The fourth edition of the PACE Coaches Clinic and Elite 20 Camp has concluded following successful programs in Enugu and Lagos. Kicking off July 28-29 in Enugu, it brought together basketball coaches, young athletes and practitioners for four days of coaching education, player development, mentorship and practical learning.
Mike Schmitz and Duop Reath participated virtually in both camps, contributing international perspectives on coaching and player development.
Led by Smart Sport Foundation and delivered by Home Court Africa, with the Nnaji Family Foundation as a partner, this year’s edition marked an important expansion for PACE as the program made its first appearance in Enugu before returning to Lagos. The Elite 20 Camp was supported by UDWA Sports, the official jersey sponsor for the 2026 edition.
The decision to take PACE to Enugu was deliberate. While Lagos remains one of Nigeria’s major basketball hubs, there is a growing need to create more opportunities for coaches and young players outside the country’s traditional basketball centers.
The massive response in Enugu reinforced that need.
Coaches from the neighboring South East states came together for two days of practical sessions, discussions and demonstrations focused on modern coaching techniques, player development, leadership and the broader responsibilities that come with developing young athletes.
For many participants, it was a chance to exchange experiences with other coaches, ask questions, and gain perspectives they could apply directly within their teams, academies, and communities.
From Enugu, the program moved to Lagos for its second leg on August 1–2.
The Lagos edition had the highest attendance rate of any previous edition. It was a massive success. The numbers proved the growing demand for more professional development opportunities.
The Lagos camp also received a special visit from Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona, who stopped by to encourage participants and spend time with the players and coaches.
Developing the Player Alongside the Coach
Running alongside the Coaches Clinic was the Elite 20 Camp, which provided a group of young basketball players with an intensive development experience built around training, competition, mentorship and exposure.
The camp gave the athletes an opportunity to test themselves on the court while learning more about the discipline, tactics and mindset required to progress in the game.
Running the two programs alongside each other reflects a core principle behind PACE: better players need better development environments, and those environments depend heavily on the quality of coaching around them.
Talent alone cannot build a sustainable basketball system. Coaches need the knowledge and tools to identify potential, understand their players’ individual needs, and create environments where athletes can develop over time.
This is where PACE continues to position itself differently.
Rather than focusing only on the finished athlete, the program invests in the people and structures responsible for getting that athlete there.
A Growing Platform for Basketball Development
PACE has continued to expand since its launch in 2022, with the 2026 edition recording the highest registration. It also expanded into a new region while continuing its presence in Lagos.
For Smart Sport Foundation, organizing the clinic every year is a long-term investment in the people who shape the future of the game.
It reflects Smart Sport Foundation’s belief that sport can be a vehicle for education, inclusion, and opportunity.
Home Court Africa, the basketball development vertical of SWA Sports, led the execution of this year’s program, working with coaches, athletes, partners and sponsors to create opportunities that strengthen the local basketball ecosystem.
The Work Continues
The final session in Lagos may have brought PACE 2026 to a close, but the programme’s impact extends well beyond the four days.
Every coach who returns to an academy, school or team has an opportunity to pass on what they have learned. Every young athlete who leaves the Elite 20 Camp with a new skill, perspective or connection carries that experience into the next stage of their development.
That is ultimately what PACE is designed to achieve, not just a successful event, but a stronger basketball ecosystem.
About PACE Coaches Clinic
PACE (Player and Coach Empowerment) is an annual basketball development initiative committed to improving the quality of basketball coaching and player development in Nigeria through education, mentorship and international collaboration.
Smart Sport Foundation leads the program, and Home Court Africa delivers it as an initiative of SWA Sports focused on grassroots basketball development and creating opportunities for African athletes and coaches.
Media Contact:
SWA Sports / Home Court Africa
hca@swasports.com
swasports.com
