"I Would Not Be A Professional Basketball Player Today If It Wasn't For My Brothers...” The Basketball Story Of Kenny Ejim.
When you’re born into this world, one of the most important aspects that a child attempts to pursue is, getting approval and respect from their family members. Having validation as a child is something so fragile and precious due to how important it is for the child’s development. Whether it’s drawing a picture or acing a math test, the first thought that appears in a child’s mind is not necessarily accomplishing that goal but more about hearing what their family members have to say. However, when it comes to a child playing sports on a proper team, having that family support is the number one thing that children value the most. Scoring a goal in soccer or nailing a three-point shot is incredible, but the only reason why it is incredible is that they get the opportunity to look at the bleachers and see their families cheering them on, which makes the sport more enjoyable. Validation was something that Kenny Ejim of the Saskatchewan Rattlers valued tremendously as all he ever wanted to do was make his family proud. Playing basketball was something he was always passionate about. He wanted to use this sport to broadcast how much he values his family and how much he appreciates and respects every one of his family members. However, how did Kenny convert his goals and dreams to reality?
Born on December 3, 1994, in Downtown Toronto, Kenny would be introduced to a family filled with passion and drive to the game of basketball without realizing it. Growing up, Kenny started life playing soccer rather than basketball as the community he was in valued soccer more than any other sport. For the first half of his life, playing soccer was almost a religious exercise as he enjoyed it and loved playing with the kids in his community and his school. Kenny would partake in soccer activities until grade six, and felt that this was the sport for him. However, in the seventh grade, Kenny would move to Brampton Ontario, where everything started to shift in his life. For years, playing soccer was something he was passionate about, but basketball was the sport that everyone was playing in Brampton. Even though he enjoyed basketball at a young age, Kenny lacked the skills to play on a team and was introduced to playing basketball late. With basketball being as popular as it was in Brampton, Kenny struggled to play the game initially. However, he was fortunate enough to have brothers that pushed him and motivated him to continue playing. If Kenny missed a shot or turned over the ball, he could always rely on his brother being there for him whenever he needed it the most. However, his uncle David is what sparked Kenny’s interest in playing basketball.
Before the Ejim family became one of the most iconic basketball families Canada has ever seen, his uncle David was the ancestor of their legacy. Growing up, Kenny’s uncle was obsessed with basketball as he played for numerous teams and was looked at as a role model in Ejim’s life. Instead of socializing, Kenny’s uncle would always be in the gym to train and work to get better at the sport that he loves. However, at a certain point in his life, David wanted to teach Kenny and his brothers everything he knew about the game. From learning how to dribble to appreciating the art of stretching and relaxing your body, David felt obligated to help his nephews in basketball and started training Kenny and his brothers. Kenny’s uncle not only trained him and his brothers, but he also taught them values of what basketball is all about. From that moment, basketball touched the Ejim’s in ways that words cannot describe.
“My uncle started the passion for basketball in our family. Growing up, he religiously played basketball 24/7 as it was his escape from everything else in his life. He was an amazing player, and when it came to my four brothers and I, he wanted to take the responsibility to start a legacy in our family. My brothers and I fell in love with basketball as my uncle introduced his passion to us and trained us, which created a bond, unlike no other. I would most definitely say that the spark that ignited our passion for basketball came from my uncle,” said Ejim
“My uncle trained my eldest brother Melvin, got him into CIA bounce in Molten Ontario and got him invested into the game. After Melvin, the rest followed the same path as my uncle single-handedly trained my other brother Ryan and put the passion into Ryan. I already had the passion, but I lacked the skills, so my uncle took me under his wing one summer and taught me certain aspects of the game I would have never learned like the cerebral aspects like stretching and taking care of my body. I learned that at a young age, when I was in grade seven and eight,” said Ejim
Before Kenny’s uncle, David, inspired him to play basketball, Kenny’s passion for the game was always there. Even though he did play soccer early on in his life, basketball was always the sport that caught his attention because his older brothers played the game. Both Ryan and Melvin Ejim were late to learning basketball but learned to adapt to what their situation was and, as a result, received training from their uncle. Kenny would follow the same path as he wanted to emulate what his brothers were doing. If it weren’t for his brothers, he would not be playing basketball today. That’s how impactful his family was!
“Growing up, I looked up to my older brothers when it came to everything in my life. When it came to basketball, I always watched them and looked up to them. Whatever they did, I followed even though I never really knew what I was following, but I knew that I wanted to be just like them and get their approval. Watching my older brother Melvin play was what pushed me to become a professional athlete,” said Ejim.
