The stars that made the 2024 Kalahari Conference special

There is no questions as to how successful – on and off the court - the inaugural Kalahari Conference was, but who made it even a more special event?

In addition to the enthusiastic fans that sold out the SunBet Arena on two occasions, a constellation of players eager to extend their Basketball Africa League (BAL) Season 4 beyond March 17 made the Kalahari Conference an experience to remember.

Some players arrived in Pretoria as household names in the BAL scene, but others - like newcomers Ayoub Nouhi, Jonathan Jordan and a few others – added another taste to the league.

And here’s why.

Few expected BAL debutants FUS Rabat to finish top of the conference with a 3-1 record, but with a roster that included the likes of Aliou Diarra – arguably the highest performer in Pretoria – Nouhi and Jordan who displayed dominant performances throughout the nine-day event, things became clear why the Moroccan champions have legitimately entered this season’s BAL title race.

In four Kalahari Conference games, 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Diarra did a bit of everything, averaging 15 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.

Diarra’s two double-doubles in four games, saw him become the first player to record ten double-doubles in the history of the BAL.

Joining Diarra among FUS Rabat’s key weapons were Jordan and Nouhi, two lethal scorers who prevented Petro de Luanda and Cape Town Tigers from finishing above the second place in the conference.

Another highlight from the Kalahari Conference was Cape Town Tigers guard Samkele Cele.

In his second BAL season, Cele looked more like a veteran leading the South African champions in all fronts.

Whether it was driving to the basket, shooting from outside, forcing turnovers or dunking on taller and heavier opponents, Cele kept an entire nation of South Africa hopeful.

Cele ended up with a conference-high 20.5 points per game – 3 more that Jordan and teammate Billy Preston Jr. who averaged 15.8 points.

Two-time BAL All-Defensive team Dundao was impressive offensively, sinking 3-pts when Petro de Luanda needed him most.

The 5-foot-7 Dundao finished with a conference-high of 10 3-pts while leading Petro de Luanda in scoring with 13.5 points per game.

Diarra, Cele, Dundao, Nouhi, Jordan, Preston Jr, all came up big, but one question that remains unanswered is whether or not 18-year-old Mohamed Sylla wouldn’t have done better without Diarra in front of him in the FUS Rabat starting line-up.

For his fearless attitude and aggression on both ends of the floor, Sylla could easily have won the conference’s revelation award if there was one.

The 6-foot-10 center from the BAL Elevate program had a 6-for-12 field-goal while averaging 4 points and 4.5 rebounds. FUS Rabat head coach Said El Bouzidi showed a tremendous trust in Sylla.

If what the inaugural Kalahari Conference offered to fans is anything to go by, then the rest of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Season 4 looks promising.