At nine, David Chukwuebuka Ashiedu was already falling in love with basketball. Every dribble, every shot and every three-pointer he watched on television fuelled a dream that has continued to grow with him.
Today, at 16, standing between 6 feet 6 inches and 6 feet 7 inches tall, the young Nigerian is dreaming big.
He wants to earn a basketball scholarship, play professionally abroad and, one day, wear Nigeria’s colours on the international stage.
But there is one player who has particularly shaped that ambition: Stephen Curry.
The Golden State Warriors superstar is David’s basketball idol.
From his dazzling ball-handling and effortless dribbling to his incredible shooting range and ability to knock down three-pointers from seemingly impossible positions, Curry has given the teenager someone to look up to and learn from.
David also admires LeBron James, regularly watching basketball videos on YouTube to study the game, pick up new skills and improve his understanding of basketball.
His journey, however, did not begin in an academy or on a professional training court. It started at home.
Recognising his son’s growing interest in the game, David’s father bought him a basketball hoop when he was just nine.
That simple gesture became an important turning point, giving the young boy a place to practise his shooting, experiment with the ball and gradually develop his skills.
For years, the basketball hoop was where the dream took shape. But David wanted more.
He wanted proper coaching, structured training and the opportunity to test himself against other players.
That opportunity came at 15 through an unexpected connection.
A member of his church introduced him to a coach at Rivers Hoopers, opening the door for him to begin training with the team at Nigeria Street.
What started as an opportunity to learn has since become an important part of his development, with David now having spent more than six months training with the team.
Playing as a power forward, his impressive height gives him an encouraging physical foundation.
But he understands that becoming a complete basketball player requires more than natural attributes. It takes discipline, consistency, hard work and a willingness to keep learning.
And that is where another challenge comes in.
Getting to training is not always easy. The distance between his home and the academy means transportation costs have become one of the biggest obstacles to maintaining consistency.
For a young player still trying to find his feet in the sport, these everyday challenges can make the journey difficult.
Nevertheless, David remains determined, with his family continuing to support and encourage him as he pursues his ambition.
His immediate dream is to secure a basketball scholarship that will provide an opportunity to develop his talent, access better facilities and compete at a higher level.
Beyond that lies an even bigger ambition: playing professional basketball internationally and representing Nigeria.
At 16, David is still at the beginning of his journey. He is not yet Stephen Curry, and his path is different from that of the NBA superstar who inspired him.
But every great basketball story starts somewhere, and his began with a young boy, a basketball hoop and a dream.
Now, with his towering frame, growing experience at Rivers Hoopers and an unwavering belief in his potential,
David Ashiedu is hoping that someone will give him the opportunity to take the next big step.
For now, he keeps showing up, learning and working towards the day when the boy who once watched Curry’s three-pointers on YouTube can create his own moments on the biggest basketball stages.
Nigeria could have another exciting basketball story in the making. David is determined to make sure his is one worth telling.
