South Africa men's national basketball team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see South Africa women's national basketball team.

South Africa national basketball team is the basketball team that represents South Africa in international competitions.^[2] The governing body of the team is Basketball South Africa.

South Africa

FIBA ranking	124 (15 August 2024)[1]
Joined FIBA	1992
FIBA zone	FIBA Africa
National federation	BSA
Coach	Craig Gilchrist
Nickname(s)	The Proteas
AfroBasket
Appearances	9
Home Away

Team South Africa is one of FIBA's youngest members, as it joined in 1992, yet it has qualified for every FIBA Africa Championship between 1997 and 2011.

Recently, South Africa has not been active at international competitions as the federation had withdrawn for several qualification competitions. The last games by the men's team were in 2017.^[3]

Competitive record

FIBA World Cup

• 2019 – withdrew before games
• 2023 – withdrew before games

AfroBasket

AfroBasket record							Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L		GP	W	L
1993	did not qualify
1995
1997	Preliminary round	9th	4	0	4
1999	Preliminary round	12th	6	0	6
2001	Preliminary round	12th	5	0	5
2003	Preliminary round	9th	6	3	3
2005	Preliminary round	12th	7	1	6
2007	Classification round	13th	6	2	4
2009	Classification round	15th	5	1	4		4[lower-alpha 1]	3	1
2011	Round of 16	13th	5	1	4		4	3	1
2013	did not qualify						did not enter
2015							4	2	2
2017	Preliminary round	15th	3	0	3		6	3	3
2021	Withdrew from qualification						Withdrew
2025	Did not qualify						2	1	1
Total			47	8	39		19	12	8

1. In 2009, South Africa qualified through a wild card.

African Games

See also: Basketball at the African Games

• 1999: 6th
• 2007: 7th
• 2011: 10th

Commonwealth Games

See also: Basketball at the Commonwealth Games

• 2006: 7th
• 2022: TBD

Team

Current roster

Team for AfroBasket 2017:^[4]

2017 South Africa men's national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. F/C 0 Reece Prinsloo (C) 26 – (1991-04-16)16 April 1991 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Soweto Panthers G 4 Thabo Sithole 22 – (1995-06-10)10 June 1995 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Kwazulu Natal Marlins G 7 Lebesa Selepe 26 – (1991-03-13)13 March 1991 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Soweto Panthers F 9 Kagiso Ngoetjana 27 – (1989-11-15)15 November 1989 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Tshwane Suns G 10 Shane Marhanele 35 – (1982-08-28)28 August 1982 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Limpopo Pride G 11 Sakhile Sithole 27 – (1990-03-11)11 March 1990 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Mpumalanga Rhinos G 12 Neo Mothiba 35 – (1982-03-21)21 March 1982 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Egoli Magic C 13 Jonathan Van der Bijl 25 – (1992-02-06)6 February 1992 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Egoli Magic F 14 Tsakani Ngobeni 33 – (1983-12-16)16 December 1983 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) Duzi Royals G 15 Lehlogonolo Tholo 24 – (1992-11-12)12 November 1992 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Egoli Magic C 21 Christopher Gabriel 28 – (1988-12-19)19 December 1988 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) TSU Hyundai C 23 Pieter Prinsloo 25 – (1992-01-07)7 January 1992 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Jass Baloncesto	Head coach Craig Gilchrist Assistant coach(es) Clemen Andre Lucas Kock Sergei Eugenevich Paly Legend Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 8 September 2017

At the AfroBasket 2017 in Tunisia and Senegal, Lehlogonolo Tholo played most minutes and recorded most assists and steals for South Africa.^[5]

Depth chart

Pos.	Starting 5	Bench 1	Bench 2
C	Pieter Prinsloo	Christopher Gabriel	Jonathan Van der Bijl
PF	Reece Prinsloo	Tsakani Ngobeni
SF	Kagiso Ngoetjana
SG	Neo Mothiba	Sakhile Sithole	Shane Marhanele
PG	Lehlogonolo Tholo	Lebesa Selepe	Thabo Sithole

Past rosters

FIBA Africa Championship Qualification 2015:^[6]

