He is one of Bristol’s basketball legends - the giant captain who scored the most points and the most rebounds in the Flyers’ history.
But now, less than a year after walking away from professional basketball, Dan Edozie is back on the court with a new mission - to give the kids of Bristol the kind of elite-level training they couldn’t dream of in their local park.
Basketball is one of the most-played sports in inner city Bristol, with most courts having courts, cages or maybe just hoops. So Dan Edozie is bringing his elite-level experience into the heart of St Pauls, and has opened up a training project at the leisure centre.
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He’s called it The House of Elite Basketball, and the aim is not only to take the kids who love basketball and are good at it to step up to an elite level - it’s also to provide a safe space for anyone who wants to play and learn the kind of life skills and experience it takes to be an athlete on and off the court.
“Our aim is to grow the game of basketball and also focus on holistically developing participants by increasing their confidence and resilience whilst enjoying learning new skills in a safe environment,” said Edozie, who played for the Flyers for six seasons from 2015.
Now a motivational speaker and mental skills coach, Edozie said he stayed in Bristol after leaving the Flyers last summer, and wants to give back to the city that took him in. “This is a safe space for kids to come and develop themselves as well as find their confidence, have fun and enjoy the sessions - it’s engaging and very energetic,” he said.
“We teach them the basics of basketball - there are some players I have who play for teams, but not all. The ones who don’t, aspire to maybe get on a team and progress.
“I’d love it to develop and maybe be in a place where we can set up a central venue league and grow the game in Bristol. There are so many young kids who want to get into basketball, and for many it’s the main thing they’ve got.
“I really do dream of building a team together - if you go to America, each state has a minimum of ten basketball tournaments, and each tournament has many teams, but here there are kids of that age here in England who like to play on their local court, but don’t have the chance to learn the game and get coaching.
“By helping them find the love for basketball, it also gives the kids a structure and added help so they can kick-on in other aspects of their lives too,” he added.
The sessions have been running for a couple of weeks now every Saturday at St Pauls leisure centre, and are open to kids aged between nine and 14.
“I played basketball for the last 14 years. Looking at the basketball game here in England, we can tell there’s a lot of work that needs to be done, so much work. With basketball here you can literally make it whatever you want it to be.
“What I’m looking to do is give an opportunity to young aspiring athletes who want to receive high quality training in terms of the very small details about basketball and what exactly it is that will help you get to the next level,” he added.
The sessions focus on far more than dribbling, defence and slam dunking - it’s also about being disciplined and focussed on and off the court - there were no cans of fizzy energy drinks or chocolate bars at courtside on Saturday for the kids - just bananas, flapjacks and water.
“We’re here helping young people personally to develop their game. We’re coaching young people and hopefully improving their basketball skills, and also to help them understand the game a bit better, understand the importance of what it means to be a successful athlete on and off the court, so we work around the mindset, resilience, self-esteem, confidence, that sort of stuff, along with nutrition,” said Dan. “I’m just doing whatever I can to help these young people understand themselves and help them better their lives as well,” he added.
Edozie’s credentials as someone who knows how to be an elite basketball player are unmatched - he is almost certainly Bristol Flyers’ greatest ever player. Originally from the famous Los Angeles neighbourhood of Compton, he graduated from Iowa State University as a 22-year-old and came to England after being signed by the Flyers.
He played for the team 167 times in the league under the Bristol Sport banner for six years, was captain for three and when he left the club last summer he was the Flyers’ all-time leader in points scored - 1,338 - and rebounds - 1,326 in the professional era of the British Basketball League.
He helped the Flyers to the highest ever league finish of sixth, and a trip to the play-offs and in 2018 represented England at the Commonwealth Games, before captaining the team to the BBL Cup Final in 2020.
“I’ve stayed around in Bristol as it is a great place to be and I feel there really is an appetite for this,” he said.
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