HALIFAX—A Halifax-area basketball player’s dream of becoming the first Nova Scotia native to play in the NBA appears to be getting closer and closer to reality.

Lindell Wigginton, who recently finished his rookie year of American college basketball with the Iowa State Cyclones, has been visiting NBA teams this month, including the Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks.

The Lakers even posted a photo to Twitter last week of Wigginton in a Los Angeles practice jersey uniform, giving Halifax hoop fans a taste of what might happen down the road.

A Nova Scotian has never played in the NBA in its 71-year history. Making it to the NBA would be a historic breakthrough for the 20-year-old point guard from Dartmouth, N.S.

His family, friends and fans hope he will have a chance to be for basketball what Cole Harbour’s Sidney Crosby is to hockey in the province.

“Overall he had a great season,” Flemming Downey, Wigginton’s father, said in an interview.

The young player returned home in late March for some rest and relaxation after his season at Iowa State ended.

“So when he came home for that break, we decided. We talked about (the NBA draft), and he said he wants to test the waters and see how it goes from there.”

Wigginton finished fifth in scoring in the Big 12, a 12-team NCAA Division 1 conference that features some of the U.S.’s top basketball programs. Named to the Big 12 all-newcomer team, Wigginton had 13 games with 20 points or more — an Iowa State freshman record.

“Always knew that he had it in him,” Downey said. “No matter who comes in his way, he’s determined to push them to the side because he wants to go ahead.”

The NBA announced last week that 69 players were being invited to its draft combine in Chicago starting on Wednesday.

Wigginton didn’t make the list. But he’s still getting noticed ahead of the June 21 draft in Brooklyn, N.Y.

In the past two weeks alone, he’s had the chance to showcase his skills at pre-draft workouts for the Lakers, Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers.

Wigginton comes from a basketball family, with his brother Rodell playing two seasons with the University of Buffalo. Demarco, another sibling, played professionally with the Halifax Hurricanes.

Without an agent, Wiggington is being supported by friends and family as he navigates his career path.

This includes Colter Simmonds, coach of the Auburn Drive provincial championship high school team and founder of the We Will Win Youth Association, a program that works with at-risk youth with a focus on the African Nova Scotian community.

“He’s been always a kid that had determination, a willingness to compete and want to be the best,” said Simmonds, who coached Wigginton when he was nine. They still occasionally hit the gym together.

“He didn’t settle for just being an average player; he wanted to be the best player. I always said that he had something that a lot of other good kids didn’t have. It’s a pro mentality.”

The Nova Scotia basketball community as a whole is watching every step to see what happens next.

For example, seeing Wiggington in that Lakers practice jersey created a lot of buzz on social media throughout Halifax and Nova Scotia.

“It’s big for the community simply because so many kids are playing basketball. Basketball’s been a big part of the community that he’s connected to — Uniacke Square and community Y and North Preston and the North Preston Bulls,” explained Simmonds.

As a teenager, Wigginton moved to the United States to play at the Oak Hill Academy prep school in Mouth of Wilson, Va. There, he played three years of high school basketball and was noticed by NCAA scouts.

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“It shows Lindell’s really a testament to goal-setting and working hard” said David Wagg, executive director of Basketball Nova Scotia.

“Everybody is definitely following his career, and if he does, when he makes the jump to the NBA, it’s going to definitely create a bit of a Crosby factor I would say.”

If drafted, Wigginton will be the first Nova Scotia-born player drafted to the NBA. Will Njoku, born in Ghana but raised in Halifax, was drafted by the Indiana Pacers 41st overall in 1994.

“Every parent is going to believe that, yes, it can happen for their kid, and every kid is going to start to believe that it can happen for them,” Simmonds said. “Not every kid is Lindell,” he added, but all can “pursue their dream.”

He already showcased his skills to NBA scouts at marquee events such as the Nike Hoops Summit in Portland, Ore., last April. Wigginton also returned from an injury just in time to help Canada win a gold medal at the International Basketball Association (FIBA) under-19 tournament in July 2017.

Wigginton and his family have until May 30 to decide if he wants to remain draft-eligible or withdraw and return to Iowa State for a sophomore season. While unavailable to be interviewed for this story, he’s told Iowa media it’s either NBA or Iowa State next season; he’s not interested in a developmental minor league association.

Of the 32 Canadian-born players to ever make the NBA and its precursors, 13 have appeared in fewer than 20 games, according to Basketball-reference.com.

The numbers show just how hard it is to even be considered for the NBA as a Canadian. But Wigginton has drive and wants so much more, Downey said.

“His goal is to be the first Nova Scotian to make the NBA and (make) an impact in the NBA.”

Lindell Wigginton Player Profile

Age: 20

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 188 pounds

From: Dartmouth, N.S.

NCAA Division team: Iowa State Cyclones

Games started: 31

Points per game: 16.7, fifth in Big 12 conference.

20-point games: 13, a Cyclones freshman record

Where he played in high school: Oak Hill Academy in Virginia

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