Stewart Returns from Basketball Without Borders an All Star

By Sam Neter on September 21, 2010

John Stewart (second from left) in Bacelona with his fellow BWB campers

John Stewart returned from the NBA/FIBA Basketball Without Borders Europe camp yesterday having been named an All Star at the camp in Barcelona which pitted Europe’s Top 50 players born in 1993 or later against each other.

Speaking to Hoopsfix about the event which a few years ago he could’ve “never” imagined himself being selected for, Stewart enjoyed going up against Europe’s best;

“It was good to see what the level of competition is like out there, especially with a large amount of players coming from top quality Division A countries. The coaching taught me a lot of things and hopefully I’ll be able to put them into my game back home.”

Stewart was the only UK representative, after Devon Van Oostrum had to miss it due to team commitments with Caja Laboral. It meant John would meet NBA players such as Marcus Camby and Pau Gasol alone, but that did not phase the ’93 born forward out of Sheffield;

“The NBA players were good mentors and helped people get very small details correct, but they did it in a friendly, laid back way. Marcus Camby was a cool guy, he really got behind the players and encouraged us.”

The camp culminated in an All Star game with the best 20 players at the camp going against each other. John did the UK proud, getting selected for the prestigious game which he named as his highlight of the three days, playing on Regal FB Barcelona’s main home court that the ACB side would play on straight after.

The camp saw players hit the court at 9am for a seminar from NBA players or UNICEF workers, followed by breaking off into stations consisting of defensive drills, shooting workouts, big man skills, and ball handling coming off screens. Each station was manned by an NBA player and one NBA coach and one FIBA coach.

After breaking for lunch the players played 12 minute quarter games against the other teams throughout the afternoon before cooling down and hitting the hotel to relax or going out to catch a Barcelona game.

The biggest thing Stewart learnt after going up against and working with Europe’s best?

“It’s not good enough to just be good at the basics of basketball-you have to be good at everything, even the smallest things like positioning of your feet, because players out there in different countries have been practicing every tiny detail since the beginning of their basketball career.”

Thoughts?

Who do you think will be reppin’ the UK at next year’s camp? Drop a comment below and let me know!

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