D'Tigers assistant captain Michael Eric will stage the fifth edition of his Top 50 Elite Basketball Camp in Lagos on July 24 through the Erico Sports Legacy Foundation, the non-profit organisation he established in honour of his late father, former Super Eagles goalkeeper and assistant coach, Joe Erico.
Speaking at a press conference at the Airport Golden Tulip Hotel in Ikeja, Eric said the initiative was created to provide opportunities for talented young Nigerians who are passionate about basketball but lack access to the right platform.
"The journey became doing it not just for me, but for those who wanted to pursue this dream but couldn't. Hearing many stories inspired me to create something for Nigerian youths, not just through basketball, but through mentorship and by impacting the next generation," Eric said.
The former Cleveland Cavaliers player revealed that basketball was not his first sporting passion, as his father prioritised education during his childhood in Mushin, Lagos.
Joe Erico, who represented Nigeria at the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations and later served as an assistant coach of the Super Eagles, played a major role in shaping his son's early years before a dramatic growth spurt and a visit to his elder brother, Stephen, in the United States changed the course of his career.
Encouraged to pursue basketball, Eric earned a scholarship to Temple University in Philadelphia before launching his professional career after signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2013.
Programme Director of the Erico Sports Legacy Foundation, Gbenga Jetawo, said the camp has been held consistently for the past five years and is fully funded by Eric. The programme targets boys and girls aged between 14 and 18, combining basketball training with mentorship, leadership development and life skills.
"We teach the fundamentals of basketball, mentor the participants and encourage them to pursue their dreams. Our focus goes beyond the game. If we discover they have talents or interests in other areas, we support and motivate them to chase those dreams as well," Jetawo said.
According to the foundation, more than 1,000 young athletes have benefited from the initiative since its inception, with several participants securing scholarships abroad through the programme.
