Duff related the story of how Nicola came to Canada from South Sudan, the home of former NBA star Manute Bol. Another Sudanese player, Deng D'Awol, who had played college basketball in the United States, spotted Nicola while coaching in South Sudan. D'Awol had played youth basketball in Canada with the son of Patricia Marsden-Dole, a former Canadian ambassador to Tanzania, so they turned to her for help. Eventually Nicola found his way to Windsor and Cusumano, who had submitted Nicola's application to Canada Homestay.