Coming to America

Leading up to opening night of the 2020-21 Georgia State men's basketball season, each member of the roster will be featured on a different day with a story, video, and social media elements. We continue the series today with redshirt-junior Eliel Nsoseme who sat out last season per NCAA rules after transferring from Cincinnati.

How does one get from Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Atlanta? Well by plane it is just under 7,000 miles, but that would easily sell-short the story of redshirt-junior Eliel Nsoseme and his journey of 'Coming to America.'

When most think of Africa they imagine deserts, safaris, and wildlife roaming wild, but that was far from the case for Nsoseme and his siblings who grew up in the city and not too far from the Atlantic Ocean.

"Growing up in the Congo was really different," Nsoseme said. "I had a lot of friends and we were always outside, running outside, playing outside, in bare feet and enjoying life. It was a lot of fun. It was really good as in some ways it helped me grow a lot and faster and take on more responsibilities at a young age. I think it was truly the best time of my life growing up in Congo."

A film and media major who loves now living in the 'Hollywood of the South,' Nsoseme hopes to use his degree to become a producer some day and tell his story which is unique to most of the world.

"I do get asked about my experience all the time about where I am from and moving all the way here. A lot of people don't really know my story or where I am from. For example, when I was in class back in Canada someone asked me if I see lions when I wake up in the morning. It made me laugh and I had to explain to him that I lived in a city just like I do here. Being able to tell my story and to work behind the camera and show how I see things, which I feel is different than a lot people, is what I hope to accomplish one day."

Those experiences in the Congo helped him make a huge jump from Africa to Canada and after two seasons at Cincinnati now on to Georgia State.

"The biggest adjustment for me was coming from a country where it was sunny everyday, to when I moved to Canada it was cold most of the time. It was a big change for me. I was also still really learning basketball. I only started playing basketball when I was 15. I was about 18 or 19 when I left the Congo and moved to Canada. It really helped me grow both my game and myself personally. In Canada I played in prep school and I met a lot of great people and coaches that helped me on my next step of coming to the United States to play basketball at Cincinnati and now on to Georgia State."

Fans should be excited not only to see what Nsoseme can do on the court this year, but also what he brings in terms of leadership and an infectious smile. His coaches and teammates have seen what 'E' brings to team over the last year, but now he is about a month away from showing it off to the rest of the world.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Eliel Nsoseme: F; 6' 9"; Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

#1 Eliel Nsoseme
: 6' 9"; Redshirt Junior
: F

Players Mentioned

#1 Eliel Nsoseme

Players Mentioned

#1 Eliel Nsoseme