Nigeria's Eric Set to Host Youth Basketball Clinic in Lagos

Michael Eric, the assistant captain of D'Tigers, has announced that his Top 50 elite basketball camp will take place in Lagos on July 24, under the umbrella of the Erico Sports Legacy Foundation, a non-profit organization he founded in memory of his late father, Joe Erico.

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This initiative was revealed at a press conference held at the Airport Golden Tulip Hotel in Ikeja, where Eric shared his vision for the upcoming edition of the camp, which aims to provide opportunities for young Nigerians who are passionate about basketball but lack access to similar platforms.

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Eric's motivation for establishing the camp stems from his desire to create opportunities for others, as he noted that "the journey became doing it not just for me, but doing it for those who wanted to do this but could not," and that hearing many stories inspired him to make a positive impact on Nigerian youths through basketball, mentorship, and empowering the next generation.

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Interestingly, Eric did not grow up playing basketball, instead focusing on academics at the insistence of his father, a former Super Eagles goalkeeper and assistant coach who represented Nigeria at the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations and helped the team qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

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It was only after a growth spurt as a teenager and a trip to the United States to visit his elder brother, Stephen, that Eric was persuaded to pursue basketball, eventually earning a scholarship to Temple University in Philadelphia before being signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2013.

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The Erico Sports Legacy Foundation's programme director, Gbenga Jetawo, explained that the initiative has been running continuously for five years, funded solely by Eric, and has trained boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 18 in the basics of basketball while also mentoring them on discipline and life skills beyond the sport.

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According to Jetawo, the foundation has trained over 1,000 children to date, with some progressing to scholarships abroad, and the upcoming Top 50 camp will bring together 50 young players and their coaches from various academies across the country to identify standout talents and expose them to international standards.

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The participants will undergo drills and basic training sessions, with the foundation providing approximately 200 pairs of shoes, jerseys, and other gear, and the best two or three athletes identified will be considered for sponsorship or trials with clubs in Europe.

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Head coach Chris Nomigo, who will lead the technical team at the camp, emphasized that the one-day programme is designed to be a fun and enjoyable experience, stating that "it is going to be fun most especially, whatever you do without having fun will not be worthwhile," and that the foundation aims to maintain contact with the participants to ensure a lasting impact.

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Eric, a Bachelor of Arts in Communications graduate from Temple University, class of 2012, stressed that education remains a central aspect of the foundation's mission, noting that "education is very important, you can learn many things in school, but education goes beyond that, basketball is a tool to improve your life but when you are also educated, you can walk into different rooms with confidence, communicate effectively, and create opportunities for yourself beyond sports."

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The foundation's long-term goal is to establish a full-fledged academy in Nigeria with international affiliations, secure sponsorship partnerships, and eventually produce players capable of reaching the NBA, while continuing to track and support the progress of children who pass through its programmes.