Roker signs with Helping Ballers Management

Bahamian Azaro Roker has taken that next step in his basketball journey and is now looking forward to the next phase of his career.

The 6’7” former forward for the St. Francis Xavier University (StFX) X-Men has signed with Helping Ballers Management as he looks to jumpstart his professional career. Roker’s goal is still to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA), but he said he has no problem going to Europe to gain some invaluable experience.

Roker, 23, signed with Helping Ballers Management over the weekend.

“I just want to thank everyone for being a part of this process. It’s been a long journey in getting to this point but I made it and I’m thankful for that,” he said. “I want to thank my mom who is here with me in spirit, and making me into the man who I am today and just being a blessing in my life. I’m proud to announce that I will be signing with Helping Ballers Management and I look forward to having an 

illustrious and excellent career.”

Roker recently lost his mother, Apostle Chivan Roker, and said he will dedicate the next phase of his basketball career to her. Signing with one of the leading sports management agencies in Europe on Mother’s Day, he said, was special for him because of the integral role his mother played in him getting to this point. He said he knows that his mother is looking down on him and is proud of the person and player he has become. He said he felt Helping Ballers Management connected with him more as a player, and that is the reason why he decided to sign with them.

“There were about 15 different agencies that I had to choose from, and there are ones that I thought would be better in terms of experience and years in the business, but I decided to go with Helping Ballers because my spirit took to them more. I felt they understood more who I was as a person and had the same hunger and passion that I have. They really pursued me and made it known that I was who they wanted to represent their brand. I’m ready to get started and ready to get to work,” he said.

Roker, a five-year player for StFX in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada, developed into one of the top young collegiate players in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) in U Sports (national sport governing body of university sport in Canada) in his final two years with the X-Men. He started all but one game in his final two seasons, and averaged 17.6 points, 13.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game while shooting 58.6 percent from the field, in his final season.

Roker played high school basketball with national team player for The Bahamas Dominick Bridgewater at Anatol Rodgers Senior High School here in New Providence.

After high school, he left for university in Canada and matured as a basketball player, significantly contributing to the success of his team as a Most Valuable Player (MVP), an All-Canadian Second Team member and an All-Conference First Team All Star player. In his senior season, Roker and the X-Men lost in the AUS championship game to the Dalhousie University Tigers at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Roker said he enjoyed his time in the quiet community of Antigonish where he was able to create new friendships and forge new relationships and now it’s time to move on. By signing with Helping Ballers Management, he is beginning the transitional period to the professional ranks.

Roker said he always reaches out to Bahamian professional basketball players such as Bridgewater, Jaraun ‘Kino’ Burrows and Dwight Coleby, all of whom play in Europe, for advice on how to transition to the next level and how to adjust once there. He is receiving interest from teams in France, Spain, Finland, Vietnam, Portugal and Sweden, and is hopeful that Helping Ballers Management will assist in securing the best possible pro contract for him.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/roker-signs-with-helping-ballers-management/