Over the last few decades, the NBA has had an immeasurable impact on global interest in the game of basketball.
In recent years, the league has increased its impact, even more, moulding the next generation of basketball players at NBA Academies, which provide year-round basketball development for the top high school-age prospects from outside the United States.
As part of a continuously growing initiative, there are now academies in Australia, India, Mexico and Senegal, developing top prospects from their respective countries and continents.
MORE: From Montreal to Mexico –The NBA Academy Latin America continues the globalization of the game
The last 12 months have been major for the NBA Academy. In April, Baylor's Jonathan Tchatchoua became a national champion and in June, Thunder guard Josh Giddey became the first alum to be selected in the NBA Draft, going sixth overall in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Giddey was joined by Dyson Daniels, another Academy alum, at 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend.
Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels repping their old threads as they become the first NBA Academy graduates to participate in #NBAAllStar weekend. #CloroxRisingStars pic.twitter.com/dZocFSlsx5
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2022
With March Madness upon us, over 20 athletes that either attended an NBA Academy or an NBA Academy event will take part in the Men's and Women's Division I Basketball Tournament.
MORE: The NBA Academy Women's program continues to develop the next generation virtually
From Arizona's Bennedict Mathurin (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) and Tennessee's Santiago Vescovi (Monevideo, Uruguay) to UConn's Aaliyah Edwards (Kingston, Ontario, Canada) and Louisville's Merrissah Russell (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), get familiar with the NBA Academy alums looking to make their mark in March.
Men's NBA Academy alumni at March Madness
| Player | School | Hometown | Academy |
| Oumar Ballo | Arizona | Koulikoro, Mali | NBA Academy Latin America |
| Aziz Bandaogo | Akron | Joal-Fadiouth, Senegal | NBA Academy Africa |
| Alex Ducas | Saint Mary's | Geraldton, West Australia, Australia | NBA Global Academy |
| Francisco Farabello | TCU | Cañada de Gómez, Argentina | NBA Global Academy |
| Hyunjung Lee | Davidson | Yongin City, South Korea | NBA Global Academy |
| Bennedict Mathurin | Arizona | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | NBA Academy Latin America |
| Jonathan Tchatchoua | Baylor | Douala, Cameroon | NBA Global Academy |
| Santiago Vescovi | Tennessee | Montevideo, Uruguay | NBA Global Academy; NBA Academy Latin America |
Women's NBA Academy alumni at March Madness
| Player | School | Hometown | Academy |
| Georgia Amoore | Virginia Tech | Ballarat, Victoria, Australia | NBA Academies Women’s Program at Next Gen 2019 |
| Anna Gret Asi | Arizona | Tartu, Estonia | NBA Academy Women’s Program at Next Gen 2019 |
| Kamilla Cardoso | South Carolina | Montes Claros, Brazil | NBA Academies Women’s Program in Mexico; Brazil |
| Emma Chardon | Maryland | Geneva, Switzerland | NBA Academies Women’s Program at Next Gen 2019 |
| Aaliyah Edwards | UConn | Kingston, Ontario, Canada | NBA Academies Women’s Program at Next Gen 2019 |
| Yvonne Ejim | Gonzaga | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | NBA Academies Women’s Program at Next Gen 2019 |
| Kobe King-Hawea | Texas | Point Cook, Victoria, Australia | NBA Global Academy (Women’s) |
| Nika Muhl | UConn | Zagreb, Croatia | NBA Academies Women’s Program at Next Gen 2019 |
| Ruby Porter | Nebraska | Adelaide, South Australia, Australia | NBA Academies Women’s Program at Next Gen 2019 |
| Merissah Russell | Louisville | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | NBA Academy Women’s Program at Next Gen 2019 |
| Mariana Valenzuela | Florida State | Matazlán, Mexico | NBA Academies Women’s Program in Mexico |
