If you’ve been paying any attention to the most high-flying, show-stopping plays in Super League Basketball so far this season, then the name Toto Fagbenle will be etched into your mind by now.
The 23-year-old Caledonia Gladiators rookie is must-see TV at times when he’s out there on the hardwood, and fresh from a pivotal 17-point performance in the FIBA Europe Cup, we caught up with the British forward to learn more about his hoops journey.
“I started playing seriously when I was 15,” Fagbenle said.
“I grew up playing tennis and was playing that from when I was three years old until the age of 11 and had a pretty promising trajectory in the game, but it got very expensive very quickly. I took a break from playing then and at the time my older sister (Temi) was playing basketball in America, so that inspired me to play.
“As I got older, I joined a team – the Barnet Bulldogs – and my love for the game flourished from there. I wasn’t thinking about being professional or anything, I just loved playing and the competition of it. It was hard to see the pathway to become professional to be honest, but I knew I enjoyed the game and wanted to take it as far as I could.
“When I was in Year 11, I was playing against older guys in years above me in school and competing well so that gave me a lot of confidence, but even then I wasn’t think about any dreams of being professional or anything like that. That came much later. If you’d told me seven years ago I’d be here as a professional today I wouldn’t have believed you.”
Fuelled by family
The Fagbenle name is already a famous one in world basketball, as Toto’s older sister Temi has achieved a plethora of significant milestones in her career to date – including representing Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics and several more major honours.
Toto discussed the influence and impact of his older sister on his career and how his playing style is influenced by both her and his wider family, as one of 12 siblings.
“I wouldn’t be here without Temi. Her advice is second to none and it is crazy how much she has helped me on my journey in life and in basketball. From providing things for me when I needed it, whether that be financially, mentally or about the game, I owe her so much.
“As everybody knows, her resume in the game is crazy, and it has been amazing for me to have a sister like that who is always by my side and so eager to help me – she definitely made my progress to this point possible.
“I’m the second-youngest of 12 siblings and we’re all very close. Some of them are old enough to be my parents to be honest, but it definitely feels like I have a lot of role models and I’m lucky in that regard, because we’re always taking care of each other and that support system has been huge for me.
“My intensity comes from my environment. I’m from Hendon in northwest London and growing up there competing in sports, everybody plays hard and gives everything they have, so that’s just rubbed off on me over the years, and of course those games against my siblings whenever we play any sports… nothing is more intense than that, so it’s certainly shaped me.”
When Caledonia calls
Fagbenle has certainly made an impression in his young professional career to date, with his infectious energy on both ends of the floor making him a threat both offensively and defensively for opposing teams.
As one of several young British talents taking their opportunity to shine in the SLB this season, the 6’9” forward detailed how he is settling in with Gareth Murray’s Gladiators and his aspirations for his time at PlaySport.
“As soon as I got the call from my agent about Caledonia’s interest, it felt like a perfect starting point for me. I like the way they play, they want to help me develop and they have a great platform competing on the European stage as well, so I’m really fortunate to be here and excited for the challenge.
“Coach Murray wants to see me shine every day. He’s very tough on me, but I appreciate that because that’s how he should be. I appreciate that he sees potential in me and is pushing me to continue to build towards achieving that.
“It has been a big culture shift from playing in college because after you have practice and any gym work the rest of your time is yours to do what you like with, so I’ve been learning to use that time wisely and prepare my body and my mind as best I can for this challenge. It’s been an enjoyable change for me and I feel like I’m growing a lot.
“It’s great to be amongst a lot of young British talent in the league as well. I feel like our time is coming to show what we can do and we’ve seen guys already this season take their chance to prove they’re ready to play at this level and progress their careers and British basketball, and I feel like I can do the same.”