Abstract

This study adapted the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) skill tests developed in America and reported by Joyner and Macmanis, (2007) for basketballers' performance skills assessment and the Physical Fitness Profile. There was also an adaptation of the protocol of International Committee on the Standardization of Physical Fitness Tests as reported by Pilicz, Prezwede, Dobosz and Nwacka –Dobosz (2002) to measure power, agility, balance speed, reaction time, and coordination. The ex post facto research design was used for the study. The systematic sampling technique was used involving where every second of other subject in the population was chosen. In all, two hundred and sixteen (216) participants were used for the study out of the total population of four hundred and thirty –two (432). The instruments used for the study were the AAHPERD (2002) basketball skill tests and the physical fitness profile tests. The inferential statistics applied for the data analyses were the one way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple regressions. The alpha was set at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that physical fitness profile was significant, depicting that the Nigerian elite basketballers are not doing well in this area. It is, therefore, concluded that physical fitness profile and performance skills is a relevant determinant of playing level in the game of basketball in Nigeria. It is, therefore, recommended that regular training and mastery of skills which promotse fitness status, high quality health, and wellness should be instituted in coaching and conditioning Nigerian basketballers.