By Tolúlopé Olátúnjí
In a notable recognition, Rivers Hoopers’ Will Perry has been included in the 2024 edition of Basketball Africa League (BAL) Team of the Season.
The announcement which has been greeted with excitement was made on BAL’s official X (formerly Twitter)handle on Wednesday, highlighting Perry’s exceptional performance in the recently concluded tournament.
The American basketball star was honoured alongside Samkelo Cele of the Cape Town Tigers, Marcus Crawford of US Monastir, Aliou Diarra of FUS Rabat, and Lual Lual Acuil of Al Ahly.
The 29-year-old point guard played a pivotal role in leading Rivers Hoopers to a third-place finish in the continental basketball event, marking a historic achievement as the first Nigerian team to secure this position.
The 2024 edition of tournament saw Angola’s Petro de Luanda clinch the championship after defeating Libya’s Al Ahly in the final.
Perry, who shares the record for most points scored in a single BAL game, also received the BAL Sportsmanship Award in 2023.
Despite going undrafted in the 2016 NBA draft, Perry embarked on a professional career starting with CB Zamora in the Spanish LEB Plata, and has since played in various leagues across Europe and Africa.
Rivers Hoopers announced Perry’s signing for the 2024 BAL season on February 24, 2024, solidifying their roster with his extensive experience and talent.