07-05-2025
BYU Basketball players are turning heads for unexpected choice
While most elite basketball programs gear up for summer transfers and preseason tournaments, BYU is watching some of its top talent pack bags for something far different—and far more personal. In a time when NIL deals and NBA dreams dominate headlines, BYU players are voluntarily putting basketball on hold to serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In a year where BYU is projected as a top-10 contender and early NCAA Tournament buzz surrounds the team, players like Keba Keita and Khadim Mboup are stepping away. The duo is returning to Africa—not for a tournament, but to serve and inspire. They'll work with the Africa Elite Basketball Camps in Senegal and Mali, using hoops as a tool for education and hope.
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'Even the schoolteachers and staff look at these young men and how they have really grown up with their opportunities,' said Carlos Iglesias, a Utah businessman who supports the mission-driven camps.
Keita and Mboup, both originally from West Africa, understand the transformative power of opportunity. Through the Mali Wellness Foundation, they're mentoring young athletes, many of whom dream of following in their footsteps to the U.S. for education and sports. For Keita, who averaged 4.4 rebounds per game last season as a key rotation player, this isn't about stats—it's about impact.
The missions blend service with sport. In communities where school isn't mandatory, a basketball court becomes a classroom. 'We have to do something to keep these kids in school—so why not sports?' Iglesias explained. This isn't just humanitarian work. It's full-circle legacy-building from players who remember where they came from.
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In a sport where skipping college for the draft is normal, BYU's players are skipping prime exposure to serve others. For Cougar fans, it's more than admirable—it's part of what makes this program different.
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