From church basketball team to the NBA – Neusroom’s five facts about Isaac Okoro
While you are more likely to hear music artistes say they started their music career from the church singing in the choir, it is not very likely that you will hear the same when athletes tell the story of their journey to stardom.
Isaac Okoro is one of the eight athletes of Nigerian origin who just made the 2020 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft in the United States of America.
Here are five quick facts to know about him:
- Father moved to the U.S in the 1980s
His father and mother Godwin and Gloria Okoro are of Nigerian origin. His dad moved to the U.S in the 1980s but Isaac Okoro was born in the U.S.
2. He started basketball at age seven
The 19-year-old started playing basketball at age seven and he is the only athlete in his family.
3. Started in the most unusual place – the Church
While many athletes will claim they started their career in their neighbourhood or in their school team, Okoro started in the most unlikely place. It was in the church. The church is known to be the incubator of music artistes, but Okoro said his basketball interest started in his local church league in Atlanta.
4. Played for U.S U-17 team in the World Cup
He was part of the U.S winning team at the 2018 U-17 Basketball World Cup in Argentina.
In 2019, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution state named him Most Valuable Player with teammate Sharife Cooper. He was also named to the MaxPreps All-American second team and the USA Today All-USA Georgia first team. He was also selected to compete in the Nike Hoop Summit, an international all-star game in 2019.
5. He’ll be playing for Cleveland Cavaliers (The Cavs)
He played college basketball for Auburn Tigers and high school basketball for McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia. He will now play for the Cavs. He is reportedly expected to sign a 4-year deal with the Cavs worth $29.1 million — with $13.1 in guaranteed money.
