After two years spent battling through injury, surgery, and the uncertainty that comes with being away from the game, MRU men's basketball forward Faruq Balarabe has earned a spot on England's U23 FIBA 3x3 National Team, giving him the opportunity to represent his country on the international stage this summer.

"It's really exciting," said Balarabe. "At any level, as an athlete, to be recognized for your national team is an honour. If you ask any athlete, it would be one of the highest honours. I'm really happy to be in the position to do something like this."

The selection marks another chapter in a basketball journey that has taken Balarabe from London, England, to Canada, the United States, and ultimately Mount Royal University.

Yet the path to the national team was anything but straightforward.

A Long Road Back

When Balarabe takes the floor wearing the England colours,  it will represent the culmination of years of work behind the scenes.

Just a few seasons ago, he suffered a torn patellar tendon, an injury that required surgery and forced him to play at less than 100% for nearly two years.

The recovery process tested him both physically and mentally.

"A lot of long nights and beating myself up," Balarabe reflected. "Even when I was back on my feet playing again, I didn't necessarily feel how I used to feel before the injury. Getting your body and your mind feeling right again after two seasons out of competition is not easy."

Rather than allowing the setback to define him, Balarabe used it as motivation.

Returning to the court with the Cougars this past season, he helped MRU through a strong campaign while rediscovering the confidence that had once made him a rising up and comer in the English basketball landscape.

The national team recognition became confirmation that the work was paying off.

"Even just being named to the training camp, when I first got the email, I thought, 'Wow, okay, this makes me feel good,'" he said. "It's an honour to be recognized for something like that, especially after the journey I had just been through."

Built for 3x3 Basketball

While many fans are familiar with traditional five-on-five basketball, the 3x3 format presents an entirely different challenge.

Played on a half court with a 12-second shot clock, the game is faster, more physical, and leaves little room for mistakes.

"It's so different," Balarabe explained. "It's basically a nonstop sprint for 10 minutes. There's so much more space, and the window for making mistakes is very small."

Fortunately for England, Balarabe believes his skillset is perfectly suited to the format.

Versatility has always been one of his greatest strengths. Standing between the traditional roles of guard and forward, he has built his game around the ability to defend multiple positions, handle the ball, and attack the basket.

"Some people have called me a bit of a tweener," he said. "I'm somewhere in between the guards and the bigs. In 3x3, that's one of the biggest advantages because there isn't necessarily a point guard, shooting guard, or center. You can be guarding a point guard one possession and a center the next."

Head coach Josh Mullen echoes this sentiment and says the 3x3 format will provide Balarabe with a unique development opportunity. 

“The 3X3 game is different from 5 on 5 but it has a lot of value in terms of player development. With the amount of space on the floor players are forced to guard in space across multiple positions which I think has tremendous value. With the 12 second shot clock and the premium placed on three point shooting in the 3X3 game Faruq will get the opportunity to get lots of reps in an aggressive attacking system that will only enhance his decision making and skills throughout the competitions.”

Balarabe's Path

Unlike many players who enter the national team system at a young age, Balarabe's route to representing England took a different turn.

Growing up in London, he wasn't part of one of the country's most visible basketball academies, limiting his exposure to national team coaches during his developmental years.

"I wasn't really recognized for those kinds of opportunities when I was younger," he said. "Not because anyone did anything wrong, but because they can't see everyone."

Instead, he carved his own path.

After spending time in Canada and the United States, Balarabe continued to develop his game while gaining valuable experience against high-level competition. Those opportunities ultimately helped place him on England's radar.

"Coming to Canada, going to school at a place in Michigan, and then coming back to Canada really allowed me to make a name for myself," he said. "It helped show that I could compete at a high level."

His story serves as a reminder that there is no single route to international success.

Finding a Home at MRU

Balarabe's connection to Mount Royal actually began years before he ever wore a Cougars uniform.

MRU head coach Josh Mullen first recruited him while coaching at the University of Victoria. Although the timing didn't work out at the time, the relationship remained.

Following his injury and a desire for a fresh start, Balarabe began exploring opportunities to return to Canada.

When he learned Mullen had taken over at Mount Royal, the decision came together quickly.

"He was pretty stoked that I was available, and I was really excited that he had the opportunity for me," Balarabe said. "We got it done really quickly."

Since arriving in Calgary, Balarabe has embraced both the university and the city.

"I really enjoy my time at MRU," he said. "We have a great team, a great coaching staff, and the community is a pretty good atmosphere. I was happy with my decision to transfer here."

Representing More Than Himself

As he prepares to compete in Prague and Slovakia this August as part of the FIBA 3x3 Nations League, Balarabe knows he won't just be representing England.

He'll also be representing Mount Royal.

"One hundred percent I'm proud to rep MRU" he said. "At the first training camp, I was already wearing my MRU Cougars gear."

For Balarabe, national team duty is an opportunity to showcase both his country and the program that helped him return to form.

"MRU is my home right now," he said. "Anywhere that I call home, I want to represent in the best way possible."

His selection also highlights the opportunities available to international student-athletes competing in U SPORTS.

Growing up, Balarabe wasn't always visible to national team selectors. Now, his story demonstrates that talent can be recognized regardless of where an athlete plays.

"You don't have to be playing in your country to be recognized by your national team," he said. "If you're playing and doing what you need to do, you can be recognized."

Looking Ahead

England's U23 squad opens FIBA 3x3 Nations League competition in early August in Prague, Czech Republic, before traveling to Slovakia for a second tournament stop later in the month.

For Balarabe, the excitement continues to build.

Yet even with the initial email still sitting in his inbox, the moment still hasn't fully sunk in.

"I think once I'm there, wearing the jersey and getting ready to step on the floor, that's when it's really going to hit me," he said. "Right now, I'm excited. But being on the floor, in the jersey, in another country, ready to compete—that's going to be a different feeling."

After everything he's overcome, it's a feeling he has undoubtedly earned.