The PrepaTec Aguascalientes student participated in the NBA Academy Women’s Camp, which selects the best basketball players.
Samantha Canizalez, a student at PrepaTec Aguascalientes, formed part of the team representing Mexico at the NBA Academy Women’s Camp Latin America 2023.
The event is well-known for its elite basketball training program for top prospects from Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Canada.
This year’s event was held in San Luis Potosí, where Samantha participated alongside 29 players from Latin America and the Caribbean.
“I feel blessed to have been able to participate and to have come this far. There were only 29 girls from all over Latin America and 6 from Mexico. I’m very proud to be among them,” said basketball player Samantha.
The NBA Academy Women’s Camp experience
The Aguascalientes native was one of six Mexicans selected to attend the camp for a week with players from 13 other countries.
Participants formed groups led by current and former WNBA players, including Ariel Atkins (Washington Mystics) and Danielle Robinson (Indiana Fever).
The aim was to give participants opportunities to get to know each other, enhance their skills, improve their leadership, and develop basketball techniques.
“It was an extraordinary experience to go to learn, to have fun, and to meet girls from different countries and the WNBA coaches,” Samantha told CONECTA.
The start of a great story
Samantha’s friends describe her as persistent, honest, and responsible. She is also considered the most important athlete in her category at national level.
Her participation in the sport began at the age of eight when she joined her first team.
“Basketball has been a part of my life ever since I was little. My father coached the Mexican Women’s National Team, and my mother received a scholarship from Tec de Monterrey to play basketball for Monterrey campus,” said player Samantha.
She also told CONECTA that the most difficult part of her sports career has been keeping a positive attitude and being self-confident enough to have peace of mind during matches.
Over time, her perseverance has helped her achieve this. It’s also a quality that has defined her success as an athlete.
“Follow your dreams, be dedicated, and take care of your diet and sleep. These factors will help you perform better.”- Samantha Canizalez
In 2019, she was part of the Mexican National Team which played at the Junior NBA Camp in Orlando, Florida.
Last year, she played with the Aguascalientes State Team, who won second place in the CONADEIP championship in the 3x3 category.
She has been selected for the Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, and Sinaloa state teams and has also participated in the Junior NBA Global Championship in the 5x5 and 3x3 categories.
For Atzimba Vázquez, coach of the Aguascalientes campus women’s basketball team, this sport is a way of developing values that can be applied to daily life.
“It’s a way of forging many things for their lives, such as discipline, character, and loyalty,” said coach Atzimba.
The coach pointed out that “Samantha has worked very hard to be ready when these opportunities arrive.”
Finally, Samantha is currently preparing to join the National Team to be able to continue representing Mexico. She encourages young people to:
“Follow your dreams, be dedicated, and take care of your diet and sleep. These factors will help you perform better.”
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