ND Okafor's performances in the green jersey led him to an NBA Academy.
Now the talented teenager is intent on becoming Irish basketball's greatest ever export.
Okafor starred in the 2019 Under-16 FIBA European Championships and coaches in the United States sat up and took notice.
The 6ft9in ace averaged 16 points per-game for Ireland at the tournament - including a 23-point, 18-rebound game against Sweden.
His phone lit up with interest from high schools throughout the States after his impressive showings.
"Because of my performance there I was lucky enough to get loads of phone calls from coaches all around the world," he told Mirror Sport.
Okafor chose to leave Dundalk for Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, but more recently he has honed his skills at the NBA Academy in Mexico.
The academy is one of many worldwide designed to give top international prospects the platform to boost their chances of one day making it to the NBA.
"My experience in the US was amazing," Okafor added.
"I loved the level of basketball in the US and how they eat, sleep and breath basketball every day.
"I had many different options on which high school I wanted to attend. There were top high schools making offers but I felt the NBA Academy was the best option for my development and growth, and they are connected to the NBA, which is my dream, to go to the league."
Okafor grew up in Balbriggan before moving to Dundalk for his teenage years and learning his basketball fundamentals with local club Dundalk Ravens.
"I started playing at age 12 in Dundalk," he recalled.
"I wasn’t really into basketball at that age, so it was on and off, I was into soccer instead.
"What I remember starting off is how much taller I was compared to all the other kids. I stood out compared to all of them and that kind of made me uncomfortable at that age."
The height that might have made Okafor self-conscious in his early-teens has done his budding basketball career no harm.
Reports from the U-16 European Championships raved about the youngster's athleticism as well as his basketball IQ.
College will be an essential stepping stone to the NBA if Okafor is to make it to the league and he is already being recruited by some of the top universities in the US.
Renowned basketball colleges such as Rutgers University, Montana State, Arizona and Baylor University have made him offers.
Dubliner Aidan Igiehon is another Irish prospect attempting to launch his basketball career Stateside with the Louisville Cardinals.
Igiehon has been tipped to make the NBA but a shoulder injury hampered his freshman year in Louisville.
Ex-Ireland international Pat Burke is the only Irish-born player to play in the NBA but Okafor hopes to break new ground for Irish basketball by starring at the highest level.
He added: "Seeing Aidan was good and definitely made an impact on Irish basketball. But I've always wanted to play Division 1 basketball and to achieve my ultimate goal, which is going to the NBA.
"My goal is to be the greatest Irish player to ever come into the league."
