You may discover one in many faculties: the famous person scholar athlete.
Usually it is somebody bodily superior than their friends, with athletic capability and attributes to make sure dominance throughout most sports activities.
Tosan Evbuomwan is aware of precisely what that seems like.
“After I was youthful, sport took up most of my life and it was often soccer,” Evbuomwan advised BBC Sport.
“I additionally performed quite a lot of rugby, monitor and discipline, cricket, tennis, just about all the pieces to be sincere by way of British sport,” he added.
Born in Newcastle, the 22-year-old is chatting with BBC Sport by way of video chat from his new condominium in Detroit, Michigan.
He’s greater than 3,500 miles from the place he grew up – a good distance from house – however nearer to attaining a dream of taking part in top-class basketball within the NBA.
Following the NBA Draft in June 2023, Evbuomwan signed a ‘free agent contract’ with the Detroit Pistons. In brief, he is a part of the roster. There is no assure of minutes on the court docket, however he is capable of play for his or her affiliated groups and participate in every day practices – affording him the possibility to stake his declare for a full-time spot on the crew as the brand new season begins subsequent week.
It is maybe the primary time in his life he hasn’t been an computerized choice or the ‘go-to’ man. However it’s a problem the 6ft 8in ahead is embracing.
The journey to date
Evbuomwan’s NBA dream may have been a Premier League one.
He signed for his home-city crew Newcastle United as a seven-year-old schoolboy, however by the age of 12 he realised soccer wasn’t for him. Though clearly proficient -with the youth academy eager on holding him – Evbuomwan had fallen out of affection with the sport.
“I simply stopped having fun with it, to be sincere,” he advised BBC Sport. “So I made a decision to take a step again for just a few years and after I began taking part in once more it was at a a lot decrease degree with pals.
“There are a few guys who I performed with after I was youthful who’re nonetheless taking part in. Jack Younger [on loan at Ayr United] is certainly one of them. He is doing properly. So it is good seeing guys nonetheless going sturdy.”
His journey to the brink of the NBA is much more exceptional contemplating he solely began taking part in organised basketball as a young person.
He did have a basketball hoop within the backyard when he was rising up, as his dad Isaac had performed the game at elite degree in Nigeria and England. However the younger Evbuomwan would all the time be out with a soccer as a substitute.
“From time to time, my dad can be on the market and I might exit with him. I by no means actually took it critically although,” he mentioned.
“He would undoubtedly beat me after I first began however it’s been some time since he obtained one.”
At all times tall for his age group, Evbuomwan began taking part in for an area crew at 14. After impressing, was invited to a basketball camp organised by Luol Deng – certainly one of Britain’s most well-known basketball gamers, who starred within the NBA for the Chicago Bulls, the Miami Warmth and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Solely the highest expertise within the UK will get invited; Evbuomwan thrived throughout the 12-month expertise.
He spent the subsequent few years representing Nice Britain at youth degree and taking part in membership basketball for the Newcastle Eagles Beneath-18s.
However to face an opportunity of taking part in within the NBA, Evbuomwan wanted to fulfil its entry necessities – which meant finding out at an American faculty.
His Eagles coach Ian MacLeod made a highlights reel of and despatched it to numerous faculties. Princeton, in New Jersey, ultimately secured his providers the place he studied economics.
“I keep in mind occurring my official go to and being blown away,” Evbuomwan recalled. “The amenities… there’s nothing actually even shut within the UK particularly from a basketball standpoint. So it was it was a complete new world.
“I sort of went in with no expectations – simply able to work laborious. I’m clearly fairly assured in my talents, however all you already know is America and that superior basketball. It was undoubtedly a step up. I had a fairly good freshman yr, there have been plenty of ups and downs however I sort of confirmed myself that I belonged to that degree.”
Aiming for the NBA breakthrough
If Evbuomwan’s freshman yr was good – the subsequent 12 months outdated all expectations for the ahead, as he was named the Ivy League participant of the yr, a prestigious award.
After proving to himself and scouts in the US that he had what it takes to compete on the highest degree, Evbuomwan determined to skip his fourth and ultimate yr in faculty – as a substitute selecting to make himself eligible for NBA choice.
And though he wasn’t chosen excessive sufficient to make sure a obligatory roster spot, the free agent contract he was provided permits him the very best likelihood of gracing an NBA court docket quickly.
Having already represented the Pistons throughout the NBA Summer time League, he is now hoping to observe that up with a regular-season sport.
“Contracts are there to be performed for. So, you already know, simply wanting ahead to it, the chance to point out what I can do,” he mentioned.
The 22-year-old is a part of Pistons head coach Monty Williams’ plans. That includes of their opening pre-season sport towards the Phoenix Suns, Evbuomwan shared a court docket with family names Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.
“Each subsequent stage in in my journeys is a step up. I’ve quite a lot of confidence in myself, I do know what I can do. So once more, I undoubtedly really feel like I belong right here,” Evbuomwan added.
The NBA season begins in a single day on 24-25 October, with the defending champions the Denver Nuggets internet hosting the LA Lakers.