D’Tigers assistant captain Michael Eric is set to host the Top 50 Elite Basketball Camp in Lagos on July 24, as he continues his commitment to developing the next generation of basketball talent in Nigeria.
The camp will be organized under the Erico Sports Legacy Foundation, a non-profit initiative founded by Eric in memory of his late father, former Super Eagles goalkeeper and assistant coach, Joe Erico.
Through the foundation, the Nigerian international aims to create opportunities for young athletes by providing quality training, mentorship and exposure, while preserving the sporting legacy his father left behind.
The Lagos-born star disclosed his plans during a press briefing at the Airport Golden Tulip Hotel in Ikeja. He said the mission is to provide opportunities for young Nigerian athletes who have the same dream as he once had but lack the access he enjoyed.
“The journey became doing it not just for me, but doing it for those who wanted to do this but could not. So hearing many stories stayed with me to think of doing something for Nigerian youths, not just with basketball but mentorship and impacting the next generation.”
Like many young athletes who follow in the footsteps of their fathers at a young age, Eric’s story was different. His father was a former goalkeeper who represented Nigeria at the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations and later served as an assistant coach with the Super Eagles, helping the team qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Eric’s story is inspiring. His basketball career did not begin as a young child; he was already a teenager when he started. The journey began after he visited his uncle in the United States, who persuaded him to pursue a career in sports. He later earned a scholarship to Temple University in Philadelphia before signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2013.
Michael Eric enjoyed a successful professional career across Europe, Asia and South America, featuring for clubs in countries including Greece, Spain, Turkey, Argentina and Japan. At international level, he has been a key figure for D’Tigers, helping Nigeria win the 2015 FIBA AfroBasket title and representing the country at multiple major tournaments, including the Olympic Games and the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
