After playing his maiden game for Real Madrid against AC Milan, the world rated defender of Nigeria and Filipino descent, David Alaba, has describe Madrid as home and a great place to play.

Despite playing for Austria as he was born in Vienna, his father is a Nigerian prince from Ogere, Ogun state while his mother is a Filipino nurse.

Alaba was one of Madrid’s most highlighted players in the game being deployed as a center-back. The Austrian defender talked to Real Madrid TV and shared his feelings after wearing Madrid’s jersey for the first time.

He said: “It was very positive to play my first Real Madrid game and in front of fans from my own country. The key is the team, I feel very much at home in it. Like I said before, from the first day they’ve welcomed me so well. I’m trying to help the team improve with my qualities and to contribute to the team,” said Alaba.

Read Also: Real Madrid sign David Alaba

 

Alaba will be expected to lead Madrid’s defensive line this season alongside Eder Militao. Los Blancos will be without both Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane and it won’t be easy to replace them, but Alaba’s experience and quality will surely be valuable assets all year long.

In another interview to the club’s official channels following his presentation as a new Real Madrid player, the Austrian defender reflected: “It’s a wonderful step for me personally. It’s a childhood dream come true to pull on the Real Madrid jersey. It’s something very special from a personal point of view”.

“It’s a dream to play for this club, as I said, but it’s not only a dream you have when you’re a kid. I think not only lots of children, but lots of footballers in general dream of this moment, the chance to one day play for the biggest club in the world”.

Josh Onomah was extremely upset that Fulham were unable to welcome fans back to Craven Cottage with three points.

A dominant display from the Whites looked set to earn victory over Middlesbrough in the Championship season opener, but the lack of a second goal gave the visitors the chance to level in the 77th minute.

“That one hurt,” Onomah told fulhamfc.com. “Conceding that late on after dominating for so many spells in the game.

“We played some electric football and created so many chances, so to concede late on really hurt.

“But hopefully down the line we’ll see this as a point gained rather than two points dropped.

“We’ve just got to see this game as a learning curve, analyse it during this week and see how we created chances, and the next step is putting the ball in the back of the net.”

The 24-year-old was one of Fulham’s strongest performers in our season opener, and set up Harry Wilson for his debut goal – the first of many for the Welshman, Onomah expects.

“He’s come in and been sharp from day one,” he said. “We know he’s got a wonderful left foot and he showed that with his goal.

“We’ve got a bit of chemistry down the right side, me and him, a good football understanding.

Read Also: Aina wins Fulham’s Goal of the season

 

“I look forward to playing with him a lot this season and hopefully he’ll carry on getting us goals.”

Partnering Onomah in central midfield was Academy graduate Tyrese Francois, who was rewarded for his strong pre-season with a first start for the Club.

“For such a young guy, his maturity levels are so high,” Onomah explained. “During pre-season he was a boss, dictating play, and credit to the Manager for putting him in.

“It just goes to show, if you train well he’ll give you a chance, and Tyrese has done that. Him and Fabio, they’ve come in and really shown their talents.”

Ahead of kick-off, the Fulham players opted to take the knee, something that was whole heartedly endorsed by the home fans.

Fulham’s players take the knee ahead of our match against Middlesbrough

“It was nice to have them back,” Onomah smiled. “Not only were they cheering through taking the knee, throughout the game we could hear them, and they were really our 12th man.

“Credit to them, it was great having them back. That’s what we’ve missed.

“It felt weird looking around and seeing the stadium packed with fans, but it’s what we need, it’s what football needs.”

It is no longer news that Giannis Antetokoumpo (coined from Adetokunbo) practically won the 2021 NBA title for Milwaukee Bucks. He netted 50 points to lead his team to their first NBA title in a half century with a 105-98 win over the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the Finals.

What is new is that ‘Greek Freak’ as the player with Nigerian parents is called by adorable Greek fans, has late basketball legend Kobe Bryant to thank for making it big.

Speaking recently, he credited the late Bryant for challenging him to become an MVP, himself, in 2017 and then, in 2019, to win a championship.

