For basketball teams, the flavour of luxury could be in having a player on the roster that is 6-foot-10 and 295 pounds.
At first glance, Favour Alaghodaho has the right physical stature that can intimidate players on opposing teams. Tall and over-powering, running in to him can be a painful experience.
Alaghodaho knows he is far from making it to the National Basketball Association, but that hasn't stopped him from learning, improving and contributing in a meaningful way.
The 20-year old is hoping his dream to play the pro game still might happen one day. For now, he's putting his mind to a career – one that will help people – by studying in the Child and Youth Worker Program at George Brown.
And when he's not in class, he's in the gym exercising and playing some hoops.
"I want to help people deal with their problems and with a positive outcome," said Alaghodaho, who is rehabilitating from a knee injury suffered in a tournament in Oshawa and not able to play for the Huskies Men's varsity team.
"I'm on the team, but have to improve and wait until they give me the go ahead that I'm physically ready to go."
Alaghodaho's plan is to finish the George Brown program, then go to university to study psychology, get his Degree and move on to help people "in real life situations".
"It'll take a lot of work to get to where I want to be, but I'm focused and determined to make it happen," he said. "I'm fascinated with the way the mind works, the human brain and I want to make an influence on people."
Born in Nigeria, he lived in Spain most of his young life and came to Canada from Madrid. He attended Weston Collegiate, but did his graduating year at George Harvey Collegiate. Alaghodaho played high school basketball at Weston, but the Toronto District School Board's athletic association prevented him from playing in Grade 12 because he switched schools.
At Weston, he was an assistant coach of the Junior basketball team and President of the school's Spanish Club. In his spare time, he helps out at a community centre in Weston.
