Missionaries Connect This Talented LDS Athlete from Africa to Utah Prep Academy in Hurricane

Africa has become fertile ground for recruiting talented athletes to come play at American universities. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is growing on the African continent and the Utah based church is again attracting talent to the area. 

Utah Prep Student is the Latest to be Found by Missionaries 

Macrae Heppler, who keeps Southern Utah up to date on the latest businesses coming to the area, released a video about a talented athlete coming to Utah Prep Academy in Hurricane. This young man is from Africa and played for the National Tanzania team. 

He joined the LDS church there and through one of the missionaries who taught him, made the connection with the school in Utah. His name is Jesse Bashingwa and his story is compelling. 

He has struggled through the loss of family and harsh conditions to thrive in basketball. From the streets of Tanzania to one of the premiere prep schools in the United States, it is a story that is just beginning. 

This is the same school where A.J. Dybantsa recently played for. He is considered a top recruit in the nation and will play for Brigham Young University this year.  

Bashingwa Story Sounds Similar to former NFL Defensive Lineman  

Ezekial Ansah, otherwise known as Ziggy, is from Ghana and joined the church there. With the encouragement of one of the missionaries who taught him, he ended up at Brigham Young University. He tried out for basketball but was cut from the team. 

Because of his strength and big frame, he was encouraged to try football. Ansah excelled as a defensive end and was drafted by the Detroit Lions of the NFL in 2013. He went on to play for 6 seasons. 

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You can see more about Bashingwa’s story on the video. You can also help him get from Africa to Southern Utah. It will be fun to see where it goes from here.