Basketball Without Borders opened its first Next Up camp Wednesday at Basketbol Gelişim Merkezi in Istanbul, with Charlotte Hornets assistant coach Lamar Skeeter on the staff. The camp runs through Saturday.
The full roster came out Tuesday in a release from the NBA, FIBA, and the Turkish Basketball Federation. Skeeter is one of eight names under NBA coaches and personnel. The field is 78 high-school-age prospects from 44 countries and territories across six continents.
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson is on the staff as well, along with Caron Butler of the Miami Heat, Dahntay Jones of the LA Clippers, Jannero Pargo of the Indiana Pacers, Greg St. Jean of the Los Angeles Lakers, Ekpe Udoh of the Atlanta Hawks, and James White of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Vlade Divac and Danilo Gallinari are listed as NBA and FIBA legends. Eight active players are working the camp, a group that includes Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton, Jalen Suggs, Saddiq Bey, Thomas Bryant, Bub Carrington, Dominick Barlow, and Jabari Walker.
During the four-day camp, campers participate in athletic testing, movement efficiency exercises, skill development stations, 3-on-3 competitions, life-skills seminars, and 5-on-5 games. Nike has been a global partner since 2002, providing gear for the participants. The Saturday closing ceremony honors the Kim Bohuny Camp MVP, the Patrick Baumann Sportsmanship Award, the Three-Point Champion, the Defensive MVP, and the Playoff MVP.
This week introduces the program's new format, featuring two annual camps for the top 80 male and female prospects from outside the U.S. Top performers move on to BWB All-Star camps held at the NBA and WNBA All-Star events. The inaugural Women's BWB Next Up is planned for fall 2026. Istanbul hosted the program twice before, in 2002 and 2008, both times under BWB Europe. Since 2001, BWB has engaged over 4,900 participants from 149 countries and territories, with 155 alumni reaching the NBA or WNBA.
George Aivazoglou, the NBA's managing director for Europe and the Middle East, said Türkiye is one of Europe's leading basketball markets and has a track record of producing elite players.
"As Basketball Without Borders celebrates its 25th anniversary, the launch of BWB Next Up marks an exciting new chapter in our commitment to developing the next generation of basketball talent," Aivazoglou said.
Skeeter is entering his third season on Charles Lee's staff. Charlotte hired him in May 2024 as Lee's top assistant, out of a decade with the Utah Jazz that began in 2014 as a player development coach and video analyst under Quin Snyder and ended with him as a lead assistant under Will Hardy. Before Utah, Skeeter spent the 2013-14 season with the Hawks as a player development coach and video intern, and 2012-13 on the staff of the Canton Charge, then Cleveland's G League affiliate. He played at Walsh University, a Division II program in Ohio, and earned bachelor's and master's degrees there.
On Feb. 9, Skeeter managed the Hornets bench for the last 5:54 of a 110-104 defeat to the Detroit Pistons at Spectrum Center after Lee was ejected. Earlier in the third quarter, four players were ejected following a fight. That game marked the end of Charlotte's nine-game winning streak.
The Chicago Bulls sought permission to interview Skeeter for their head coaching vacancy in May, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported. Chicago hired Tiago Splitter on June 15.
Charlotte began last season with a 16-28 record and finished 44-38, marking a 25-win increase—the biggest jump in franchise history. From January 1 onward, the Hornets had a 28-10 record and posted the league's top net rating at +10.5. Their overtime win over Miami in the play-in tournament was the franchise's first postseason win since 2016. A loss to the Orlando Magic two nights later ended the season and extended the playoff drought to 10 years. Lee signed a contract extension on May 7.
Charlotte opens the 2026-27 season on the road against the Brooklyn Nets. The home opener is against Atlanta.
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