UM6P Launches Junior NBA League
BENGUERIR, September 19, 2025 — In a historic step for youth sports in Morocco, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), through its subsidiary EVOSPORT, has launched the country’s first-ever Junior NBA League in collaboration with NBA Africa and Act4Community.
The initiative aims to place basketball at the forefront of talent development and educational innovation, strengthen Morocco’s national sports ecosystem, and position the country as a hub of excellence in Africa. The official launch event at the UM6P campus in Benguerir was attended by prominent figures, including UM6P President Hicham El Habti, representatives from Act4Community and EVOSPORT, and NBA executives. The presence of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper highlighted the global significance of the program and its mission to inspire young Moroccan athletes.
The program focuses on three key objectives:
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Talent Development: Providing Moroccan youth with basketball coaching that meets international standards.
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Social Inclusion: Using sports as a tool for equal opportunity, ensuring participation for both boys and girls.
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Continental Leadership: Positioning Morocco within the broader African sports and education landscape as a model of performance, training, and innovation.
The Junior NBA League Morocco will engage over 2,000 boys and girls aged 12 to 16 across five cities: Benguerir, Khouribga, Laâyoune, El Jadida, and Safi. Each city will host 30 teams (15 boys’ teams and 15 girls’ teams), competing under a structured framework. A “Draft” process will ensure fair player distribution and foster true sportsmanship.
Beyond the games, the program offers specialized training sessions and events led by certified coaches. More than 50 coaches will be trained and certified to Junior NBA standards, aiming to build a strong local talent pipeline and deepen basketball’s presence in Morocco’s sports culture.
“Our ambition goes beyond sport to create a societal project,” said Ismail Lyoubi, CEO of EVOSPORT. “Basketball training also means learning discipline, teamwork, and openness…proving that a basketball court can become a space for learning, inclusion, and international influence.”
The initiative combines the launch of the NBA Basketball School in Morocco with a nationwide rollout of Junior NBA Leagues. Supported by Act4Community and coordinated with the Ministry of National Education, Preschool, and Sports, the program seeks to build a sustainable ecosystem serving youth and supporting local community development.
Amadou Gallo Fall, President of NBA Africa, emphasized the shared vision: “With EVOSPORT and Act4Community, we share the same conviction: sport is a powerful driver of transformation and an investment in the youth and future of the country.”