According to various sources, American rapper J. Cole will bring his Basketball talents to Africa. He has reportedly signed a deal with with the Basketball Africa League’s Rwanda’s Patriots B.B.C.
The 36-year-old rapper will play three-to-six games, the first of which is on Sunday, May the 16th against Nigeria's Rivers Hoopers in Kigali, Rwanda, 2pm local time.
The game will be broadcast in its entirety on ESPN, DStv Channel 218, will see 12 teams compete in three groups of four, then a three-round knock out phase, culminating in the Finals on May 30.
#BREAKING: American rapper J. Cole @JColeNC is in Rwanda and could feature for local side Patriots at the upcoming Basketball Africa League.
— The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) May 9, 2021
The New Times has learned he is on the club's roster for the competition. pic.twitter.com/mhHOBCAvhx
J. Cole is one of two import signings by Rwanda's Patriots B.B.C. team in Basketball Africa League, joining former NC State star Brandon Costner.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 10, 2021
Album drops on Friday. First pro basketball game in FIBA/NBA league on Sunday. https://t.co/gXytKIDQvN
Last July, Cole opened up about his basketball aspirations in a feature piece for The Players’ Tribune.
Later that month, rumors of Cole pursuing the NBA started to surface when he released a commercial for his first signature basketball shoe, Puma’s RS-Dreamer.
The rumors hit a fever pitch in August, when Master P revealed that the Dreamville rapper wanted to transition to the NBA, prompting the Detroit Pistons to extend an offer for Cole to come try out for their team.
Aside from his hoop dreams, Cole is set to release his highly-anticipated album 'The Off-Season' on May 14.
In the meantime, enjoy "Applying Pressure: The Off-Season" Documentary below that just premiered ahead of the album
The rumors hit a fever pitch in August, when Master P revealed that the Dreamville rapper wanted to transition to the NBA, prompting the Detroit Pistons to extend an offer for Cole to come try out for their team.
Aside from his hoop dreams, Cole is set to release his highly-anticipated album 'The Off-Season' on May 14.
In the meantime, enjoy "Applying Pressure: The Off-Season" Documentary below that just premiered ahead of the album
Champions from the national leagues in Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia earned their participation in the inaugural season.
The remaining six teams, which come from Algeria, Cameroon, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique and Rwanda, secured their participation through BAL qualifying tournaments conducted by the FIBA Regional Office Africa across the continent in late 2019.
Group stage schedule
May 16 - Rivers Hoopers v Patriots (4pm)
May 17 - GSP v AS Douanes (2pm), Maputo v Zamalek (5:30pm), GNBC v US Monastir (9pm)
May 18 - AS Police v Petro de Luanda (5:30pm), FAP v AS Sale (9pm)
May 19 - Patriots v GNBC (2pm), AS Douanes v Maputo (5:30pm), GSP v Zamalek (9pm)
May 20 - Petro de Luanda v FAP (2pm), Rivers Hoopers v US Monastir (5:30pm), AS Police v AS Sale (9pm)
May 22 - Maputo v GSP (2pm), Zamalek v AS Douanes (5:30pm), US Monastir v Patriots (9pm)
May 23 - GNBC v Rivers Hoopers (2pm), FAP v AS Police (5:30pm), AS Salé v Petro de Luanda (9pm)
May 16 - Rivers Hoopers v Patriots (4pm)
May 17 - GSP v AS Douanes (2pm), Maputo v Zamalek (5:30pm), GNBC v US Monastir (9pm)
May 18 - AS Police v Petro de Luanda (5:30pm), FAP v AS Sale (9pm)
May 19 - Patriots v GNBC (2pm), AS Douanes v Maputo (5:30pm), GSP v Zamalek (9pm)
May 20 - Petro de Luanda v FAP (2pm), Rivers Hoopers v US Monastir (5:30pm), AS Police v AS Sale (9pm)
May 22 - Maputo v GSP (2pm), Zamalek v AS Douanes (5:30pm), US Monastir v Patriots (9pm)
May 23 - GNBC v Rivers Hoopers (2pm), FAP v AS Police (5:30pm), AS Salé v Petro de Luanda (9pm)