It really doesn´t matter what country you scope out, you will always find gems, players that are incredible players grinding somewhere in a lower league and knowing they should be in a higher league. All those guys have chips on their shoulders and most think that they should be in a higher league except for Isaac Likekele (196-G-2000, college: Ohio St.). There might be a few others like Likekele, but he is a very special player. He was a player that had a solid college career at Oklahoma State, but it wasn´t spectacular and because of that he landed in Norway for his rookie season. His stats at Oklahoma State were good enough that he probably should of landed in a higher league, but it just wasn´t meant to be. A big difference between him and other players is that yes he has a massive chip on his shoulder, but he isn´t dwelling too much about the what if´s, but just focusing on himself and being the best he can and getting better. He had the right mindset already as a rookie and this guy will go places in his career. “The chip on my shoulder is huge as is just because I’m trying to maximize myself in this game as much as I can. As long as I give 100% wherever I end at the end of my career I’ll be satisfied as long as I gave it all I had. But, I don’t handle it bad mentally I don’t think about being in other leagues at all. I didn’t have to be here in this league like it was my only option. And I say that with the upmost respect because I’m highly appreciative for being here. People get so caught up in where you start when it’s all about where you finish. I’m more focused on getting better on my craft every day and being an impact everywhere I go”, warned Isaac Likekele.

Isaac Likekele who names ex teammate Cade Cunningham as the toughest player that he ever faced on the court was born on Feb 25, 2000 in Mansfield Texas and grew in Arlington and attended Mansfield Timberview High School: where he averaged 19ppg, 9,0rpg, and 6,0apg. He then played at Oklahoma State University (NCAA) from 2018-2022 playing a total of 114 games and reached March Madness in 2021. In his 4 years there he scored in double figures in 51 games and his favorite game was Beating Syracuse at the Barclays Center in his sophomore season. He was fortunate to have been teammates with future NBA players Lindy Waters and Cade Cunningham and has fond memories of them. “Lindy just taught me how to be an all around consistent guy. Everyday Lindy worked hard and was good every day. He had great days, & some good days, but never any bad days. Every late game clutch shot Cade hit for us from the beginning of the season to the end was always a wow moment for me”, stressed Isaac Likekele. After his time at Oklahoma, he latched on a year at Ohio State, but he didn´t play a big role there averaging only 21 minutes per game while averaging 3.7ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.8apg. “It was hard to get in a rhythm because I missed a whole month in the middle of the season, but those guys on staff taught me a lot of life things & helped me learn more about the game then I thought I knew”, said Isaac Likekele. After his freshman season at Oklahoma State, he was fortunate enough to play for USA at the U-19 World Cup and won a Gold Medal averaging 8.4ppg, 5.9rpg, 3.1apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 50.0%. USA Beat Mali for the Gold medal and he produced 9 points and 10 rebounds. “I don’t remember how the final game went exactly, but I remember the moment holding the trophy it was a surreal moment that can never be taken away from me”, stated Isaac Likekele. He had some great teammates with future NBA players like Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Suggs, Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley, but it was a non NBA player that impressed him the most. “The player that had the biggest impact on me was Cameron McGriff. He had the biggest impact on me far from any other player I’ve ever played with”, warned Isaac Likekele who feels that the classic Coming To America movie with Eddie Murphy should have been left alone,

