US rapper J Cole set to play in Basketball Africa League

American rapper J Cole is set to play professional basketball for Rwandan side Patriots BBC. The team will play Nigeria's Rivers Hoopers on Sunday, opening the first ever Basketball Africa League (BAL). Rumours of the signing began when the musician, whose full name is Jermaine Lamarr Cole, was seen in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, at the weekend.The team's coach, Alan Major, then confirmed the news to state broadcaster Rwanda TV on Monday.

According to sports news site The Undefeated, Cole arrived in Kigali on Saturday and is currently in quarantine ahead of Sunday's game.

Rwandan paper The New Times also tweeted a video of Cole wearing a Patriots jersey, adding that he "could feature" in the NBA-backed league.
The 36-year-old Grammy Award winner is expected to play three to six games this season, CBS reports.
J Cole is known to be a huge basketball fan and has referenced Lebron James and Michael Jordan in his music, but he has no professional basketball experience
In 2012 he appeared in the NBA's Celebrity All Star game which is held during the league's annual All Star Weekend.
At the 2019 All Stars game he performed during the half-time show.