Using your pro career to give back to your community – with Orlan Jackman – Ep. 98

For Episode 98 of the Hoopsfix Podcast we sit down with Solent Kestrels forward and England and GB Senior international Orlan Jackman

Originally out of Hackney, Jackman started out with the Hackney White Heat before heading to the US to prep school in California. Unable to get the NCAA Division 1 offer he was looking for, he returned to the UK for a season playing for Manchester Magic under Jeff Jones in NBL D1, before heading back to the US to JUCO.

He attended Seminole State College – with current London Lion captain Joe Ikhinmwin – before being stung by the NCAA’s eligibility rules at NCAA D2 school Newman, and ended up at Oklahoma City University in the NAIA.

Turning pro in 2012-13, he signed with his hometown London Lions for his rookie year, and has gone on to a pro career that saw him have success in Germany, a stint in Portugal before returning to play domestically, having played for Worcester Wolves, Newcastle Eagles, Cheshire Phoenix, London City Royals and since the Royals folded, time with Essex Leopards in NBL D1 and now Solent Kestrels.

Having always wanted to use basketball as a tool to give back to his community, Jackman has set up his own business coaching younger players to help the next generation.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
02:09 Interview start
02:44 How Orlan first started playing basketball
05:09 Players that Orlan looked up to when first playing
06:35 How much natural ability he had versus having to work on his skills
07:09 The different competitions he was playing in
08:30 Junior career memories
09:29 His formative years and the impact of Joe White
11:07 When he set his sights on the States
14:09 The other talented players of his generation
15:08 How the move to the US came about for prep school
16:19 The transition to California from London
17:46 His numbers in high school
18:44 The recruiting process
20:17 Playing in Manchester for a year after high school
23:21 Returning to the US to JUCO after his year in England
26:14 Getting to play with Joe Ikhinmwin at Seminole State
27:11 Breaking his foot and becoming aware of eligiblity issues
35:19 His crazy dunk at OKC University
35:58 Standout memories from college
39:45 How he felt about signing in London for his rookie year
44:33 Getting called up to the GB Senior Men in the summer of 2013
56:17 How he felt about returning to the BBL with Worcester after being abroad
57:19 Signing with Cheshire and their BBL Cup run
1:01:37 His time with the London City Royals
1:06:00 His evaluation on the first London City Royals season
1:07:40 People rooting against the Royals
1:11:14 The communication from ownership when things started getting shaky
1:13:49 The players’ reaction to knowing the club was folding
1:16:45 Signing with Solent this season
1:17:56 Solent being so dominant in NBL Division 1
1:20:11 Playing for friend Matt Guymon
1:21:50 How many years playing Orlan has left
1:22:34 Almost signing for London Lions this season
1:23:48 Signing for Solent despite it being less money than London and a commute away
1:24:52 Rooting for the Lions’ success
1:27:00 His thoughts on the state of British basketball
1:30:15 His favourite basketball memory
1:31:55 Best coadch he’s every played for
1:33:16 Best Brtish player he’s played with or against
1:33:50 Best invidivual performance he’s witnessed
1:34:58 The future, where he wants to be in the next 3-5 years

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