Gideon George Is The Best Story In College Hoops: 2 Years Ago He Slept By An Outdoor Court In Nigeria, Applied Six Times For A Visa, Now Plays For BYU

With the new college basketball year you start to learn about new players and all the different stories. Low key it's always one of my favorite parts of the new season. But this one? This is my favorite by far this year. Gideon George instantly became the best story in college basketball. How could you not cheer for this guy after hearing his story? He slept outside, got chased by cops just to play 8 hours in 100 degrees heat to try and get somewhere with basketball. That's awesome. 

Not only that, but the dude has hilarious quotes. There was this story from his year at New Mexico Junior College, where his coach had to explain to him they don't eat rabbits there (h/t KSL). 

As the vehicle was pulling on to campus, Adams spotted a few rabbits.

"Gideon," he inquired, "are there rabbits in Nigeria?"

"Yes coach," the 6-foot-6 forward replied, then flashed a grin, "Good meat."

"Gideon," Adams said, "no rabbits on the grill."

And now he's playing on a BYU team that should be an NCAA Tournament team. They are projected to finish 2nd in the WCC behind Gonzaga and he's played double digit minutes in each of their three games. Then again, it's not shocking he can get on the floor when there's the time he took seven charges during a game. Brad Davison is jealous of that.

"The best thing he does is take charges," Adams said of George, who frequently could step from the 3-point line to the basket with one spin move. "One game, he took seven charges — the refs had to give him a block because they got sick of calling them. He’ll sacrifice his body at any time."

Sometimes we just need the good story out there and that's what this is. A dude who worked his ass off, battled through a ton of shit, learned American culture to fit in and is now playing for BYU. How can you not cheer for that?