Video: The journey of Henri Adiassa
Eighth-grader dreams of going from Cameroon to Southern California to NBA.Like most basketball prodigies, the goal of Henri Adiassa is to make it to "the league," he says — the NBA.
But the 6-foot-10 eighth-grader from west African nation of Cameroon, who now attends the middle school at
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), adds this caveat: "I want to be the best in the league."
Judging from his rapid growth in frame and skill — he only picked up a basketball two years ago — his dreams may not be far fetched.
In our first edition of WeNext, Adiassa's personal trainer Olin Simplis describes his pupil as a friendly, receptive and driven young lad who "brings a hardhat every time he steps on the floor."
His journey from Africa to Washington, D.C., to Southern California is intriguing, if not inspiring. But will he reach his ultimate destination? The same as another native from his hometown, NBA All-Star Joel Embiid? Only time will tell.
