Note: This article was featured in our 2017 April Fool’s issue.

The Iona men’s basketball team recently recruited its newest (and possibly youngest) member last week. The men’s basketball team was on fire this past season, winning the MAAC championship and making it to the NCAA Tournament. With the latest addition of this new team member the men’s basketball team is predicted to improve and get stronger as a whole. At this point you may be asking yourself who this person is and the identity of this mystery player may surprise you. Brian Bryant, son of retired basketball player Kobe Bryant, is this anxiously awaited member of the Iona men’s basketball team.

However, the high profile and prestige that Brian holds as Kobe Bryant’s son is less surprising than another factor, his age. While his father was in the NBA for twenty years and won a great deal of awards, that is not as shocking as the fact that Brian is only four years old yet has been signed to play for a college basketball team. That’s right, Brian is a mere four years old and is preparing to play basketball for a Division I team.

Now many of you may be wondering how a four-year-old would ever be able to play college basketball. Head coach of the Iona men’s basketball team, Tony Tinman, tries to clear up some of the confusion that may have arose as a result of this announcement.

“I know Brian is young. Some may say too young. But we were all young once and it is never too early to chase your dreams and try to reach your fullest potential,” Tinman said. “I know it is going to take some serious effort to integrate Brian onto the team but my colleagues and I are ready to take on that challenge. I believe he will be of great benefit to this team and will help us reach even more success than we have in the past. Plus, who wouldn’t want to see a legend like Kobe Bryant in our own Hynes Gymnasium from time to time attending the games?”

Tinman does make valid points. Having a member of the Bryant family playing on the basketball team is exciting and many of the students agree. Current sophomore and journalism major Christy Sanders noted that she was ecstatic when she heard the news that Brian Bryant was signed to play basketball here.

“I can’t believe Iona is lucky enough to have a sport legend such as Kobe Bryant’s son playing on a team here,” Sanders said. “Age is but a number and whether he is four, five or 35 I know he will be a great asset to our basketball team. After all, he is Kobe Bryant’s son and will have one of the NBA’s greatest players training him.”

Many other students share the same opinions as Sanders and are hopeful for the arrival of Brian and the contributions he will make to the team next season.

Will Brian be a child basketball prodigy? Will he truly be an asset to the team? Does he even know how to walk yet? Will we all get to meet Kobe Bryant? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: Brian has his work cut out for him because he is not in preschool anymore.