2015 South Africa men's national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. Nhlanhla Dlamini 28 – (1986-09-02)2 September 1986 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) Nkosianthi Festile 21 – (1993-07-15)15 July 1993 Stephen Gabriel 23 – (1991-06-22)22 June 1991 Celumusa Khumalo 26 – (1988-09-08)8 September 1988 Masego Loate 32 – (1982-08-19)19 August 1982 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) Kyle MacLean 20 – (1994-05-10)10 May 1994 G Shane Marhanele 32 – (1982-08-28)28 August 1982 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Motjile Jubere Matsie 28 – (1986-06-10)10 June 1986 Lesego Molebatsi 32 – (1982-07-11)11 July 1982 Somusa Mthembu 22 – (1992-03-26)26 March 1992 F Tsakani Ngobeni 31 – (1983-12-16)16 December 1983 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) F Kagiso Ngoetjana 25 – (1989-11-15)15 November 1989 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Reece Prinsloo 23 – (1991-04-16)16 April 1991 G Lebesa Selepe 23 – (1991-03-13)13 March 1991 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) McDonald Mlungisi Shongwe 27 – (1987-08-06)6 August 1987 Lindokuhle Sibankulu 33 – (1981-04-09)9 April 1981 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) G Sakhile Sithole 24 – (1990-03-11)11 March 1990 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Vusimuzi Vincent Sithole 26 – (1988-05-09)9 May 1988 G Lehlogonolo Tholo 22 – (1992-11-12)12 November 1992 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) C Jonathan Van der Bijl 23 – (1992-02-06)6 February 1992 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)	Head coach George Makena Assistant coach(es) Sinky Mphahlele Craig Daniels Legend Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 21 February 2015

FIBA Africa Championship 2011:^[7] finished 14th among 16 teams

2011 South Africa men's national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. PG 4 Nhlanhla Dlamini 24 – (1986-09-02)2 September 1986 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) A.P.N. Durban G 5 Brendan Mettler 29 – (1982-01-10)10 January 1982 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Cape Peninsula University of Technology PG 6 Christopher Avenant 20 – (1991-04-25)25 April 1991 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Northeastern University PG 7 Masego Loate 28 – (1982-08-19)19 August 1982 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) University of Johannesburg SF 8 Amogelang Keogatile 23 – (1987-10-10)10 October 1987 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) University of Johannesburg SF 9 Thabang Kgwedi 33 – (1978-04-15)15 April 1978 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) WildCats Johannesburg SG 10 Shane Marhanele 28 – (1982-08-28)28 August 1982 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Pretoria Heat F 11 Lindokuhle Sibankulu 30 – (1981-04-09)9 April 1981 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) A.P.N. Durban SF 12 Neo Mothiba 29 – (1982-03-21)21 March 1982 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Pretoria Heat C 13 Cedrick Kalombo 28 – (1983-06-02)2 June 1983 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Ferroviario Maputo C 14 Christopher Gabriel 22 – (1988-12-19)19 December 1988 2.14 m (7 ft 0 in) University of San Diego SF 15 Kegorapetse Letsebe 30 – (1980-10-14)14 October 1980 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) University of Johannesburg	Head coach Mlungisi Ngwenya Assistant coach(es) Patrick Engelbrecht Legend Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 17 August 2011

FIBA Africa Championship 2009:^[8] finished 15th among 16 teams

2009 South Africa men's national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. 4 Quintin Denyssen 28 – (1980-08-27)27 August 1980 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Egoli Magic 5 Nhlanhla Dlamini 22 – (1986-09-02)2 September 1986 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) 6 Nyakallo Nthuping 29 – (1980-01-14)14 January 1980 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) Vaal University 7 Fusi Joseph Mazibuko 29 – (1980-02-03)3 February 1980 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Egoli Magic 8 Kenneth Motaung 30 – (1978-09-13)13 September 1978 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Egoli Magic 9 Thabang Kgwedi 31 – (1978-04-15)15 April 1978 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Vaal University C 10 Christopher Gabriel 20 – (1988-12-19)19 December 1988 2.20 m (7 ft 3 in) University of San Diego 11 Lindokuhle Sibankulu 28 – (1981-04-09)9 April 1981 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) A.P.N. Durban G 12 Neo Mothiba 27 – (1982-03-21)21 March 1982 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) A.P.N. Durban 13 Cedrick Kalombo 26 – (1983-06-02)2 June 1983 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 14 Tshilidzi Nephawe 20 – (1989-06-10)10 June 1989 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) University of Johannesburg 15 Kegorapetse Letsebe 28 – (1980-10-14)14 October 1980 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) University of Johannesburg	Head coach Flosh Ngwenya Assistant coach(es) Thierry Kita Craig Gilchrist Legend Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 5 August 2009

FIBA Africa Championship 2007:^[9] finished 13th among 16 teams

2007 South Africa men's national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. 4 Quintin Denyssen 26 – (1980-08-27)27 August 1980 5 Fusi Joseph Mazibuko 27 – (1980-02-03)3 February 1980 6 Nyakallo Jacob Nthuping 27 – (1980-01-14)14 January 1980 7 Patrick Anthony Engelbrecht 30 – (1976-10-25)25 October 1976 8 Kenneth Motaung 28 – (1978-09-13)13 September 1978 9 Thabang Kgwedi 29 – (1978-04-15)15 April 1978 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 10 Buthi Lowell Naphtal Mndaweni 31 – (1976-01-02)2 January 1976 F 11 Tsakani Ngobeni 23 – (1983-12-16)16 December 1983 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) 12 Lesego Molebatsi 25 – (1982-07-11)11 July 1982 G 13 Neo Mothiba 25 – (1982-03-21)21 March 1982 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 14 Vusumuzi Innocent Dlamini 32 – (1975-06-16)16 June 1975 15 Kegorapetse Letsebe 26 – (1980-10-14)14 October 1980 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)	Head coach Flosh Ngwenya Legend Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 17 August 2007

