Lobos Sign NBA Academy Africa's Wegscheider

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Coach Paul Weir and The University of New Mexico men’s basketball program have signed Kurt-Curry Wegscheider from The NBA Academy Africa to NLI for the 2019-20 season, the program announced Wednesday. Wegscheider will  have four years of eligibility.

A 6-foot-3 guard, Wegscheider has been enrolled at The NBA Academy Africa in Saly, Senegal since 2017. The NBA Academy Africa is an elite basketball training center for top male and female prospects from throughout the continent. 

“Kurt is the exact type of young man we want in our program,” Weir said. “His enthusiasm for the game and to be a Lobo are contagious. His fit for how we want to play makes this an excellent addition for us.”

Wegscheider is well traveled as he has participated in Basketball Without Borders (BWB) in Africa where he was named MVP of the BWB Africa All Star Games, and also competed in the BWB Global 2018 in Los Angeles. BWB is the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program that has been conducted annually since 2001, with 60 former BWB campers drafted into the NBA or signed as free agents. 

In addition to his performances in Africa and the U.S., Wegscheider participated in the NBA Global Camp in Treviso Italy, competed for The NBA Academy Africa in the 2017 and 2018 NBA Academy Games in Canberra, Australia, and also participated in three stages of the European Youth Basketball League in Hungary where his team won the tournament and remained unbeaten in the competition. 

Most recently, he participated in the NCAA’s Next Generation Sunday event at the 2019 Men’s Final Four. 

“I am very excited to be joining The University of New Mexico. It is a great school rich in basketball traditions and with a brilliant education system,” Wegscheider said. “I can’t wait to follow the footsteps of other African players who did it before me. 

“I am also happy that Lobo fans are the best in the conference, so I can’t wait to play in The Pit!”