The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the ACG Worldwide Group (ACG) today announced Palpreet Singh as the winner of National Finals of ACG-NBA Jump, India’s first national basketball talent search program. The 21-year old will now attend the NBA Development League (NBA D-League) tryout in the United States in the month of June. NBA legend Brian Shaw, who was at the camp for two days, was impressed with Palpreet’s work ethic and court skills.
“ACG-NBA Jump has given basketball playing youth in India a pathway to professional ranks. We are committed to growing the program in the years to come,” said NBA India Managing Director Yannick Colaco. “While Palpreet Singh has been selected for a national tryout in the NBA D-League, the entire pool will be a part of Elite Talent Club and NBA will monitor their progress on a regular basis.”
The NBA D-League is the NBA’s official minor league, serving to develop players, coaches, and front office executives. Entering its 15th season, the NBA D-League features 19 teams in the U.S. and Canada, each of which is singly-affiliated with an NBA parent club. An all-time high 38% of players on 2014-15 NBA end-of-season rosters boasted NBA D-League experience.
“Promotion of sports and youth development has always been a part of ACG’s CSR vision and the successful conclusion of this program is an important milestone towards realization of this vision,” said ACG Director Karan Singh. “The final pool of players represented the very goal of the program that was to identify and hone the untapped talent pool of basketball in India. We strongly believe that our partnership with NBA to tap this potential and create a solid platform for the aspirants has found the right beginning. We are as excited as the winner and hope that Palpreet Singh makes a long lasting impression in United States for the D-League National Tryout.”
“His feel for the game and understanding, I could tell he grasps it,” said Shaw. “Palpreet Singh, we all thought, was the guy who had the best chance to succeed.”
Palpreet Singh will continue to undergo training with NBA certified coaches in India up until the tryout in June 2016. He has already represented India at SAFF Games, Lusofonia Games and Asian Games. He is also the first person from his family and village Muktsar Sahaib to play basketball. He received his initial training at the famous Ludhiana Basketball Academy under the tutelage of coach Dr. S Subramaniam who trained Satnam Singh too.
“I am thankful to ACG NBA Jump for this. I will focus on becoming a stronger player now that I am going to compete with some of the best in the world,” said Singh, after winning the coveted prize.
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