The type of dynamic that Kenny had with his family was almost poetic. Even though his siblings were all close in age, they never competed with each other and instead pushed one another to be the best that they can be. As they got older, the competitive drive was there, but it was never directed at someone. Instead, they were competitive to help each other as they wanted to follow their uncle’s footsteps and start a legacy in Canada! Looking at the Ejim’s today, its safe to say that their goal has definitely been accomplished and are just beginning to form one of the greatest sports families in this country! Furthermore, Kenny and the rest of his siblings could all rely on their mother, who always supported them and encouraged them to be the best athletes.
“My mother played a huge role in my life. Growing up, she had to raise four boys on her own while working a job and for her to manage all of that is what inspires me today to work hard. Even though she didn’t have any sports experience or not knowing how basketball even works, she was always supportive and passionate about what we did and pushed us every day of our lives,” said Ejim
When reflecting on Kenny’s life so far, the aspect of family and respect comes to mind. Early on in his life, he wanted to make his family proud and emulate his older brothers’ skills and knowledge with the game of basketball. His uncle was another massive contributor in his life as he helped train him and teach him the cerebral aspects of the game that he still practices up to this day. The relationships that Kenny had growing up is what shaped him into the player he is today.
Before Kenny entered highschool, his middle school journey to basketball was unfortunate as he struggled to get playing time on his team, the Brampton Warriors. Even though it did cause him to lose a bit of confidence in his game, his uncle took him under his wing the following summer and trained him every day until his confidence was back. Kenny’s uncle helped him a lot during his journey and would have been lost without him. However, once the training was over, Kenny would enter high school where he would look to be the starting point guard while also being a late bloomer to the game. Basketball in high school was not a joke to Kenny and instead treated as if it was his full-time job. Kenny loved playing the game and had no issues getting up every day and working towards playing the sport that he loves.
Kenny’s high school career was one of the most unique situations a student had to face. In grade nine, Kenny was a 5’10 point guard that had to learn patience and playmaking rather than driving and being physical. In the following summer, Kenny would grow to 6 feet and be named a shooting guard where he was pressured to be more physical while also learning how to shoot the ball. Like his previous season, Kenny grew three more inches and entered grade eleven as a 6’3 forward where he felt the most comfortable. After learning patience and shooting, the next objective that he had to learn was to be physical and confident in driving in the paint while also defending the best player on the court. However, his forward position was short-lived as he entered his senior year as a 6’6 center where his responsibilities on the court were different from everything else that he learned. Ejim would be glued in the paint where he would catch rebounds and occasionally dunked the ball whenever he felt like it. Kenny started high school as a 5’10 point guard and finished as a 6’6 center, where he had to decide if basketball was something he wanted to do for a good portion in his life.
Kenny’s decision didn’t take too long as he was named an All-Star in his senior year, which was the first time he was ever selected in anything for basketball. With the amount of love he had for the game, he decided to take a 5th year in high school to train his body for College basketball. He would leave his high school to join St. Marguerite d’Youville Secondary School, a school where players like Triston Thompson went to growing up. Kenny would regress statistically but would improve as a teammate as his team ended up winning a championship. After his tenure with St. Marguerite, he would take his talents to Humber College, where his basketball journey would begin.
One of the aspects highlighted in the interview I had with Kenny was, the reasons he gets up in the morning and plays the game he loves. For Kenny, basketball is more than a sport and instead was a tool for his production throughout his life. Basketball disciplined him and taught him values about how his life should be lived.
“Much of what I have learned in terms of the things that helped me overall in life like punctuality and being on time for things, was learned through basketball. For example, It was tough for me to get up through sick days, but I fought through it because I wanted to play the game I love. A lot of things that I learned that helped me in life were through basketball, so if I didn’t play basketball, I have no idea where I would have been able to learn the values and discipline that I follow every day,” said Ejim.
Overall, Kenny’s journey to basketball had many aspects. From his brother’s impact throughout the years to his uncle training him in basketball, Kenny’s journey was heavily inspired by his surroundings. Having his family members expressing validation and approval is what brought Kenny this far in his life with other factors including, hard work and dedication to the sport that he loves. The message that an be taken in Kenny’s story is that having family and positive relationships only elevate you to be better while also giving you the motivation to continue what you do every day. If the rest of the world frowned on Kenny, it wouldn’t matter because the only validation that he ever needed in his life was from his brothers, who always pushed him to be not only the best athlete he can be but also the best person.