‘He made me believe,’ Antetokounmpo said. ‘I’m like, Kobe Bryant thinks I can do this and I can play at a high level and build my team and win my MVP? I had to do it. I had to work hard. And to not necessarily let him down. I had to work hard because people believed that I can do it.

‘That’s the thing. I’m a people pleaser. I don’t like letting people down. I don’t like — when I signed with the city of Milwaukee, that’s the main reason I signed because I didn’t want to let the people down and think that I didn’t work extremely hard for them, which I do. But to be able to accomplish those things, it’s crazy. It’s unreal. It’s freaking unreal. I can’t believe it.’

To achieve the herculean feat, the 26-year-old overcame a knee injury he suffered in the Eastern Conference Finals and his own poor free throw shooting in the playoffs to grab 14 key rebounds and block five shots while sinking 17 of 19 from the line on Tuesday.

Prior to Game 6, he had made just 55.8 percent of his foul shots in the postseason while being teased relentlessly by opposing crowds.

Penultimate Tuesday, in his adopted home town of Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo didn’t listen to ridicule, but rather chants of ‘MVP’ from the capacity crowd at Fiserv Forum and the estimated 65,000 fans surrounding the arena.

Naturally, voting media members agreed, and awarded Antetokounmpo the NBA Finals MVP award.

‘People told me I can’t make the free throws and I made them tonight,’ Antetokounmpo said after winning his first NBA title. ‘And I’m a freaking champion.’

‘It’s hard to find more words to describe what Giannis does,’ Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said after the win. ‘But the way he made his free throws, the way he did everything, stepped up, the poise, the confidence, the leadership – he has been working on it.

‘To win a championship, you’ve got to make free throws and you’ve got to make shots,’ he continued. ‘He’s made shots throughout the playoffs. He’s made free throws throughout the playoffs. [Five] blocked shots, however many points. He’s off the charts. He’s the MVP of the NBA Finals.’

Antetokounmpo surprised the basketball-loving public back in December by signing a five-year, $220 million extension with the club amid rampant speculation he would try to force his way to a bigger market to match his burgeoning star power.

Read Also: Kobe Bryant inducted into 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame

 

But for Antetokounmpo, one of five sons born to Nigerian immigrants, winning with the team that drafted him as a skinny teenager in 2013 was too important.

‘I wanted to do it here in the city and I wanted to do it here with these guys,’ Antetokounmpo said.

Without mentioning the names of LeBron James or Kevin Durant – two MVPs criticized for bailing on their clubs to join better contenders – Antetokounmpo made it clear he never had any interest in teaming up with established All-Stars to win a title.

‘That’s my stubborn side,’ he explained. ‘It’s easy to go somewhere and win a championship with somebody else. It’s easy. I could go… to a super team, and just do my part and win a championship, but this is the hard way to do it.’

He saved his finest outing for the championship clincher. Antetokounmpo became the first player to collect at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in any playoff game since Shaquille O’Neal in 2001.

He had 27 of the Bucks’ 48 total points through the game’s middle two quarters. And after making just 55.6 percent of his free throws in his first 20 games of this postseason, Antetokounmpo went 17 of 19 from the line Tuesday.

His rapid recovery to lead Milwaukee to it first title since 1971 represents the crowning achievement in Antetokounmpo’s remarkable rise to NBA stardom.

He acknowledged getting too caught up in the emotional swings of each win and loss earlier in his career. He stayed more level-headed this year while also emerging as a more vocal leader.

‘I was getting too high [after wins], and maybe the loss I felt like it was the end of the world,’ Antetokounmpo said.  ‘I feel like this year, lose or win, that did not happen. I was the same kind of guy. I just live with whatever outcome comes because I believe that I’m supposed to be there in that time and place.’

Leicester top scorer in the last EPL season, Nigerian Kelechi Iheanacho has been speaking about the preseason games, building and improving on his fitness and the goals he has scored, especially the equaliser against Queens Park Rangers (QPR) last Saturday.

