Evelyn Akhator Learning Basketball, Learning Life

By: Greg Brzozowski - WJHG.com

She has come from worlds away just to get to this point. The 6'3" sophomore from Lagos, Nigeria never even picked up a basketball until she was 14 years old in high school.

"Because of my height," Akhator says "everybody was like 'You're really good. You need to start playing basketball. Basketball is not really that popular, but after my school, I just go play basketball."

And Evelyn says the game would forever change her life.

"It's my life. I just love the game. I hate losing. I really hate losing. So when I think about the l-word, it really motivates me to go.

Motivation runs deep within Evelyn while her goal to be a giver on the court and in life has grown with coach by her side.

"I know she comes from a background" says Chipola coach Greg Franklin "where she lost her mother a couple years ago and I know she wants to go into nursing. Because she felt like if she had better health care there, she would still have her. I know we've had that conversation when recruiters come in. (She) doesn't really concern herself with herself. The first option for her is helping someone else."

"He's really helped me." the player, says of her head coach. "Not really in terms of basketball, like mentally, like everything about my life."

Franklin adds "I've had to kind of push her into a leadership role in terms of being verbal, With the weight of her voice on our team, she has to hold people accountable and she's done a better job at it."

"To be able to be great, you have to pass through difficulties." Akhaor acknowledges. "So, I need to adapt, even if I know I'm not really used to it, but because I know where I'm going to. So I need to adapt to everything."

This past Saturday, in a win over Pensacola, Akhator scored her 1,000th point in her Chipola career. Already with a state tourney berth in hand, Evelyn and Chipola play at Gulf Coast Wednesday night.