Quansah, Izunabor taking similar paths
By Rodd Baxley
Staff writer FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Emmanuel Izunabor and Derrick Quansah took similar paths to Fayetteville.
They both grew up playing soccer in Africa, with Izunabor in Lagos, Nigeria, and Quansah in Cape Coast, Ghana.
At age 15, they made their way to the United States with dreams of earning the chance to play Division I college basketball by the end of their prep careers.
It took some adjusting, and a lot of hard work, but both are on track to make their hopes a reality later this year.
Izunabor, a 6-foot-9 prospect out of Fayetteville Academy, helped the Eagles claim the NCISAA 2-A state championship last weekend in Raleigh with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Quansah, better known as “Fifi,” anchored the post as a 7-footer for Village Christian Academy, which earned a runner- up finish in the NCISAA 3-A playoffs.
“We’ve become really close friends,” Quansah said of Izunabor.
Izunabor said he talks to Quansah “all the time” because of the similarities the two share.
Driven by the same goals, both players are powered by a tireless work ethic, according to their prep coaches.
Kurtis Darden, who just finished his ninth season with the Knights, learned about Quansah from Dwayne West, who runs the Garner Road Bulldogs’ travel program. Darden and West share a family connection, so it made sense for Quansah to make the transition to Village.
“I’m just so surprised at the progress he’s made over the years, socially, academically and athletically,” Darden said of Quansah.
“It’s just been a journey that’s gone by way too fast. He came over here with a goal in mind and he’s already passed a lot of the goals he’s had.”
A double-double machine with a solid reputation as a shot blocker, Quansah’s mindset was simple when he arrived at Village.
“I worked hard every day and I focused on getting better every day, learning,” he said.
Darden loves Quansah’s game, but he’s always wanted to see his big fella play with “a little more emotion” between the sidelines.
Darden recalls a certain situation that helped Quansah take a positive step toward becoming more passionate.
“He blocked a kid’s shot at practice and I said, ‘Yeah, Fi, that’s what I’m talking about,’ “ Darden said.
“He didn’t show any emotion and I told him he had to say something to ‘em. He stopped, thought about it, and said, ‘Not today.’Everybody in the gym just kind of busted out laughing. That was just something we had been waiting on. From then on he just started communicating more on the court and off the court.”
There was a similar adjustment period for Izunabor, who credited former Fayetteville Academy coach James Strong for helping him get started and gave a nod to first-year coach Bill Boyette for pushing him even harder in his senior season.
“I wanted to come to a different country, get a good education and a chance to play basketball,” Izunabor said.
“During my freshman year at Fayetteville Academy, I was just getting used to the game and stuff. I was learning about the game and there was a lot for me to learn. I’ve learned a lot, and I really learned a lot this year with Coach Boyette. It’s been wonderful.”
Boyette said he pushed Izunabor throughout the season because he saw the potential.
“What I liked most about him is he bought in to what we were trying to teach,” Boyette said.
“I think he realized the things that we were coaching him to do were going to make him a better player, not only right now but at the next level.”
There were times throughout the season where Boyette would peek inside Fayetteville Academy’s gym to find Izunabor putting in extra time to hone his skills.
“He’s really focused on getting better,” Boyette said. “To see the way he finished the season with those final two ball games that he played was just thrilling for me. He really was a big key to us winning the state championship, without a doubt.”
Boyette points to that work ethic when talking to college coaches about Izunabor.
“I just think his best basketball is ahead of him,” he said. “He has such a great work ethic. He’ll come to the gym and he’ll work hard. I just think his work ethic is something that college coaches will really love. I think they’ll love his length and athleticism.”
Izunabor said he’s drawn interest from Radford and High Point, among other Division I programs.
“I'm making all of my college visits all next week,” he said. “Before next month, I want to make my college choice.”
Darden said Quansah plans on taking his time during the recruiting process.
“The two that are recruiting him the hardest right now are East Carolina and Western Carolina,” he said. “Right now, he’s just kind of taking his time, praying over it, and hoping to make a decision here shortly.”
And he has no doubts about Quansah’s ability to handle any situation thrown at him.
“There’s no extra that comes along with him,” Darden said. “. … He’s not high maintenance or low maintenance. He’s no maintenance. He just wants to go out there, play basketball and do whatever it takes academically with the goal of graduating in mind.”
That’s what it’s all about for Izunabor and Quansah. Both made the move from Africa to Fayetteville with hopes of keeping the path paved for kids that want to achieve the same dream.
“I just want kids to look up to me and say they want to be like me when they grow up,” Quansah said. “I want to know that kids look up to me and that they can play.” Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver. com or 910-486-3519.