The Texas native who names Cameron McGriff, Lindy Waters, Cade Cunningham, Thomas Dizagwa and Dee Mitchell as his 5 best teammates of all-time began his professional career with Fyllingen BBK (Norway-BLNO). It has been an incredible rookie season with winning the league title, achieving 10 double doubles and just enjoying basketball life. He has no regrets even if the weather was difficult to handle. “It’s definitely was tough to adjust to the weather. Even after 5 months I still wasn´t used to the weather. I can’t stand to be in cold climates. But with that being said the mountains & other beautiful nature things here in Norway makes it more than worth it.”, smiled Isaac Likekele. The season has been like a Cinderella story for the club, but also for the American as he is the main player on the team playing like the ultimate leader. “I have cherished most being able to do something special for the city of Bergen, but specifically Fyllingsdalen because this team has never won the regular season title or the championship and my team is in the position to do both if we continue to focus how we’ve been. The key to playing good basketball has been what the key is to playing basketball anywhere in the world honestly which is consistent hard work, focus, & determination. Everyone here wants to win badly and the more we win the harder we work. Even games that we win by 20 plus we don’t accept things in a win that we wouldn’t accept in a loss. We make sure we continue to emphasize winning habit”, warned Isaac Likekele in January 2024. But of course it wasn´t all Likekele who was instrumental in the success, but his 2 sidekicks Americans Pete Bullock who played his 19th season in Norway and Terrell Brown who averaged a mind boggling 32,0ppg during the season. “Pete has been a great guy to play with because he is all about team and winning. Pete is a mentor & emotional leader for the whole team. He is our enforcer like a Draymond Green without him we wouldn’t have won this many games, and the box score might not say that. But, for everyone that tunes in and watches they can clearly see how much of an effect he has on the court each game. Terrell has been great for us & it’s great to have a guy on your team that can score it like he can. He has a true gift for scoring the ball. But, I haven’t soaked up anything from his game because we play completely 2 different styles. So, I just watch his game out of enjoyment because it is a great sight to see anyone who can score the ball in the different ways he does”, commented Isaac Likekele who lists Lebron James as his Goat.

The ultimate stat filler who lists Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Magic Johnson on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore is a versatile player and what stands out most is his triple double talent which he did an incredible 10 times in Norway. He didn´t learn to produce triple doubles in Norway, but had already experienced it at Oklahoma State. But where was it tougher to achieve them in Norway or the NCAA? “For sure the NCAA because you’ve played those same teams for years. And for the ones you didn’t play against for years when you do play them they’ve seen you play on TV plenty because everyone in college basketball watches everyone because you just want to see great basketball. And NCAA basketball is the most exciting sport to watch especially in March”, added Isaac Likekele. Triple doubles aren´t easy to produce. Some players will get 1 or 2 in a season or even career. But has this rookie influx surprised him? “ No, they haven’t surprised me. My game has always been predicated on filling up the stat sheet. A lot of players focus their game in one statistic category, but the value of being able to effect the game in so many ways like I do allows you to play on any team and fit in just perfectly”, warned Isaac Likekele. He lists his passing as his greatest basketball ability and winning as the only thing that he thinks about. “I honestly don´t think about triple doubles. I just go out there and think about winning. Personal stats never matter if your team is losing”, stressed Isaac Likekele. His versatility will always stand out, but there are other parts of his game that remain off the radar. “My defense, my passing, & efficiency are hidden strengths in my game. Nobody says it’s bad, but people don´t put enough emphasis or value on how I’m able to guard 1-5 position. While offensively leading my team in assists. But, also my scoring. I score a lot of points off of a lot less shot attempts then it takes others, my game is very efficient”, said Isaac Likekele. He finished his rookie season in Norway averaging 19/12/8/3 stats. Winning was on his mind from day 1 and not his stats. There are guys out there that don´t have stats on their mind first. “Before you told me my stats just now I didn’t know any of my stats because I don’t even look at those kinds of things. I just go out there trying to play and win. But, I’m not surprised because I’ve been working hard & God already has my story written & edged in stone how it’s supposed to go. I expect nothing but greatness for sure”, expressed Isaac Likekele. He may have won his first chip in Norway, but obviously many will remember his triple doubles. But don´t call him the Westbrook of Norway. “I don’t want to hear I’m the Westbrook or the Lebron. I’m Isaac “Ice” Likekele and there’s only one of me. I carry my name with pride and only want to be mentioned with my own name. It’s a great name that my mother & father gave me. I want people to rave about my name around the world”, stressed Isaac Likekele. This season he will play with Kouvot Kouvola (Finland-Korisliiga). Having the name “Ice of Finland” would be very fitting. If he has another incredible season in Finland, then I´m sure he will continue to move up the basketball ladder. One may even see him in Germany next season. Then people will call him the “ICE” of Germany.