Speaking right after the 3-3 draw in a pre-season friendly where he helped City secured a 3-3 scoreline in the thrilling encounter, the southpaw said he is looking forward to a rewarding 2021/2022 EPL given his level of fitness in the preseason games.

After an ‘amazing’ week in Surrey, Leicester City’s players locked horns with QPR at Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, and the Nigeria international once again proved he would be continue to score important goals.

The Foxes came from behind twice through Dewbury Hall and Patson Daka after Charlie Ausstin and Yoan Barbet had put QPR ahead before Iheanacho completed the comeback through a penalty in the 90th minute after QPR scored another goal.

Brendan Rodgers it also seemed will be giving Iheanacho more playing time and the opportunity to lead The Foxes attack and take the spot kick.

The Foxes had headed to the capital searching for their maiden victory of pre-season after facing Burton Albion and Wycombe Wanderers – two games which included different XIs in each half – as Brendan Rodgers’ men build a base level of fitness before the game against Rangers, who finished last season ninth in the Sky Bet Championship, represent the sternest test so far, in terms of 2020/21 league position.

Speaking about the preseason encounters, Iheanacho said it was a mixed blessing for City, though ready for the new season.

“It’s been amazing,” the Nigeria striker told LCFC TV, discussing the training camp. “We’ve been working really hard. You know, obviously, it’s pre-season, so we need to work hard and get minutes and prepare for this season. We’ve been working really hard and preparing ourselves, so it’s going quite well.

Read Also: BREAKING: Iheanacho’s goal helps Leicester City win Community Shield

 

I’m getting fitter day by day and I think everybody is getting fitter. We’re getting there and, before the season starts, everybody will be ready to crack on.

“It’s not been a bad week at all. It’s hard and tough, but I think the last week was harder! It’s been going pretty good and, of course, we need minutes and game time for everyone. Hopefully that’s where we’re heading and I think we’re going in the right direction.”

Iheanacho believed, although pre-season friendlies are fundamentality about fitness that Leicester’s players are eager to give the Blue Army something to cheer in the coming season.

“Obviously, it’s to get minutes, but I think the results… of course, we want to get results in these games,” he added. “It didn’t turn out that way [at Wycombe], but hopefully in the remaining games, we’ll get results and we’ll be ready for the season.

The Foxes have enjoyed a pre-season training camp in Surrey in the past week.

“We knew it was not going to be easy [at QPR] but we did tried and get something out of that game. Obviously, they’re a good side, we knew they’re going to be difficult to break down, but of course, we’re working on our fitness level and tactics-wise, the coaches and the gaffer are all there. We got through. It was a good game”

City’s top goalscorer in 2020/21 said he is feeling the benefits of the Club’s pre-season efforts and is confident the squad will be ready for the new campaign, which starts with the FA Community Shield and includes both domestic and European duties.

“I’m getting fitter day by day and I think everybody is getting fitter,” the 24-year-old continued. “The coaches are doing a good job to get everybody at a very good level of fitness. We’re getting there and, before the season starts, everybody will be ready to crack on.”

The EPL kicks off next weekend with the first match scheduled for Friday, 13th of August.

RANGERS and Nigeria defender Leon Balogun has details the Steven Gerrard ‘stare’ that sparks the champions focus change and inspired their invincible campaign.

The Ibrox defender insists the man management of Gerrard and his coaching staff was a major boost to their title success.

Some managers have an aura about them that means players immediately sit up and listen when they speak.

The likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Walter Smith and Martin O’Neill all had it. They had instant respect from their players and they knew when they could have a laugh and when it had to be serious.

And Leon Balogun reckons Steven Gerrard is cut from the same cloth as some of these greats and has a ‘stare’ that instantly makes your mentality change.

The Rangers boss has had outbursts of passion on the sideline but over the last year it has been noticeable how he’s kept himself more calm and focused and doesn’t let the highs get too much for him, or let the lows get him down.

Balogun revealed he doesn’t need to shout at his players either and they all know when they can have a laugh and a joke with him and when it has to be all work and no play.

