Winnipeg-born basketball talent Daniel Sackey has officially signed his first professional contract with BC Yambol, a first-division club in Bulgaria's National Basketball League. Sackey, 25, will embark on his pro career overseas, bringing his dynamic playing style to Europe after years of competing at high levels in North America.
Sackey played his college basketball in the NCAA for the Division 1 New Orleans Privateers of the Southland Conference, following a period with the Valparaiso Beacons in the Missouri Valley Conference. His talent was evident from a young age, as he represented Canada at the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship, helping the team secure an impressive 6-1 record.
Locally, Sackey was a member of the Manitoba Provincial Team and Centre for Performance while in Winnipeg. He developed his skills at Kelvin High School with the Clippers before leaving to pursue prep school opportunities in both the U.S. and Canada. Prior to his time at Valparaiso, he earned first-team all-star honours in the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association at Thornlea Secondary School in Thornhill, Ontario.
Sackey's last appearance in Manitoba was during the 2016 Canada Basketball National Championships, hosted at the University of Winnipeg, where Team Manitoba finished 4th. That same year, he represented Team Canada alongside fellow Manitoban Emmanuel Akot as a member of the Canadian National Cadet team.
With a wealth of experience at the collegiate, provincial, and national levels, Sackey's transition to professional basketball in Bulgaria marks an exciting new chapter in his already impressive career!