Former reality show and BCL star signs up for London Lions' maiden EuroCup season / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Michael Ruffler / masterpress Credit Michael Ruffler / masterpress

Ovie Soko completed his Japanese adventure and returned to his former club, the London Lions, with whom he will compete in the EuroCup.

Ovie Soko

Position:SFAge:31Height:201 cmWeight:102 kgBirth place:United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandProfileNewsStatistics

Soko, 31, joined the Japanese league last summer, playing for Shiga Lakestars with whom he averaged 20.1 points on 50.8% shooting and 9.3 rebounds in 28 minutes, and also for the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins to end the season (7 games), producing 13.3 points on 56.9% from the field, 7.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 23 minutes.

Now, the British international has decided to return to the Old Continent, and to his country of origin since he signed this Friday with EuroCup newcomers London Lions. Soko had a first stint with the London club in 2019-2020, appearing in 10 games.

Soko started his pro career in France with Boulazac, then moved to Greece, Italy, Spain, France again and Japan. He was named to the All-BCL First Team in 2018 and Second Team in 2019, both seasons while at UCAM Murcia.

Soko turned into an enormous celebrity figure in his country thanks to his hook on reality TV. In 2019, he joined the fifth series of British reality show Love Island. He emerged from the show with over a million Instagram followers, new-found media attention and a host of exciting opportunities as a celebrity rather than a sportsman.

The conclusion, after much deliberation, was that basketball was simply too important to him to give up, despite the opportunities which may lie elsewhere.

"After coming out of Love Island, I took the year playing at home to allow me to feel things out a bit in this new side of my life that I'd fallen into," Soko told the Daily Mirror in August 2021.

"But then I made the decision with my family, my management and my close circle that I still want to go out and be able to compete around Europe. To be able to play professional basketball, it's an opportunity I have, and I won't be able to do it forever."

Three years ago, Soko landed himself a partnership with giant fashion retailer ASOS in a reported mega six-figure deal.

Now, counting more than 1.7 million followers on Instagram, he's set to spearhead the London Lions into a season full of ambitions.

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