Blog

Boluwatife Larewaju’s entry into the realm of basketball began in an unexpected manner. Despite his tall stature and athleticism, he initially leaned towards football, greatly influenced by his father, who was a footballer.

However, fate had a different trajectory for the towering figure standing at 6 feet 8 inches.

While he was a student in JSS1 at Victorroti Private Secondary School in Olokuta, Ogun State, a basketball coach named Tunde Adelanwa noticed the towering youngster and invited him to join a training session in 2018.

Although initially hesitant, the 15-year-old narrated to PUNCH Sports Extra that a chance encounter with a woman, who prophesized about his basketball destiny, altered his perspective.

This pivotal encounter led him to embrace his height as a gift and foster a newfound passion for the sport.

“I began my basketball journey when I was at Victorroti Private Secondary School, at the age of 10. Initially, I was into football, which I liked, even though I was always very tall. Despite being taller than my peers, everyone started asking me if I wanted to play basketball. I was consistently the tallest in my classes, and I even had difficulty finding shoes that fit due to my large feet,” Larewaju shared.

“In JSS1, a basketball coach named Adelanwa visited my school, and since I was the tallest, I was one of the students he selected. The coaches treated me specially due to my younger age and towering height. They believed I had potential, even though I lacked interest.

“However, there was one day when I was walking down the street, and a woman called out to me, but I didn’t respond. She chased after me and asked if I played basketball, to which I replied ‘no.’ She then said, ‘you must play basketball.’ I was astonished that she could discern my situation, so I accepted it as a sign from God. From that point on, I began appreciating my height as a gift and started enjoying basketball, eventually falling in love with the game.”

Despite his initial inclination towards football, Larewaju’s parents recognized his potential in basketball and wholeheartedly supported his newfound passion. They enrolled him in a basketball academy at Alake Sport Center in Ijeja Abeokuta, Ogun State.

“My parents were thrilled because they knew I liked football, and my height was indeed a gift. Whenever we went out, their friends consistently advised them to encourage me to play basketball.

“However, my parents didn’t want to impose anything on me. They wanted me to pursue what I genuinely loved. So, when they noticed my interest in basketball, they reacted positively. My father enrolled me in Vision Basketball Academy, purchased basketball jerseys and kits for me, and took me to training sessions every Saturday,” Larewaju stated.

“I spend around three hours each day, and my dad picks me up. When he’s unavailable, my mom takes me to and from training.”

The small forward, who grew up in Ogun State, and who can also play as a power forward, attributes his career growth to the coaches who have influenced his development as a basketball player.

“I’ve had two exceptional coaches who greatly impacted my life: Temitope Olude of Royal Basketball Academy in Abeokuta and Tunde Adelanwa of Vision Basketball Academy at Alake Sport Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State,” he affirmed.

Recalling his most cherished moments in basketball, Larewaju highlighted his first successful dunk as a remarkable milestone. He also mentioned the elation he felt when he obtained a visa to travel abroad to play basketball.

“My most cherished moment in basketball was the first time I successfully executed a dunk. I remember feeling like I was flying, not just jumping. My coach even called me ‘Bolu, you’re a flier’ when I began dunking. Another wonderful moment was when I received my visa to travel and play basketball. That was probably my happiest moment, as it marked a significant achievement for me.”

On a somber note, Larewaju revealed that his saddest moment was when he won an All-Star award during a camp, and his late father was not there to witness it.

“He had promised to come and watch me play in Sango, but he passed away and couldn’t witness my achievement. I was selected as an All-Star at that camp. My dad had been there for me, taking me to training sessions, hearing coaches discuss my potential, but he wasn’t there to witness my victories. It was my saddest moment because I needed him most during that time.”

In February, Larewaju embarked on a journey to Serbia for basketball trials and is optimistic about an upcoming transfer while participating at the Basketball Nation Academy in Belgrade, Serbia.

“I’ve participated in trials with teams like Fernabahce in Turkey, Olympiacos in Greece, Olimpija Cedevita in Slovenia, Zaragoza in Spain, and Bayern Munich in Germany.

“I currently play for BNA, a youth team in Serbia, but I’ll eventually sign with either Olympiacos, Bayern, or Olimpija Cedevita, as these three teams have shown interest in signing me. So, I’ll be landing in either Slovenia, Greece, or Germany. This summer, I’ll complete my transfer.”

Larewaju’s mother, Mrs. Moradeyo Larewaju, shared their approach to encouraging his basketball passion from the beginning: “We supported him from the start. I used to take him to the stadium, and before his father passed away, he also took him to play and watch others.

“His involvement in sports didn’t hinder his education. He’s passionate about basketball, but he’s also committed to his academics.”