With the recently assembled Runhouse Hoops Project, Marvin DeBose and Jack Whitehead are directing basketball players from Ghana to junior colleges in the states.

Based out of the Finley Recreational Center where DeBose has aided the likes of Philadelphia University’s Malcolm Ingram and Lehigh’s Zahir Carrington, Runhouse wants to give athletes the opportunity to receive a solid education on a worldwide scale.

Since the players from Ghana haven’t been able to take the S.A.T. college entrance exam in the United States, their only alternative is to enroll in a junior college.

For years DeBose and Whitehead have kept in touch with Cape Coast Hoops Program coach Claude Thompson and now the pair feel ready to unleash their talent on the United States.

Their self-proclaimed “Jackie Robinson of Runhouse Hoops” is 6-foot-6 power forward Daniel Armah who plays for Casper Junior College.

The mature 18-year-old understands that Runhouse Hoops is a much bigger movement than him.    

“I don’t think about myself but rather put [DeBose, Whitehead and Thompson] on top of every decision I make,” said Armah. “If I smoke or drink, that keeps me from being the best basketball player I can be and that affects them so I don’t play around with this opportunity.”

Armah embodies the diligent, high-character basketball players that Whitehead and DeBose are looking to sponsor upon their arrival to the U.S. Because his father suffered a stroke and mother is limited by a leg ailment, he has had to grow up fast and that maturity makes him an even better first candidate for the program.

Arriving at Casper in the second semester kept Armah from being able to play for the Thunderbirds — a team that has won 12 regional championships. It gave him more time to focus on his academics.

Being constantly entrenched in his studies, Armah was able to post a 4.0 G.P.A. in only his first year of school in the states.

At school, Armah also had to adjust to relationships with African Americans. Listening to his classmates laugh at his English and say that Africans hung off of trees disappointed Armah but also obligated him to teach mockers about their true history.

“Whenever people in class would say that we live in trees in Ghana, I would say if we only ride on donkeys, how could I arrive in America so fast,” Armah retorted. “I wasn’t mad at [my classmates] but I said if you’re going to say something like that to someone, you should make sure you do your research first.”

The subject Armah is passionate about at Casper is biology. He plans to make it his major, with a minor in nursing, when he attends a four-year college. He eventually wants to return back to Ghana where he can give children in his homeland medical attention that they can’t afford.

“I understand how bad things can get for people back in Ghana if they aren’t rich, so I desperately want to help when I graduate from college,” said Armah. “Though I love Marvin and Jack, I have a family in Ghana that’s my basketball team. A lot of them won’t receive the opportunity to receive a great education in the states like me so it’s my responsibility to help them.”

On the court the articulate power forward, who speaks six languages fluently, also gained a great deal of discipline from his time playing for Cape Coast.

Consistently stressing the fundamentals of basketball, Thompson focused on teaching players like Armah every aspect of the game regardless of position.

Armah’s biggest adjustment has been conforming to one position. He’s willing to give a program that has produced 60 NCAA Division I players the benefit of the doubt.

“In Ghana, if you want to play a sport, you have to know all the rules of the game but when I get to America the coach would tell me that I can’t do this because I’m a power forward which was confusing at first,” Armah said. “I realize that I must be successful here for others to follow me into America so I’ve simply combined what I’ve learned in Ghana with what my coach has taught me.”

Without scoring one point, the inspirational Armah has made an impact on the Runhouse Hoops Project.

Next season will be Armah’s first season playing for the Thunderbirds but he’ll also be joined by Cape Coast teammate, 6-foot-9 forward Achu Atakpa.

Not having the opportunity to visit Ghana since his arrival to junior college might seem challenging, but for Armah it is simply a new adventure.

The upbeat power forward sees the bigger picture and realizes that he’ll be back in his homeland in due time.

“Whenever I’m down, Jack calls me and between him and Marv, I feel like I have a family here,” said Armah. “I really need to be focused on being successful [in America] and when I graduate from college, I know my family will be proud of me.”