FIBA Africa Championship 2005:^[10] finished 12th among 12 teams

2005 South Africa men's national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. 4 Fusi Joseph Mazibuko 25 – (1980-02-03)3 February 1980 5 Quintin Denyssen 24 – (1980-08-27)27 August 1980 6 Nyakallo Jacob Nthuping 25 – (1980-01-14)14 January 1980 7 Patrick Anthony Engelbrecht 28 – (1976-10-25)25 October 1976 8 Johannes Arnoldus Malan 25 – (1980-02-28)28 February 1980 9 Lindokuhle Sibankulu 24 – (1981-04-09)9 April 1981 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 10 Emmanuel Madonda 24 – (1980-10-07)7 October 1980 F 11 Craig Gilchrist 35 – (1970-04-16)16 April 1970 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 12 Lesego Molebatsi – G 13 Neo Mothiba 23 – (1982-03-21)21 March 1982 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) F 14 Tsakani Ngobeni 21 – (1983-12-16)16 December 1983 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) C 15 Christoph Jan Trauernicht 29 – (1976-07-28)28 July 1976 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in)	Head coach Terry Pretoritis Assistant coach(es) Ngwenya Florsheim Legend Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 15 August 2005

FIBA Africa Championship 2003:^[11] finished 9th among 12 teams

Coach. Sam Vincent (Mobile Revelers -USA)

• Emmanuel Madondo (180-G-80)
• Lowell Mndaweni (178-G-76)
• Joseph Mazibuko (190-G-80) Levski Sophia (BUL)
• Sifiso Ngoobo (192-G-78)
• Kenneth Motaung (195-F-78)
• Nyakallo Nthuping (200-C-80)
• Floid Mtimkulu (196-F-81)
• Craig Ngobeni Tsakani (198-F-83)
• Quinton Denyssen (203-C/F-80) Wits University Rebels
• Thuso Moiloa (199-C-78) 21882
• Thabang Kgwedi (198-F-78)
• Lesego Molebatsi (201-F/C-82)

FIBA Africa Championship 2001:^[12] finished 12th among 12 teams

• Mazibuko Joseph 192 G 80
• Uniacke David 208 C 69
• Madondo Emanuel 180 G 81
• Jesinskis Paul 200 F 81
• Molebatsi L. Prince 201 F 82
• Gilchrist Craig 200 F 70
• Trauernicht Chris 209 C 76
• Ngcobo Ndaba Sifiso 189 G 78
• Maepa Lepo 204 C 84
• Ntunja Vincent 184 G 81
• Maxima Mokoena 189 G 81
• Denyssen Quinton 203 C 80

Head Coach : Zoran Zupcevic

Head coach position

• Zoran Zupcevic – 2001
• Sam Vincent – 2003
• Terry Pretoritis – 2005
• Flosh Ngwenya – 2007–11
• George Makena – 2014, 2015^[13]
• Craig Gilchrist – 2017

Kit

Sponsor

2011: National Lottery

See also

• South Africa national under-19 basketball team
• South Africa national under-17 basketball team
• South Africa women's national basketball team
• South Africa women's national under-19 basketball team
• South Africa women's national under-17 basketball team

References

1. "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
2. FIBA National Federations – South Africa, fiba.com, accessed 17 February 2012.
3. "South Africa withdraw from FIBA Africa 2023 qualifying tournaments". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
4. South Africa | 2017 Afrobasket, FIBA.BASKETBALL. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
5. South Africa | FIBA AfroBasket 2017, FIBA.COM. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
6. South Africa | 2015 Afrobasket Qualification, ARCHIVE.FIBA.BASKETBALL. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
7. 2011 Afrobasket, ARCHIVE.FIBA.COM. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
8. 2009 Afrobasket, ARCHIVE.FIBA.COM. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
9. 2007 Afrobasket, ARCHIVE.FIBA.COM. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
10. 2005 Afrobasket, ARCHIVE.FIBA.COM. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
11. 2003 Afrobasket, WWW.AFROBASKET.COM. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
12. 2001 Afrobasket, WWW.AFROBASKET.COM. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
13. SA Men’s Basketball National Team coach appointed, MYBASKETBALL.co/za, 27 Sep 2014. Accessed 17 Dec 2016.

External links

• FIBA profile
• South Africa Basketball Records at FIBA Archive
• Africabasket - South Africa Men National Team
• MyBasketball South Africa

Videos

• South Africa Basketball YouTube.com video