Africa-Press – Rwanda. Rwandan champions, APR, have finalised a 12-man roster that will compete in the Nile Conference of the 2025 Basketball Africa League which tips off on Saturday, May 17, at BK Arena in Kigali.
The army side, coached by James Maye Jr., take on Kenya’s Nairobi City Thunder on Saturday at 5:30PM in the opening match of the conference which runs through May 25.
As the tournament gets underway, Times Sport looks at who is who in APR’s squad.
Obadiah Noel
The American guard is returning to BAL with APR for the second time in a row, having featured for the same team in the 2024 edition.
Standing at 1.93 meters, Noel has experience from the NBA G League, where he played for the Indiana Mad Ants and the Westchester Knicks.
In Rwanda, he is nicknamed “Mutabazi” for his heroics including his dramatic buzzer-beater that earned APR a victory over US Monastir during the BAL 2024 Sahara Conference in Dakar, Senegal.
Aliou Diarra
The 23-year-old versatile centre/forward joined APR in 2024 from Moroccan giants FUS Rabat for whom he featured in the 2024 season of the BAL. He also previously played for Stade Malien in Mali.
Diarra has always been among outstanding performers at every BAL edition he played. For example, in 2024, he was named on the All-BAL First Team and All-Defensive Team.
He also has international experience with the Malian men’s national team since his debut in 2023.
Dylan Schommer Karecyezi
Schommer, 27, is a versatile 2.01-meter Rwandan player based in Switzerland. He can operate both as a forward and a centre.
Schommer has represented Rwanda at international level, with notable appearances at the FIBA AfroBasket championship.
Youssou Ndoye
Ndoye is a 2.13m centre who has played in various clubs including Daegu KOGAS Pegasus in Korean, Austin Spurs in the NBA G League, and JL Bourg in France.
The 23-year-old also plays for the Senegalese national team. He has also featured for clubs in the US., Europe, and Asia.
William Robenyns
The Belgian Rwandan forward previously featured for the likes of Phoenix Brussels and Liege in Belgium. He has been with APR for at least two years now for which he is the captain.
Robeyns, 29, possesses qualities to shoot and creates assists, as well as leadership.
Ntore Habimana
The Canada-born Rwandan point guard is one of the key local players on APR’s roster. The 27-year-old has already been at the BAL more than once, with APR in 2024 and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) earlier.
He is also a key player for the national basketball team.
Dane Miller
Dane Miller Jr., 35, is an American small forward who has played professionally in the United States, Asia, and Africa, and featured in the 2023 BAL season with Uganda’s City Oilers and Guinea’s SLAC.
Jean Jacques Nshobozwabyosenumukiza
The Rwandan point-guard holds the world record for the highest number of steals in a single match after he registered 14 steals against South Sudan during the Afrobasket qualifiers that took place in Monastir, Tunisia, in 2021.
Nshobozwa, 26, is one of the best point guards in the country and a great defensive asset for club and country.
He boasts experience both on the national team and top local clubs including Rwanda Energy Group, Patriots and now APR.
Nshobozwa is making his fifth straight appearance at BAL.
Axel Mpoyo
Born to a Rwandan mother and Congolese father, Mpoyo has now spent at least three seasons playing in the Rwandan league. During the period, he has once been named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and was on the all-star team.
Mpoyo, 28, knows what playing BAL is like, having represented REG in the previous two editions.
Justin Uwitonze
Uwitonze, one of youngest players in APR roster for BAL 2025 Nile Conference.
The shooting guard joined the army side from United Generation Basketball(UGB) this year.
He is making his BAL debut.
Chasson Randle
Randle, 32, is a 1.85m guard who boasts experience with NBA teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic of the NBA, as well as Real Madrid in Spain.
Sano Rutatika
Standing at 2.06meters, Rutatika plays as a power forward. He is an alumnus of the NBA Africa Academy in Senegal.
The 21-year-old has represented Rwanda at various youth levels where he captained the U16 and U-18 national teams.
Tags: BAL 5, APR, Nile Conference
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