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NBPA, SIAC, AND SWAC RETURN FOR THE TOP 50 CAMP
NBPA, SIAC, AND SWAC RETURN FOR THE TOP 50 CAMP
After a two-year break due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Top 50 Camp will
return to The Atlanta University Center from July 28th to July 30th
NEW YORK, NY, July 26, 2022 -- The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (“SIAC”), and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (“SWAC”) are pleased to announce their continued partnership in hosting the Top 50 Basketball Camp. After a two-year break due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Top 50 Camp will take place from July 28th to July 30th on the campus of Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA.
First developed in 2017, the Top 50 Camp features a group of the best players from the SIAC and SWAC, respectively. Modeled after the NBPA’s Top 100 Camp, players at the Top 50 Camp will receive on-court skill instruction from current and retired NBA players and participate in leadership and personal development sessions off the court. The Top 50 Camp will also allow players to showcase their talent against the best of their neighboring conference through highly competitive scrimmages and games.
“The Top 50 Camp has proven to be an amazing environment for the NBPA to deepen its connection with the HBCU community,” said Purvis Short, NBPA Chief of Player Programs. “After a two-year pause due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are very excited to resume our partnership with the SIAC and SWAC to provide an all-encompassing experience for these HBCU athletes that will help prepare them for success on and off the court.”
At the Top 50 Camp, current and retired NBA players interested in pursuing a career in intercollegiate athletics will have an opportunity to coach on-court activities and lead in player development exercises. Through this structure, the Top 50 Camp is designed to cultivate and create coaching and talent pipelines for current and retired NBA players interested in careers in intercollegiate athletics.
“We are extremely pleased to continue this partnership with the NBPA by providing critically important professional development opportunities to our student-athletes and both current and former NBA players,” said Gregory Moore, Commissioner of the SIAC. “The success of this initiative cannot simply be measured by the number of student-athletes positively impacted at the SWAC and SIAC, but by the increased number of former professional athletes that have been afforded coaching opportunities throughout intercollegiate athletics.”
“The Southwestern Athletic Conference is extremely excited to continue to partner with the NBPA TOP 50 Camp,” said Dr. Charles McClelland, Commissioner of the SWAC. “This partnership serves as a unique opportunity for our student-athletes to participate in athletic and professional development initiatives that will positively impact them in a wide variety of ways. Some of the top names in basketball serve as the mentors and coaches for this great event and the overall high level of knowledge and expertise shared with our student-athletes creates truly impactful and memorable experiences for all of those involved.”
TOP 50 Camp Participants (Subject to change)
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)
Beril Kabamba - Spring Hill College
Billy Thomas - Morehouse College
Devyn Payne - Fisk University
Elijah Horton - Miles College
Ethan Jones - Fisk University
Jaleel Simmons - Albany State
Jalon Andrews - Kentucky State
Jamon Reed - Fisk University
Jordan Simpson - Albany State
Kerry Richardson - Morehouse College
Keshon Tabb - Rust College
KJ Doucet - Fort Valley State
Malik Parker - Albany State
Marcus Scott - Savannah State
Mario Davis - Fisk University
Montrell Jacobs - Kentucky State
Mykayle Carter - Miles College
Pierre Mitchell - Fort Valley State
Robert Kendrick - Fort Valley State
Shamon Mosley - Kentucky State
Steven Lyles - Spring Hill College
Truitt Spencer - Miles College
Willie Jackson - Central State
Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)
Alex Alexander - Alabama State
Bryson Etienne - Southern University
Cameron Christon - Grambling State
Cameron Tucker - Alabama A&M
Dailin Smith - Alabama A&M
Dominic Brewton - Alcorn State
Dontrell McQuarter - Alcorn State
Gabe Watson - Jackson State
Galen Alexander - Texas Southern
Garrett Hicks - Alabama A&M
George Ivory III - Mississippi Valley State
Jordan O’Neal - Alabama State
John Walker III - Texas Southern
Joirdon Karl Nicholas - Texas Southern
Kadar Waller - Mississippi Valley State
Ken Evans Jr. - Jackson State
Kylen Milton - Arkansas Pine-Bluff
Oddyst Walker - Alcorn State
Robert Lewis - Arkansas Pine-Bluff
Samuel Da Cruz - Arkansas Pine-Bluff
Shaun Doss Jr. - Arkansas Pine-Bluff
Shawndarius Cowart - Grambling State
Terry Collins - Mississippi Valley State
TJ Madlock - Alabama State
Tra’Michael Moton - Grambling State
Trace Young - Jackson State
William Douglas - Prairie View
Media members interested in covering the camp are asked to contact: NBPA Communications (communications@nbpa.com), Tyler A. Williams (williams@thesiac.com), and Andrew Roberts (a.roberts@swac.org).
ABOUT THE NBPA
The National Basketball Players Association is the union for current professional basketball players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Established in 1954, the NBPA’s mission is to protect and support the rights and talents of our players, magnify the power of their collective will, and amplify their voices as leaders who will transcend sport and society globally.
The NBPA advocates on behalf of the best interests of all NBA players, including the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, the filing of grievances on behalf of the players, or counseling players on benefits, educational and post-NBA career opportunities. Business opportunities are generated by THINK450, the for-profit subsidiary of the NBPA charged with managing the players’ group licensing rights.
Dedicated to preserving the legacy of its members, the NBPA Foundation provides support and assistance to persons, communities, and organizations around the world that seek to improve the lives of those in need.
ABOUT THE SIAC
The SIAC is an NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors seven men's and six women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit www.thesiac.com.
ABOUT THE SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference is a Division I athletic conference located in Birmingham, Alabama, consisting of 10 first-class universities (Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Alcorn State University, Grambling State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Prairie View A&M University, Southern University and A&M College, Texas Southern University and the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff). Founded in 1920, The SWAC sponsors eighteen sports, eight for men and ten for women. For more information, visit www.swac.org.