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25 February 2026  6 min read

Built on belief - Akwasi Yeboah on purpose and the pride in the GB jersey

The kind that’s been there since childhood, shaped by family, fuelled by ambition and reinforced by years of proving himself at every level of the game.

Now a key figure with the Great Britain Men's team, Yeboah enters another crucial international window with clarity about why he’s here and what it means. With back-to-back World Cup 2027 Qualification games against Italy looming - at home in Newcastle on Friday and away in Livorno on Monday - the stakes are high. All four teams in the group, which also includes Lithuania and Iceland, sit at 1-1. Every possession matters.

For 28-year-old Yeboah, though, the moment is about more than standings or scenarios. It’s about purpose — and a journey that began later than most.

Following his brother, finding the game

Unlike many professionals, Yeboah didn’t grow up with a basketball in his hands from the age of five. He was 13 when it all began.

"My brother was playing at our high school and he was pretty good,” he said. “As any younger brother, you want to be just like your older brother."

That was the spark - tagging along to practices; watching closely; slowly falling in love with the game.

"I wasn’t that great at first, of course,” Yeboah admitted. “But I had really encouraging coaches who honed my basic skills and developed my interest."

Progress came quickly once the foundation was laid. One level led to the next, and eventually to Barking Abbey, a familiar launchpad for elite British talent. From there, the dream expanded beyond UK borders.

One chance, taken

Yeboah’s path to Division I basketball in the United States wasn’t straightforward - and that’s exactly how he likes to tell it.

"The story of how I got my scholarship is crazy," he said, smiling.

At the time, Division I interest wasn’t forthcoming. His opportunities sat at Division II level, until an unexpected connection changed everything. Danny Carter, a stalwart of Reading Rockets in the NBL1 and a Stony Brook alumnus, put in a word with head coach Steve Pikiell.

That word came with a challenge.

"Coach Pikiell said he liked me, thought I’d be a good fit,” Yeboah recalled. “But he told me he’d only come to watch if we made the Finals of the competition we were in."

That condition lit a fire.

"It put a chip on my shoulder," he said. "I told all my team-mates this was my one opportunity."

They made the Finals. Pikiell kept his word. Yeboah played well. And the very next day, the scholarship offer arrived.

"That moment changed everything," he said.

He spent three years at Stony Brook University, developing his game and growing into himself as a player. When Pikiell left for Rutgers University, Yeboah eventually followed, seeking a new challenge and a fresh environment.

"We were on course to make the NCAA Tournament before COVID," he reflected. "But everything happens for a reason."

Watch GB v Italy live on Courtside 1891

A professional journey across Europe

From college, Yeboah stepped seamlessly into the professional game and hasn’t looked back.

France. Turkey. Italy. Back to Turkey, where he currently plays for Trabzonspor.

"I’ve had an incredible career so far," he said. "I’ve always won where I’ve been."

Two seasons in France’s second division built his professional foundation. Moves to Turkey and Italy tested him tactically and physically. Each stop added layers to his game and reinforced his confidence that he belonged at the highest levels of European basketball.

Yet even with success abroad, the national team has always held a different meaning.

Yeboah has never been shy about his ambitions. In fact, he’s embraced them from a young age.

"I was a dreamer," he said. "I always knew that whatever I put my mind to, I’d be successful."

That belief was shared at home.

"My brother and I had a pact that we’d play together in the NBA, EuroLeague, or some high level," Yeboah explained. "We genuinely believed we had a bright future."

That mindset still shapes how he views his career today.

"I wouldn’t say I’m surprised to be where I am," he says. "But at the same time, it’s like - wow. I’m actually living it."

There are moments now when he has to remind himself to pause.

"These were things I dreamed about when I was younger," he said. "Not many people get to live that, so I try to be in the moment more."

Why GB means everything

Yeboah’s relationship with the national team has evolved over time. His early senior experiences were challenging - stepping into a group without many familiar faces from his age group.

"It was a difficult transition at first," he admitted.

Support came from veterans who understood the weight of the jersey.

"Guys like Gabe Olaseni and Myles Hesson really helped me," he said. "They talked to me, gave me counsel, and now we’re good friends."

Over time, Yeboah became a constant presence. Health, form, and consistency all played a role - but so did intent.

"I wanted to be part of something bigger," he said. "And I feel like I am."

That ‘something bigger’ is a long-term vision.

"We’re trying to change the trajectory of British basketball," Yeboah explained. "This is bigger than me."

It’s a statement that carries weight - and responsibility.

"It gives me purpose," he said. "It gives me something to work towards."

 

 

 

 

 

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One goal, one direction

Every time Yeboah arrives at camp, that purpose sharpens.

"Coming here brings a lot of joy," he said. "We come together for one common goal - to win."

With Italy up next and qualification finely balanced, that unity matters more than ever.

"We want to put British basketball on the map," Yeboah said.

For a player who started at 13, chased one opportunity with everything he had, and carried belief across continents, being part of that mission feels exactly right.

This isn’t just another window. It’s another step in a journey built on conviction - and one Akwasi Yeboah is determined to see through, with British basketball moving forward together.

Interview by Jamie Thomas

Watch GB v Italy live on Courtside 1891

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