
Both Ibaka’s parents were basketball players in Africa, setting the path for his career. His father played at the Republic of Congo and with the Congolese national team, and his mother played for the Democratic Republic of Congo. At 17, Ibaka moved to France and then to Spain, where he taught himself Spanish. He was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2008 and has become a key member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, which relocated from Seattle to Oklahoma City, and thrives as a deft all-around player.
Born in Port-Au-Prince, Polynice moved to the Bronx, New York, at a young age and became a force on the basketball court for All Hallows High. He went on to the University of Virginia in college, where he established himself as an NBA prospect. He was selected in the first round of the 1987 NBA Draft and played 15 seasons as a pro between five teams. He now runs a basketball camp for talented high school players.