The centre back was a free transfer from Brighton last summer and instantly made himself adored by the Ibrox support with his performances at the heart of the Rangers defence.

Rangers dominated the Premiership and had a healthy lead over Celtic for much of the campaign but he insists there was never any moments where the team lost focus, and that was down to Gerrard and his now famous look.

Read Also: Leon Balogun dreams beyond Scottish title

 

So while the likes of Ferguson might have had the hairdryer treatment, Balogun insists this look is something no player wants to be on the end of.

He told The Beautiful Game podcast: “I just joined for this glorious successful year so I think they really learned from mistakes in the past.

“That’s what makes a champion, you don’t dwell on your mistakes, you learn from them and that’s what they did.

“They made sure everyone gets that in your DNA. It didn’t feel hard to focus, it was just taking game by game and making sure we are the best version of ourselves.

“That’s what he (Gerrard) kept telling us, we have to be the best version of ourselves today.

“It helps that he is a legend himself but also the way he treats his players, and not just him but Mick Beale, he does an amazing job, TC (Tom Culshaw), Gary McAllister. They all do their parts.

“The way they treat you as a human being first and foremost. They understand how to manage their players and that made it easier.

“Especially with the manager Steven Gerrard. Sometimes it feels like he’s just your pal or one of your teammates. He has the banter with you but then he just knows how to switch.

“He doesn’t have to scream at us. Sometimes he just has to give you that look and you know, you’re not going to mess it up now because you don’t want to get that look and be the one.

“It’s been an amazing experience. The way they set standards, they give you the confidence and I cannot say one bad word. It’s been fantastic.”

AFTER seeing the atmosphere at Wembley as large crowds returned to football in England during the latter stages of Euro 2020, England and Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi has explained why he can’t wait to walk out in front of the Chelsea fans at a packed Stamford Bridge again.

The Blues welcomed supporters back in smaller numbers at the end of last season, after a long absence while games were played in closed stadiums due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A total of 10,000 Chelsea fans witnessed the crucial Premier League win over Leicester City at the Bridge and a crowd of around 20,000 watched the FA Cup final against the same opposition.

However, as Euro 2020 approached its climax, there were as many as 60,000 present at Wembley Stadium for the semi-finals and final of that competition as Government ‘test’ events trialing the return of crowds to sporting events.

With Hudson-Odoi watching England’s run to that final as closely as anyone else in the country, especially with three of his Chelsea team-mates in the Three Lions’ squad, the sight of the stands packed with cheering fans has got him excited by the prospect of seeing the same at the Bridge as we approach the start of the 2021/22 season.

‘I think I watched every single game at the Euros and England did really well to get to the final,’ he said. ‘Obviously it was unfortunate that they lost the game but they did really well, it was a good tournament to watch as well.

‘I loved the atmosphere, fans coming back gives you more of a buzz watching it. The crowd make the game sometimes, when the atmosphere is high everybody on the pitch is high as well, and when you’re creating chances and scoring goals on the pitch the whole crowd makes it even better.’

After the Government lifted restrictions on large outdoor events in July, near capacity crowds are expected at Stamford Bridge for a couple of London derbies when we face Tottenham Hotspur in The Mind Series on 4 August and then begin our Premier League campaign at home against Crystal Palace 10 days later.

With the anticipation for the start of a new season and the return of a full crowd to Chelsea games, Hudson-Odoi admits he can barely wait.

‘It’ll be amazing to see everybody, we’ve all missed the crowd. Every time someone scores a goal there’s no crowd to celebrate and you miss the screams and shouts every time something happens.

‘When we see the crowd back, especially after winning the Champions League, we’re going to be delighted to show the trophy to them. Hopefully when we get there it’s a game where we go out all guns blazing and win the game.’

The England international forward shares a passion for basketball with a group of players in the Blues dressing room, watching matches when he can and also playing video games based on the sport. He has even been compared to one of Miami Heat’s star forwards!

He said: ‘I’m a basketball fan and I try to watch whenever I can It’s very late sometimes for us in England but I like to watch the games or the highlights the next day and see how things are going over there.

