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MORE THAN DUNKS TO DENZEL

He is, says Kieron Achara, “the most improved player in the BBL, no question.”

Arguably, if the Twitterati and the Instagrammers, are to be believed, among the most exciting too.

Denzel Ubiaro isn’t getting unduly carried away by dynamic displays of dunks and defence that have bumped his rep up to new heights and created ample material for an abundant compilation of his aerial assaults.

“Not too much,” declares Plymouth Raiders’ shooting guard with genuine modesty.

“One of my team-mates is always telling me: ‘Denz, get a dunk! You’ve got a fast break, get a dunk on him’.

“I’m just, ‘I need to get back on defence. I need to hustle, rebound, as much as I can.’”

But, he adds, smiling broadly, “it is nice to get a highlight reel here and there.”

Both the basic and the blimey prisms of his game have proven a significant factor in the Raiders’ charge to their first BBL Trophy final since 2017, the 24-year-old carving himself out a vital role despite an ante upped and a budget raised at the Devon outfit since their purchase by Turkish magnate Enver Yücel, 13 months ago.

8.5 points per game averaged, a third successive campaign raising that scoring bar amid continuing demands from head coach Paul James for the young Londoner to keep unlocking more of his undoubted potential.

“I feel like the main thing is my maturity level,” is Ubiaro’s self-evaluation of his progress.

“Just making sure that no matter if we’re up or if we’re down, I’m just staying up at the same level.

“And the biggest thing for me was to just be consistent day in, day out. Make sure I work as hard as I can, pull the best defence I can.

“Make sure I provide for the team. And, make sure I contribute to a win in the column.”

Some are born great, some have greatness thrust upon them, Others are a slow burner but with a flame eventually ignited.

Ubiaro’s passion for the game was lit during formative years spent in both Atlanta and Texas, his father’s career as an engineer affording the family a lengthy trans-Atlantic expedition that gave his son an initial hoops fix before their return to the UK.

“That was definitely helpful,” he claims. “I think there’s a trend where Americans are more like gritty, and they kind of grind and get after it when it comes to basketball. I think in sports in general, really.

“It’s just so much of a huge culture behind sports. And that really helps to bring the passion out of it.”

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Repatriated with that appetite fuelled, he continued his upskilling at Peckham Pride and Westminster Warriors. There was enough talent showcased to procure a recall across the Pond to Marshalltown, a junior college in Iowa, where he would not quite remain a full year.

“It was pretty tough,” he says. “But I kind of enjoyed the experience of going there.”

Back home in the summer of 2016, he was scrimmaging at a local court when his knee suddenly gave way. Scans showed he had sustained the traumatic blow of a torn ACL. A game changer in every sense.

“I went through the rehab process of it,” he recalls. “And then I just thought to myself that I’d rather go on a different path towards my end-goal, which has been a professional basketball player.”

It took several months of painstaking and often painful restoration. The doubts, inevitably, crept in, he acknowledges.

“Am I going to come back? Yeah. Am I going come back normal? Am I going to still be able to do the things I could do on a basketball court?

“I think it was more mentally challenging than physically. And I think I’m still slowly trying to get my mental side consistent.”

Plymouth was Plan B. A solid option, with a degree at Marjons University as a supplementary incentive to head south west. An infrastructure to strengthen mind and body and accelerate once again.

And now, four years on, comes a shot at pulling off superlative slams in a major final.

With a medal up for grabs as well, ideally a winner’s one if Plymouth can manage to ground London Lions.

Hitting his stride in this Covid-infused season, you sense Ubiaro will be happy to fly a little higher with each appearance.

“I’m enjoying it definitely,” he declares. “I feel like this is a group of guys that’s well, gelling nicely.

“There’s just a positive environment with the team. That translates on court.”

Watch streaming coverage of the Trophy finals via MVP247.com from 2.30pm on Sunday

This story originally appeared in The Post Up – MVP’s regular email newsletter with exclusive news and features – Subscribe today.

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