SUMMARY
- Despite his father's initial aspirations for him to become a Catholic priest, Siakam showed little interest in basketball until he was discovered at a local camp.
- Siakam's basketball journey started in Cameroon and progressed to the United States at the age of 18.
Pascal Siakam, born on April 2 1994 in Douala, Cameroon, has made a name for himself in the world of professional basketball. Playing for the Toronto Raptors in the NBA, Siakam’s achievements include two-time NBA All-Star and a two-time All-NBA selection, he won an NBA championship with the Raptors in 2019.
Siakam is the youngest of four brothers and his early life was not focused on basketball. His father, Tchamo, worked for a local transit company employee and was also the mayor of Makenene. Tchamo had different goals for his son, enrolling him in St. Andrew’s Seminary in Bafia at age 11 with hopes of him becoming a Catholic priest. However, by 15, Siakam realized that he did not want to become a Catholic priest.
Unlike his older brothers, who all earned scholarships for basketball to NCAA Division I colleges, Pascal initially showed little interest in basketball. This changed when he was discovered at a local camp by Luc Mbah a Moute. Siakam’s basketball journey took off from there, leading him to Mbah a Moute’s camp and then to the Basketball Without Borders camp.
With Mbah a Moute as his mentor, Siakam moved to the United States at 18 to further develop his basketball skills. He attended God’s Academy in Lewisville, Texas, where he was not widely known or initially eligible. However, he caught the attention of New Mexico State University. Coach Marvin Menzies, known for his global connections and a roster filled with international talent, saw something special in Siakam.
Pascal Siakam has averaged 16.6 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 68 college games
Pascal Siakam’s college career at New Mexico State University was impressive. After redshirting the 2013–14 season due to an injury, Siakam worked his way to become a key player for the Aggies. In his debut season (2014-15), he earned the title of Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Freshman of the Year.
In the 2015–16 season, Siakam played 34 games, averaging 20.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. With this outstanding performance, he not only earned unanimous WAC Player of the Year honors but also solidified his status in college basketball.
In 68 college games, Siakam maintained impressive averages of 16.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists with shooting percentages of 55.1% from the field and 17.6% from the 3-point line. This amazing college career laid the foundation for his future in the NBA. He was selected by Toronto with the 27th overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NBA draft.