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B-ball prospect's stock may fall after hit-and-run charges

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With 10 of the best Division-1 schools in the United States reportedly fighting over him, 18-year-old Edward Ekiyor has been in a situation any budding young basketball player would crave.

A former student of Mother Teresa Catholic high school, the 6'8", 215-pound power forward from Ottawa was serious about his athletics as well as his grades.

But the prospect's stock may be hurt by the hit and run charge he's now facing, experts say.

"I would say that sounds like a pretty bad offence," one official from a Division-1 school told the Sun on Monday. "Most schools in the U.S. want to bring in people with good records, and one regrettable mistake might cost a good kid a chance. These scholarships are expensive and there's a lot of competition for them."

Another official from a different Division-1 school said schools would likely treat a propsect's criminal charges on a case-by-case basis.

"It depends on the situation. It's something the coaching staff would look at and investigate thoroughly," he said.

In May 2014, Ekiyor was selected to play the National Capital All-Star Classic at Carleton University where he played on the West team. 

Shortly thereafter he moved to New Hampshire to attend the New Hampton School, where he was a member of the New Hampton Huskies.

Ekiyor was invited to the BioSteel All-Canadian Basketball Game featuring 24 of the country's best high school basketball players earlier this year.

A year ago he was a part of Team Canada's Under-17 team that took part in the world championships in Dubai.

With all of his hard work and dedication to his sport and academics, it was clear Ekiyor was on a promising path to becoming a pro.

"(New Hampton) is more isolated, which takes away a lot of the distractions that can come up between a social life and just all things around you," said Ekiyor, about his decision to switch schools in a 2014 video interview posted online. "I can focus more, not just on basketball but on school as well. I just don't want to be slipping up."

New Hampton, a coed boarding and day school for students in grades 9 to 12, is a school known for its athletics programs such as alpine skiing, basketball, baseball, equestrian, football, soccer and tennis, among other sports.

Ekiyor's ESPN player profile describes him as fast player who follows through on his plays. 

"Ekiyor is an athletic four-man with a good motor," the ESPN profile says. "He's a very good finisher who gets off his feet quickly, can play above the rim in traffic, and converts at a high rate inside the paint. He rim runs effectively in transition, has the mobility to hedge ball-screens well."

According to his Twitter, Ekiyor considers himself a hard worker. 

He also lists rap artists Drake, Lil Wayne and Eminem as some of his musical preferences.

Ekiyor is set to graduate in 2016. He has yet to pick to a college team to play for.

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