Basketball world buzzing with excitement over teenage prospects

There was a glimpse of the future at the U-20 iHoops basketball tournament at the YMCA and nearly all the major players in the current Team Uganda setup were present to witness it.

National women's head coach Timothy Odeke and his men's counterpart Mandy Juruni were in attendance, as well as U-18 national coach Nick Natuhereza and Team Uganda Management Committee bosses Mohammed Santur and Graze Kwizera. They were impressed.

"I was overwhelmed by the number of people in attendance especially since this was a low-profile tournament," Kwizera told the New Vision. "I was pleasantly surprised".

The Renegades beat Saviour 29-24 in the final of the 12-team event that had 10 players per roaster, with Kenneth Kiapi scooping MVP honours. Jamilah Zama was named the most promising player from a tournament that featured at least one girl aside at all times of in-game action.

Mombay Cikom won best defensive player of the tournament organised by National Basketball League and City Oilers star Ben Komakech.

"The U 20 age group will be the next category to join the National team," explained Komakech.

"We thought a holiday tournament for the vacists and first year campus students would give them a good platform to show case their talent and we also looked at it as the perfect opportunity for the national team committee and coaches to see the future of Uganda's basketball."

Komakech is also the proprietor for iHoops Academy, which runs a kids training program every Saturday Aga Khan High School and Rainbow International School. National women's team assistant coaches Mavita Ali and Nimrod Kaboha were also at the iHoops tourney.