Q: Tell us about yourself and what do you do?
ISEOLUPO: My name is Iseolupo Adepitan and I am the co-founder of Educational Basketball which is Africa’s First Player Development Program, which I started along with my brother, Olutobi Adepitan. We started Educational Basketball when we first came to Nigeria in 2015.
Q: What was the motive behind starting Educational Basketball?
ISEOLUPO: We saw all the talent on ground, but nobody was getting the right teaching/coaching, and there were a lot of guys missing out on key opportunities so we decided to setup Educational Basketball to give basketball players the opportunity to showcase their skills and gifts to different coaches around the world through our contacts and so far it’s been nothing short of a blessing.
Q: How would you describe the journey between the start of Educational Basketball and where you guys are at now?
ISEOLUPO: It’s been a good journey, one where I’ve experienced a lot of ups and downs. It’s ultimately about finding out the guys who are actually serious about the sport. People always think that they want to play basketball and be professionals but when its time to put in the work a lot of guys aren’t really as committed as what they say are. So once identify the ones that are all in, and you get the guys that are dedicated, showing up to practice every day without excuses, it’s pretty fun. When we originally started this, we noticed that it’s mainly the kids who don’t come a privileged background who are really determined to make the most of the opportunity and go pro especially when you consider that they may not eat every day, their parents are having to sell things off the streets and basketball is seemingly the only way out for them. Once they get the opportunity they get really locked in and that’s all that matters to them. Ultimately that’s what we are trying to do- to help give them that opportunity/way out.
Q: You guys have already successfully given players the opportunity to get drafted into leagues abroad, what exactly are the next steps/goals for Educational Basketball?
ISEOLUPO: Our main goal right now to build our own sports facility. Granted there’s still a lot of work to do before we get to that stage but to be honest that is really the next move going forward. Once you’re able to have your own facility, you’re then able to get players from all parts of the country- Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and even players from outside Africa to come and stay, get the right level of training and really lock in on their skillset.
We’re also looking to take players abroad for the AAU summer basketball programs in the USA where they can go and play against some of the best talents in the country and we’re also looking to the same thing in Europe- where the kids can play against the likes FC Barcelona and Real Madrid academies to get that international experience. We’ve found that when we take our players abroad, they come back as different players, because they’ve seen the world, they’ve seen what’s out there and it serves as greater motivation to go all the way and make it as a professional.
Additionally, we are looking to set up a somewhat domestic league schedule where the kids can compete against each other regularly to build the exposure and competition here in Nigeria.
Q: With the NBA’s increased involvement/opening in Nigeria are you anticipating a smoother transition for home- grown players into the NBA?
ISEOLUPO: It’s an interesting question, I’d say that because people know that the NBA is here and just the general buzz of the NBA being in Nigeria, it has people waiting to see what exactly happens next. It’s hard to speculate because there’s nothing currently setup here yet but when the NBA do get things going it would good for players to know that they may have access to opportunities at the NBA academy or even the BAL (Basketball Africa League).
Q: What inspired Educational Basketball to get involved in American football and how easy is it for athletes to convert from playing basketball to football?
ISEOLUPO: We had a number of players who were 6’5/6’7, they had the weight on them as well as the height and were passionate about playing basketball, but we just felt that if these guys had the opportunity to play football, they would be elite football players. Fortunately, we were able to get in touch with Osi Umenyiora (former football player and 2- time Super Bowl Champion, who is founder of Uprise academy) and we were able to put together a game plan and get a group of players to London last week for the NFL Combine. There are more players to come for Nigeria and Africa, particularly when you look at the NFL, who have 123 players that have direct ties to Africa, of which 87 are from Nigeria alone. So, if you come straight to the source, you’ll realise that there is a vast amount of talent and all these guys just need is the opportunity and quality coaching/training. The players we sent to the Combine didn’t look like how they do now in January for example. It took work, heavy dedication, being in class every day. It was a proud moment for us to see that vision come to life. I always say the results and the work will always speak for itself so I’m grateful of what we’ve been able to achieve thus far on that front.
