Ahead of the 2025 Basketball Africa League, beginning with the Kalahari Conference from April 5-13, 2025, in Rabat, the Rivers Hoopers have once again bolstered their squad with six additions.

Just like they did in last year’s edition, the 2024 bronze medallists have prioritized recruitment and gotten the signatures of six of the best legs: Point Guard, Maxi Shamba, Forwards Madut Akec and Raphiael Putney, returnees Peter Olisemeka, Kelvin Amayo and BAL Elevate player David Ike.

Rivers Hoopers will look to prove a tough opponent in an equally tough Kalahari Conference, which features 2023 bronze medalist and Sahara Conference winner, Stade Malien, 2024 debutants/Kalahari Conference winners FUS Rabat and BAL debutante Al Ittihad.

Raphiael Putney:

Standing at 6 feet 10 inches, Raphiael Putney born on April 21, 1990 to Richard and Latisha Putney, brother to Ravel in Fairmont, West Virginia, joins the Rivers Hoopers.

Putney attended Woodbridge High School in Lake Ridge, Virginia, where he played basketball for coach Chad Anderson, averaging 9.0 points per game as a junior. The 34-year-old played college basketball for the UMass Minutemen playing 131 games and starting 86 overall, with averages of 7.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.2 blocks. His best year was as a junior, with averages of 10.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

After going undrafted in the 2014 NBA draft, Putney was acquired by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League on November 2, 2014, after a successful tryout. On November 14, he made his professional debut in a 112–101 loss to the Idaho Stampede, recording two points, three rebounds, one assist and three blocks in 17 minutes. He was deactivated twice by the Vipers during the 2014–15 season, and subsequently played in just 24 games, averaging 6.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

In April 2015, Putney moved to Saudi Arabia where he joined Al-Ittihad Jeddah for the remainder of the season. Fast forward to August 2022, Putney played for the Cape Town Tigers and helped them win their second consecutive national championship. He scored a game-high 27 points in the third and final game.

Putney’s 11-year (2014-2025) professional career has seen him explore Six continents: (North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia), 17 countries (United States, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Malaysia, Venezuela, Italy, France, Puerto Rico, Hungary, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Israel, South Africa, Taiwan, Uruguay, Lebanon, Mexico), and 27 Teams (with 30 stints.) He is well-travelled and as such, would bring a wealth of experience to the Rivers Hoopers.

Maxi Shamba:

Maxi Shamba, known as “El Capo,” was born on December 25, 1993, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC.) The 6 feet 3 inches point guard is known for his leadership and playmaking.

Shamba competed in the FIBA Africa Champions Cup (predecessor to BAL) with multiple teams: Lupopo (DRC, 2009, where he got early exposure to high-level club competition in Africa. He then made a move to the Egyptian powerhouse Zamalek in 2013 where he gained regional recognition. In 2017, he joined forces with the Association Sportive de Salé in Morocco and gained more experience in North African basketball. For the 2021-2022, on October 17, 2021, joined Calais Basket. In 2023, the 31-year-old joined Maubeuge Basketball playing in Europe for the first time in his career, Maubeuge extended his contract after he proved himself to be a key element in the squad.

For the National Team (DR Congo,) Shamba became a key figure for his Country, displaying his skills as a point guard in the 2017 Afrobasket (Rwanda.) In
the 2019 FIBA Afro Can, he led DRC to the tournament title, averaging standout numbers and earning MVP honours. His leadership was pivotal in this underdog victory. In 2021 at the Afrobasket, he averaged 12.7 points, 3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game, solidifying his status as DRC’s captain and floor general.

Maxi’s extensive African basketball experience would be vital for Rivers Hoopers’ campaign.

Madut Akec:

Born in Tonj, South Sudan on January 1,1999, to Elizabeth and Deng Akec, Madut Akec stands 6 feet and 7 inches tall ready to wreak havoc on opponents.

Madut has five brothers and six sisters; His brother, Deng Adel played basketball at Louisville and also played in the NBA. Madut began his Basketball journey at his high school, Victory Rock Prep in Bradenton, Florida, where he tallied 19.3 points and 9.9 rebounds as a senior, shooting 48.0 percent from three-point range, and 14.7 points and 5.9 rebounds as a junior. He also helped Victory Rock win The Grind Session in 2018.

In 2018, Akec began his NCAA career with the USF Bulls in the American Athletic Conference. His time there saw him hit a career-high of 10 points against Tulane on January 29, 2020, and a high of 8 rebounds in a game. He played a reserve role, averaging limited minutes as he developed his game.

Transferring to Detroit Mercy in the Horizon League, Akec saw a significant uptick in responsibility. In the 2021- 22 season, he played 24 games, starting 22, and was second on the team in scoring with 12.7 points per game while leading in rebounds at 7.0 per game. He graduated from Detroit Mercy in 2022, concluding his NCAA eligibility.

Akec’s first professional stint was in Cyprus. He had a standout game on November 26, 2022, grabbing a career-high 16 rebounds and scoring 14 points in a win against Enosis Neon Paralimni. On January 22, 2023, he achieved a career-high efficiency rating of 30 in a win over Achilleas Kaimakliou and blocked 3 shots in a loss to Keravnos on January 3, 2023.

After Cyprus, Akec played for Al Safa in the Saudi Basketball League, growing his international presence. Akec later joined the Malaysian Basketball League, playing for Negeri Sembilan Matrix.

Before joining Rivers Hoopers, Akec played for AS Douanes in the 2024 BAL Sahara Conference. He made an impact against Rivers Hoopers, posting a double-double (19 points, 12 rebounds) in one game and earning Player of the Game honours with 17 points and 7 rebounds in another.

The South Sudanese player was instrumental in AS Douanes’ BAL campaign last year, taking the team to the quarter-finals before a loss to Petro de Luanda that cut their campaign short. Akec’s addition to Rivers Hoopers, promises to yield massive fruit as he brings youthful flair which has been evident in his dunks, steals, and three-pointers for AS Douanes.

Kelvin Amayo, Peter Olisaemeka and David Ike:

Kelvin Amayo, Peter Olisemeka and David Ike are no newcomers to this set-up, having been an integral part of the 2024 Basketball Africa League, bronze medal-winning Rivers Hoopers side.

In the 2024 Basketball Africa League, Kelvin Amayo averaged seventeen points three points per game, seven points two assists per game, five points seven rebounds per game, two points seven steals per game, and thirty-three percent field goal percentage.

Peter Olisemeka averaged ten points per game and eleven-point seven rebounds per game (third-most in the league). He also holds the record for the most rebounds by a Nigerian player at the Basketball Africa League with nineteen rebounds.

David Ike who did not get as much playing time, made good of his little time on the floor. He averaged four-point five points per game, four-point one rebounds per game, zero point five assists per game, and zero point eight blocks per game. He ties Peter Olisemeka and Victor Koko for the most blocks made in a Basketball Africa League game with three blocks. He was named Basketball Without Borders Africa 2024 Defensive MVP.

As stated in the lead of this feature, Rivers Hoopers, are known to make solid recruitments and this year’s additions plus an already existing squad, appear to be a fine blend of youth and experience, aligning with the team’s goal to surpass their 2024 third-place finish.

Led by Coach Ogoh Odaudu, Rivers Hoopers will participate in the fifth edition of the Basketball Africa League, which marks its third appearance in the Basketball Africa League.