‘I follow it a lot. If a game is on early in England, I’ll try to watch it and see what’s going on. It’s a fun sport, everyone looks like they enjoy it and it has good vibes and energy so it’s nice to watch. It’s a completely different sport to us so it’s good to follow.’

‘There’s loads of us who follow it, not just me. Obviously we have Christian, who is from America so he watches it as well, and there’s Andreas [Christensen] as well.

‘I see Willy Caballero always talking about it and the boys even call me Jimmy Butler [a forward with Miami Heat]. It’s nice and hopefully we can get over there and watch a game together soon.’

Gaming connections

‘I play NBA on the PlayStation, as well as Call of Duty and FIFA. I like to mix it up and change rather than stay on one specific game. When I’m at home, I get on my phone, video call my friends and if they’re playing a certain game, we’ll just jump on and play together.

‘I like to chill with Netflix, just watch some new movies that have come out and unwind. I do a lot of recovery at home with the Game Ready [compression therapy boot] so I just put a movie on while I’m doing that.

‘I recently watched a movie called ‘Us’ and there’s a new film called ‘Run’, which was crazy to watch. It was actually pretty intense and you really felt for the girl involved with her mum. Those are the movies that I enjoy but usually I just go on Netflix and see what’s trending.

‘I’m still waiting for the new series of Money Heist and Lupin to come out. Those are the two I’m really waiting for right now because I really enjoyed watching them – hopefully they’ll be out soon.’

Changing habits

‘I haven’t watched proper TV in a while. Unless there’s a match on, I don’t really watch TV much at all. It’s more movies or PlayStation.

‘If it’s not that, I’ll be on FaceTime on my phone or literally just chilling. It’s nice to be able to come home and just unwind.’

By Taiwo Alimi

 

AT 46, and loaded with honours: Eleven Africa games medals and a seven-time Olympics appearances beginning from the 1996 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro-Brazil, Funke Oshonaike, Nigeria’s table tennis queen from the slum of Somolu-Lagos, is not hanging his bat just yet.

Oshonaike, speaking from Tokyo, where she was officially, inducted into the exclusive ITTF ‘Club 7’ thus becoming the first female table tennis player in the world and the first female athlete in Africa to attend seven Olympic Games, said she is not going into retirement yet as she enjoys playing and in good health.

Retirement for her is not yet an option. She said she would be around to help nurture younger ping pongers that would take her position in the near future.

When she was asked, ‘So, are you quitting? She replied without mincing words: “No. Not right now. I want another better me. Not another me-another better me. I have to try and do my best to be around the younger ones, talk to them and help groom a better me.

QUITING NOT YET 

“I want to motivate them because a girl-child goes through a lot. A coach must be everything to a girl player. They must relate well to motivate them. What I see nowadays is not what we used to have. I want to be their psychologist, their mother and coach.

“I don’t want to retire for now because my body can still carry me. I am aging well and still enjoying the game. I thank God for the gift he has given me and will retire when I see another better me.”

Oshonaike joins compatriot Segun Toriola, and three others as the only table tennis players to compete at seven Olympics.

Beaten by Juan Liu of United States, in the preliminary round, Oshonaike said she was both sad and happy to be in Tokyo.

“I kind of have mixed feelings. At the moment I don’t even know what to feel right now because I did my best. I trained hard and prepared for this. I think Juan played better and that is why I lost. But if I have to think about having another opportunity to be the Olympics, I think it is a big priviledge for me to be representing my country once again.

“I am grateful and happy that there are Olympics this year and I did my best, I lost. So sad that I lost but I have to count my blessing and name them one by one. To be here again and at my seventh Olympics, the first woman in Africa and to be the first woman in the world of table tennis, I have to be grateful and thank God.”

OLYMPIC JOY

Since her first Olympics games in Rio way back 1996, the table tennis queen noted that nothing beats the Olympics Games Village feeling.

“It has been great from 1996 to now. Like they say Olympics is every four years and whenever I finish one Olympics I inated by the Chinese, they are the master of table tennis. Apart from that I am much fulfilled. I don’t want to be the only one and hope others will join me. I give myself 90 percent. I am happy and fulfilled. All I want to do is throw in the towel and thank everyone.”

