the measurables and resume to really make a difference. If the efficiency is there, he could become Dynamo’s X-factor.
Dhieu Deing 🇸🇸 — 6’5” G, 22 years old
22.2 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 2.2 SPG in Road to BAL
Far from shy, the trigger-happy Deing can bring instant offense and a sneaky ferocity on the boards. There’s also potential as a playmaker there for him too.
Honorable Mention: Guibert Nijimbere 🇧🇮 — 6’1” G, 29 years old
10.6 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 48% 3PT in Road to BAL
The anti-Deing in many ways, this small guard finds a way to get his sweet stroke off efficiently. He can fill it up if given the chance to complement the back court.
Head Coach
Julien Chaignot 🇫🇷
Coached Madagascar’s COSPN before they fell to Dynamo in the Road to BAL
BAL Elevate Player
Mohamed Camara 🇸🇳 — 6’8” SF, 17 years old
Solid connecting wing who plays tough perimeter defense and can finish strong in transition or half court.
Projection: 2-4
Petro de Luanda
Overview
One of the most storied organizations in Africa, Petro de Luanda (or Atlético Petróleos de Luanda) prides itself on achieving success with a wealth of almost exclusively Angolan players.
Style of Play
Petro is a cohesive group that has a lot of experience together and it shows. Their off-ball movements are crisp and they screen with a purpose, sharing the ball to find the best shot available. On defense, they’re able to seamlessly switch from man to a 2-3 zone and get out in transition.
Departures
Souleyman Diabate 🇨🇮
Anadji Chime 🇦🇴
Pedro Bastos 🇦🇴
Ater Majok 🇸🇸
Damian Hollis 🇺🇸
Arrivals
Anthony Nelson 🇺🇸
Markeith Cummings 🇺🇸
Yanick Moreira 🇦🇴
Edmir Ivo David Lucas 🇦🇴
Eduardo Simao 🇦🇴
Key Players
Carlos Morais 🇦🇴 — 6’3” SG, 38 years old
15.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.3 APG, 41.3% 3PT, 7.9 3PA in 2023 BAL
The African legend seems to be getting even more lethal with age, recording his highest scoring average of his career last season thanks to his unconscious shooting mindset.
Childe Dundão 🇦🇴 — 5’6” PG, 25 years old
10.6 PPG, 2.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 40.0% 3PT in 2023 BAL
The tiny guard with a huge heart is the brains of the Angolan operation. He’s fearless in pulling up in anyone’s face and pursuing ball handlers like a hound.
Gerson Gonçalves 🇦🇴 — 6’4” CG, 27 years old
9.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.4 APG, 52% FG in 2023 BAL
Even though his stats did not especially pop, it’s evident that Gonçalves is being groomed as the next Angolan star. He took on a leading role for the national team in AfroBasket Qualifiers and can seamlessly play on or off the ball.
Head Coach
José Neto 🇧🇷
BAL Season 2 Coach of the Year
Brazilian Women’s national team coach
Won the FIBA Intercontinental Cup with Flamengo (2014)
BAL Elevate Player
Aginaldo Neto 🇦🇴 — 6’1” PG, 17 years old
One of the most prominent NBA Academy Africa players already, Neto plays with a lot of speed and heart, getting downhill and drawing multiple defenders before making great decisions.