By Rodd Baxley
Staff writer FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Emmanuel Izunabor and Derrick Quansah took similar paths to Fayetteville.
They both grew up playing soccer in Africa, with Izunabor in Lagos, Nigeria, and Quansah in Cape Coast, Ghana.
At age 15, they made their way to the United States with dreams of earning the chance to play Division I college basketball by the end of their prep careers.
It took some adjusting, and a lot of hard work, but both are on track to make their hopes a reality later this year.
Izunabor, a 6-foot-9 prospect out of Fayetteville Academy, helped the Eagles claim the NCISAA 2-A state championship last weekend in Raleigh with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Quansah, better known as “Fifi,” anchored the post as a 7-footer for Village Christian Academy, which earned a runner- up finish in the NCISAA 3-A playoffs.
“We’ve become really close friends,” Quansah said of Izunabor.
Izunabor said he talks to Quansah “all the time” because of the similarities the two share.
Driven by the same goals, both players are powered by a tireless work ethic, according to their prep coaches.
Kurtis Darden, who just finished his ninth season with the Knights, learned about Quansah from Dwayne West, who runs the Garner Road Bulldogs’ travel program. Darden and West share a family connection, so it made sense for Quansah to make the transition to Village.
“I’m just so surprised at the progress he’s made over the years, socially, academically and athletically,” Darden said of Quansah.
“It’s just been a journey that’s gone by way too fast. He came over here with a goal in mind and he’s already passed a lot of the goals he’s had.”
A double-double machine with a solid reputation as a shot blocker, Quansah’s mindset was simple when he arrived at Village.
“I worked hard every day and I focused on getting better every day, learning,” he said.
Darden loves Quansah’s game, but he’s always wanted to see his big fella play with “a little more emotion” between the sidelines.
Darden recalls a certain situation that helped Quansah take a positive step toward becoming more passionate.
“He blocked a kid’s shot at practice and I said, ‘Yeah, Fi, that’s what I’m talking about,’ “ Darden said.
“He didn’t show any emotion and I told him he had to say something to ‘em. He stopped, thought about it, and said, ‘Not today.’Everybody in the gym just kind of busted out laughing. That was just something we had been waiting on. From then on he just started communicating more on the court and off the court.”
There was a similar adjustment period for Izunabor, who credited former Fayetteville Academy coach James Strong for helping him get started and gave a nod to first-year coach Bill Boyette for pushing him even harder in his senior season.
“I wanted to come to a different country, get a good education and a chance to play basketball,” Izunabor said.
“During my freshman year at Fayetteville Academy, I was just getting used to the game and stuff. I was learning about the game and there was a lot for me to learn. I’ve learned a lot, and I really learned a lot this year with Coach Boyette. It’s been wonderful.”
Boyette said he pushed Izunabor throughout the season because he saw the potential.
“What I liked most about him is he bought in to what we were trying to teach,” Boyette said.
“I think he realized the things that we were coaching him to do were going to make him a better player, not only right now but at the next level.”
There were times throughout the season where Boyette would peek inside Fayetteville Academy’s gym to find Izunabor putting in extra time to hone his skills.
“He’s really focused on getting better,” Boyette said. “To see the way he finished the season with those final two ball games that he played was just thrilling for me. He really was a big key to us winning the state championship, without a doubt.”
Boyette points to that work ethic when talking to college coaches about Izunabor.
“I just think his best basketball is ahead of him,” he said. “He has such a great work ethic. He’ll come to the gym and he’ll work hard. I just think his work ethic is something that college coaches will really love. I think they’ll love his length and athleticism.”
Izunabor said he’s drawn interest from Radford and High Point, among other Division I programs.
“I'm making all of my college visits all next week,” he said. “Before next month, I want to make my college choice.”
Darden said Quansah plans on taking his time during the recruiting process.
“The two that are recruiting him the hardest right now are East Carolina and Western Carolina,” he said. “Right now, he’s just kind of taking his time, praying over it, and hoping to make a decision here shortly.”
And he has no doubts about Quansah’s ability to handle any situation thrown at him.
“There’s no extra that comes along with him,” Darden said. “. … He’s not high maintenance or low maintenance. He’s no maintenance. He just wants to go out there, play basketball and do whatever it takes academically with the goal of graduating in mind.”
That’s what it’s all about for Izunabor and Quansah. Both made the move from Africa to Fayetteville with hopes of keeping the path paved for kids that want to achieve the same dream.
“I just want kids to look up to me and say they want to be like me when they grow up,” Quansah said. “I want to know that kids look up to me and that they can play.” Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver. com or 910-486-3519.