NO REGRET

She abhors no regret. “With sport I don’t have any regret.  When I started it was a good in Nigeria and sometimes when I look at how it is now I’m happy that I witnessed the good times. I could remember the time we were preparing for Cairo Africa Games I had to change my school from Igbobi College to Government Girls School in Kwara because we were in Kwara for one year training. Do we get that now? That was the time when Nigeria will win everything.”

Interestingly, she said felt stronger when faced with opposition. “I thanked a few people that have been supporting me. I appreciate your love and care. Don’t stop supporting me. And especially those ones that booed me when I was growing up. You see when I was growing up in Nigeria I never had supporters. For a 15 year old then I was shy and was always with my dad. So, when I win I will just go sit by my dad and people saw me as a snub. They call me names and they would boo me when I’m playing. That encouraged me. I thank those ones for making me a strong woman.”

By Taiwo Alimi

 

NBA Miami Heat defender Precious Achiuwa has come a long way from the college basketball player that played the Memphis Tigers. From the not so tall lad that finished High school at Montverde Academy Florida, the former football player, was a consensus five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American.

Born in Port Harcourt-Nigeria, he grew up playing soccer but quickly made the switch to basketball when his family moved to the U.S.

In the 2020 NBA draft, Miami heat selected him as the 20th pick and in six months his presence seemed larger than life.

Though, a rookie, there are times it seemed Achiuwa is on the court with a wealth of experience.

The 6ft 8in said he learnt from some of the best in the trade. From Andre Iguodala to Jimmy Butler to Goran Dragic, Achiuwa has plenty of players to learn from. It has been these situations where he’s most comfortable and it has helped simplify things during his first NBA.

“If I’m out there with those guys, I don’t really have to carry so much responsibility,” Achiuwa said. ” … They put me in the right spots, talk to me all the time. That’s one of the ways they’ve kind of simplified everything.”

Achiuwa rise began steadily averaging 6.9 points and 4.3 rebounds after being chosen in the 2020 draft. The Heat are bringing him along slowly similarly as they did with center Bam Adebayo in 2017.

“Just doing the same thing I’ve been doing,” Achiuwa said. “I’m trying to keep everything simple and do the things I need to do.”

In his first NBA season Achiuwa has averaged 15.6 minutes this season compared to Adebayo’s 19.8 his rookie season. Still, Achiuwa has made the most of the opportunities. He’s made sure to maximize his time on the court.

Achiuwa said he often does extra conditioning on off days to better equip him for the fluctuating minutes.

“I just try to make my minutes impactful as much as I’m out there,” Achiuwa said. “Just trying to do something positive and bring energy and put us in a better position and raise the level of competition.”

Mike Brown

His form must have moved Nigeria’s men’s senior team coach Mike Brown who called him in to beef up the Nigeria team to the Tokyo Olympics. So far, his coming has yielded solid fruits.

Last Monday, Achiuwa netted 12 points as Nigeria defeated Argentina 94-71 during exhibition play from Las Vegas, Nevada.

Achiuwa hauled in seven rebounds and dished out three assists in 13 minutes of work while shooting 5-of-7 from the field. He also added one 3-pointer as Nigeria dominated throughout the contest, leading by as many as 24 points in the second half.

The victory saw Achiuwa score in a variety of ways, from working in the post to stepping out and knocking it down from deep. On one possession, Achiuwa even did it himself and went coast to coast for the finish in transition.

Achiuwa has emerged as a key player for Nigeria after he was named to their preliminary Olympic roster.

Brown said Achiuwa is extremely important to their success as the first-year center of the Miami Heat looks to be a lock to make the final roster.

He offers the team a strong presence inside and often does the dirty work on the court; something that Brown said was similar to how Draymond Green plays. Despite not being known as a shooter, he has given his country some outside shooting through two games. “He’s extremely important to this program. There is no ceiling to how good he can be, Brown said of Achiuwa after the game.

