Report: Fayetteville rapper J. Cole expected to play in the Basketball Africa League
Rodd Baxley
Fayetteville-raised rapper J. Cole will finally get his chance to play professional basketball, according to several reports.
Cole, 36, is expected to suit up for the Rwanda Patriots in the inaugural season of The Basketball Africa League.
The Terry Sanford High School graduate played two years of varsity basketball with the Bulldogs and was a walk-on at St. John’s before shifting his focus to music.
The New Times Rwanda broke the news with a video of Cole in Rwanda. According to a report by ESPN’s Marc J. Spears, the signing is expected to become official on Thursday.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that Cole will play three to six games with the Patriots, starting Sunday against the Nigeria River Hoopers at 7 a.m. on ESPNEWS.
The Grammy Award-winning artist announced May 4 via his Twitter account that his new album “The Off-Season” will be released Friday. His last album, “KOD,” was released in 2018.
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In January 2020, Cole was seen shooting a video project at a basketball court by Walker-Spivey Elementary School on Fisher Street in the Old Wilmington Road area.
Cole, who grew up on Forest Hills Drive in Fayetteville, released the basketball-themed commercial for Puma’s athletic shoes titled “The DREAMER” during the 2020 NBA All-Star game.
In 2019, the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets honored him with a jersey during training camp at UNC’s Dean Smith Center.
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com.