LISTEN: Durban's Samkelo Cele Aims for NBA After Breakout BAL Season
Durban basketball Rising Star Samkelo Cele plans to continue making his mark in the Basketball Africa League after a successful debut season in 2023.
In what was his first professional stint, the 26 year old small forward scored 28 points for the Cape Town Tigers in their final Nile Conference match in the 2023 Basketball Africa League against the City Oilers, to help his team book a spot in the play-offs.
Basketball, however, was never a dream until it became one. For Sam, as he is affectionately known, basketball became a reality when he received a call from Durban High School to play for their team.
“It was an unbelievable moment, because when it happened, we didn’t realise that’s when my life would change for the better,” Cele said.
His talents took him to even greater heights, allowing for him to set sail to the United States of America where he played Collegiate basketball for the likes of Marist College where he played in the NCAA Division One.
“It was a great experience and a whole different perspective of basketball. In South Africa, I was a great basketball player in highschool. Once I got to the US, I was just one of the guys for the first couple of games because everybody else was as good.
“I had to learn to adjust and find my footing, which played out well and became one of the best in my team.
Cele’s success as an athlete is evident in his achievements last season, one of which was being named in the BAL All-Defensive Team.
The Durban boy averaged 13 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
He aims to come back and be better this season, and add on to an even bigger dream.
“This is my second year of playing professional basketball, so yeah, I’m just trying to be better and add on to what I’ve learnt because I want to end up playing in the NBA.”
He heads into his second season of professional basketball where he plays with Cape Town Tigers on the 9th of March at the SunBet Arena, Pretoria.
