{
  "id": 2461260,
  "title": "My basketball dream ended after visa denial — Ex-BBNaija star Hermes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/my-basketball-dream-ended-after-visa-denial-ex-bbnaija-star-hermes-2461260",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-22T00:52:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/my-basketball-dream-ended-after-visa-denial-ex-bbnaija-star-hermes/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ex-BBNaija housemate Hermes Iyele has always been passionate about basketball despite his success in the entertainment industry. He started playing the sport to secure a scholarship to study abroad, but unfortunately, he did not obtain the necessary visa. Nevertheless, he continued to play basketball and even had the opportunity to work with the NBA after Big Brother Naija. Hermes now dedicates Tuesdays and Thursdays to playing basketball, showcasing his love for the sport. Playing as a small forward, he relates his style to that of Jordan due to his playmaking abilities. Hermes has considered representing Nigeria professionally but acknowledges the challenges, including the need for a year of conditioning. He recognizes the potential for basketball to engage the youth and believes synergy between the private sector and government is crucial for its improvement.",
  "summary": "Ex-BBNaija star Hermes Iyele opens up on his unfulfilled basketball dream, visa denial, love for LeBron James, and plans to impact Nigerian basketball. Read More: https://punchng.com/my-basketball-dream-ended-after-visa-denial-ex-bbnaija-star-hermes/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "My basketball dream ended after visa denial — Ex-BBNaija star Hermes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/my-basketball-dream-ended-after-visa-denial-ex-bbnaija-star-hermes",
        "published": "2026-08-22T00:26:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}