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25 June 2026  4 min read

From the EABL to the NBA: Tobi Lawal's dramatic journey to the Dallas Mavericks

The Londoner - who only started playing the sport at 16 - developed his game with City of London Academy in the EABL before following fellow recent alumni of the UK U19 development league Jeremy Sochan (Itchen) and Amari Williams (Myerscough) into the best league in the world via the draft. 

He said: "First of all I’d like to thank my lord & saviour Jesus Christ, I’d like to thank my family, all the people at CoLA, VCU and VA Tech. Also to the Mavs for drafting me.

"I feel truly blessed and highly favoured, I hope this provides inspiration to young kids that anything is possible!"

Talking to the media following his selection, he explained his desire to keep growing by ‘living in the gym’. 

When asked what he can do to make it in the NBA, he said: “Working on my shot more, my handles, my all-around game, getting a better feel for the game. 

“I’m touching close to what I could be and how good I could become. I definitely believe that it can help me become as great as I want to be. 

“In London it is hard to get in the gym. Now the gym is right next to my house. I love being in the gym. I love growth - as a person, in my faith and as a player. Now I can do that, I'm going to live there.” 

 

 

 

 

 

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CoLA Basketball Founder and Director Jackson Gibbons attended the draft ceremony at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, along with Lawal's family. 

He said: “What a surreal experience. We are extremely proud of Tobi and his development. Being introduced to the game so late, this success really is testament to his character, discipline and work ethic.

“Also seeing it all first hand, I have to give huge congrats to Jay Williams and JD Byers at Virginia Tech for teaching him how to play, they should feel really proud of their contribution.

“Everyone at CoLA is proud of this achievement and we are so happy for Tobi and his immediate family, no one deserves it more.

“I hope this serves as inspiration to young UK hoopers to understand that with great character, discipline and hard work, young people from our nation can play at the elite levels of world basketball. We hope players like Tobi and Amari set the tone for many more brits in the NBA in the not too distant future."

Lawal shone brightly and briefly in the EABL with his high-flying style making him a regular hit in the league’s Plays of the Week feature. He featured in the Hoopsfix All-Star Classic in 2021 before the US beckoned – a year at prep school Lee Academy in New England was followed by four impressive seasons in college basketball with VCU and Virginia Tech. 

The 6’8” forward averaged 12.3 points (.542 FG%, .763 FT%), 8.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in 23 games (17 starts) during his senior season with Virginia Tech in 2025/26.  

He began his college career at VCU where he averaged 5.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 13.6 minutes per game before transferring to Virginia Tech, where he led the team in total points (372), field goals made (128), rebounds (210) and blocks (20) in 2024-25. 

One of the most explosive athletes

In his two seasons with the Hokies, he recorded 20-plus points seven times and caught the eye of Mavs general manager Mike Schmitz, who said: “Tobi is one of the most explosive athletes, if not the most explosive athlete, in the draft in college basketball. 

“Just his energy, his motor, his toughness. He defends multiple positions, he plays as hard as any young prospect that you’ll see. So we’re really excited just to bring that level of energy to our programme.” 

Watch Tobi Lawal's NBA media conference