Alonzo mourning and Steve Smith attend usa basketball youth tournament in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI, July 17, 2024 – USA Basketball and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) concluded the USA Basketball Youth Tournament at Raha International School, Khalifa City Campus over this past weekend. The event was attended by USA Basketball and NBA legends and champions Alonzo Mourning and Steve Smith. 

The USA Basketball Youth Tournament tipped off on Saturday, July 13 at Raha International School, ahead of the USA Basketball Showcase at Etihad Arena on July 15 & 17. Nine teams of youth under 16 years of age participated in the tournament, including six boys teams and three girls teams from local Abu Dhabi academies, clubs and schools. There were also three basketball development clinics which took place throughout the tournament.

In addition to attending the USA Basketball Youth Tournament, Mourning and Smith served as guest coaches during the basketball development clinics.  They also presented the following winning teams with USA Basketball Youth Tournament championship trophies and medals:

• USA Basketball Youth Tournament Boys champions: NBA Basketball School (red)
• USA Basketball Youth Tournament Boys second place: Jam Sports Academy (black)
• USA Basketball Youth Tournament Girls champions: Champs Sports Club (blue)
• USA Basketball Youth Tournament Girls second place: Jam Sports Academy (red)

Mourning, a seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year won the 2006 NBA championship as a member of the Miami Heat. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014. Mourning is currently Vice President of Player Programs and Development for the Miami Heat.

Smith, an NBA All-Star and NBA All-Rookie First Team member, won the 2003 NBA championship as a member of the San Antonio Spurs, where he won the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 2002. He also played for the Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat and the Portland Trail Blazers during his 14-year NBA career.