“As a young guy, you see the talent, you see the determination, you see the intelligence, you see the physical and mental toughness, and you see the athleticism, the length, the quickness. You see all those things, and when he puts them all together, he is dynamite on the floor even as a young guy.”

Nigeria improved to 2-0 during its exhibition slate after stunning the United States last Saturday.

Against U.S.A

Against Olympics champions U.S, Achiuwa hauled in an important rebound late to lead Nigeria to an upset win.

He had perhaps one of the top highlights of the game after denying Kevin Durant at the rim in the second quarter.

The Americans entered the contest as 28.5-point favourites by some sports books, making the loss one of the largest upsets in international play. Durant led the U.S. with 17 points and five rebounds while Jayson Tatum had 15 points and seven rebounds.

Despite the contest being just an exhibition, the win for Nigeria is monumental and among the greatest upsets in the sport. The U.S. had gone 39-0 over its last three Olympic runs, including exhibition games, en route to gold medals.

Nigeria, which boasts a roster with eight active NBA players, qualified for the Olympics by being the top African country in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. It will open play in Group B, which also features Australia, Italy and Germany.

Speaking in a recent interview with NBA.com, the 21-year old spoke more about his childhood, soccer, how he ultimately found basketball, and success story.

At what age did you realize you wanted to take basketball seriously?

I played soccer most of my life to be honest. When I started to play basketball, I was playing just because…then at the end of my eighth-grade year, I was about to become a freshman, that was when I actually fell in love with basketball. The multiple hours it took being better at basketball because I really liked playing the game. Then I really felt like I could become something special.

When did you first dunk a ball?

I first dunked a ball in seventh grade.

How tall were you?

I was short actually. I was probably 5’11 and I wasn’t that tall. I only dunked one time in the seventh grade, one dunk, and then I didn’t dunk until towards the end of my eighth-grade year maybe. Then I started dunking more consistently and it’s just been up from here.

What’s been your biggest accomplishment?

Throughout high school, I have a lot of accomplishments I’m really proud of, but I think the biggest is just improving my game, getting better every day, and just becoming a better basketball player every day, understanding the game a lot more. Like I said, I just started playing basketball, I know I have a long way to go understanding the game and improving my skill set.

Is there anyone in the NBA you like to watch and take things from?

I watch a lot of dudes in the NBA, I watch everybody in the NBA. I watch everybody in high school. I watch everybody in college basketball, and I try to take something from every single person no matter who it is. Even if I’m better than you, there’s got to be something that you do that I can’t do. I try to take bits and parts from everybody’s game and just add it to my game, because I know it’s going to help me become a better player at the end of the day. I’m always willing to learn from whomever and I think that’s what sets me apart from a lot of other dudes. I just want to get better over the year.

What position do you want to play ultimately?

I don’t have an ultimate position. I’m a basketball player. I play whatever position I’m needed to play at the moment and whatever the defence gives to me. I love to play off of feel; I love to play off what the defence gives me. If I have a bigger guy on me, I’m going to take him out. I have the skill set to take him off the dribble. If I have a smaller guy on me, easy, I usually take him down low and I just play off what the defence gives me. That’s what makes the game easier.

How’s it been for your senior year at Montverde Academy?

Montverde’s been great, I enjoy the school; great coaching staff, great basketball every day, and great teammates.

How does it feel to be a McDonald’s All American?

It’s been a great experience. A lot of good players and being able to compete against these dudes everyday is a great experience. I’ve really had fun so far and had enjoyed my time out here so far.

Do you feel like you got to show everything you can do in practice?

I think to an extent I have. I can’t really show everything obviously, because we haven’t really played a lot. You can’t really show your whole skill set when there’s a whole lot of good players playing with you. You can show decent parts of your game and people who know basketball know what you can do. You don’t have to show everything, you can tell “he can do this, he can do that” if you know basketball really well. I think all of us have really been able to do that and show what we can do on the basketball court.

If you could go back and give advice to a ninth grade what would you say?

If I was to go back and give advice, I would say you should have fallen in love with the game earlier.