10 Questions and Answers with Will Perry

Since making his Basketball Africa League (BAL) debut in 2023, Will Perry has become one of the league's most familiar faces.

He has played for four different BAL teams and has called Africa home for the past five years.

In this interview, the 32-year-old guard talks us through the early days of his basketball journey in Africa. He discusses the importance of having his family around, and explains what FUS Rabat needs to do to boost their chances in the 2026 BAL season.

Q:  What are your thoughts on the 2026 season of the BAL? This is your fifth season in the league, and you are now playing for FUS Rabat. Take us through your achievements in the league and explain what they mean to you.
A: It’s been life-changing for me. I played in Europe for five years and did well in the mid-tier, but I wasn’t reaching the top level that I wanted to. I thought maybe it wasn't going to happen, and then my opportunity in Africa came. I seized it, and ever since, my career has exploded. I owe a lot to the Basketball Africa League and the continent in general. Mozambique was the first African country I visited and Ferroviario da Beira was my club in Africa.

Q: You won a BAL award in 2023, the same year that you tied the scoring record of 41 points. These days, you are one of the most recognizable faces in the BAL. How does that make you feel? 
A: It’s flattering that some people see me as a great player and a great person in this highly respected league in Africa. Winning the BAL sportsmanship award in 2023 meant a lot to me. I was grateful to receive it. I always try to earn the respect of my peers, coaches, the media and the players I play against or with. Hopefully that reflects how they feel about me. I played well on the court in 2023 too; the points record was impressive, although it has since been broken. I didn't get to enjoy it for long, but it was nice while it lasted.

Q: Scoring records in this league don't last long. Yours lasted one year and Jo Lual Acuil's, which ended yours, was broken a year later. 
A: It shows that the league is improving year on year, with talent coming from outside the continent as well as Africa. The fact that these records don’t last long speaks volumes. Craig Randle's score of 54 points was incredible. It was an incredible performance by a great player. When my scoring record was broken, I was training in Nigeria in preparation for the 2024 BAL season. It did hurt for a moment, but you get over it quickly because these are great players. I don't see myself as an amazing scorer. Now, I just appreciate greatness.

Q. Ferroviário da Beira, Rivers Hoopers, ASC Ville de Dakar, and now FUS Rabat. These are the four teams you played for in the BAL. What did you learn from playing for those clubs? I mean, what have you learned about basketball culture and life off the court?
A: I have learned that every country and culture is different, and that their approach to basketball and their domestic leagues differ too. Seeing all these differences has been an amazing experience. 

Q: You played for Urunani in the Burundian league. That was another African experience. What was your Burundi experience like?
A: For anyone who doesn't know, in Burundi, you play outside. It’s unbelievable to see around 3,000 people or more packed into this tiny stadium – they're on top of each other! If anyone has the opportunity to play in Burundi, they should take it – it's unbelievable.  Unfortunately, I fractured my shoulder during my third training session and couldn't play in any games. I was unable to play in any games. I wish they would improve the facilities because there is a lot of talent there. There's nothing like playing on an outdoor court at night with 3,000 people around. It's crazy over there. If you can play in Burundi, you can play anywhere.

Q: FUS Rabat have made it through to the BAL playoffs. What can we expect from your team moving forward? You still have two more games to play in this conference in Rabat.
A: We have achieved our goal of qualifying, but we want more. We want to climb the rankings. Our top priority is to get our injured players back. We lost three key players to injury: Abdelhakim Zouita, Ilias Aqboub and Abdoulaye Harouna. These are players who play a lot. I can't remember playing for a team that lost three players and still competed as well as we did in our last game against ASC Ville de Dakar. I am grateful to be on this team. 

Q. How much support is FUS Rabat receiving from fans here in Morocco?
A. The fans have been amazing. Hopefully they will keep coming to the games. They were super supportive even in the game we lost at the buzzer, and they were really positive, which I appreciated. We are really thankful to the Moroccan people.

Q: In 2023, your wife was cheering you on in Dakar. The following year, your father came too, and we can see some of your family members here in Rabat this year. How important has that family support been to your career?
A: This year, my mum, my sister, and of course my wife and son are here. My dad came too. It’s an amazing feeling. My family is based in the USA and my wife is Portuguese. They travelled all the way here to watch me play. A couple of years ago, I told them that I wouldn't be playing basketball forever. They hadn’t seen me play for a while. They took it to heart, and I am grateful. A big thank you to my mum, sister, wife and father for coming. It’s a great feeling because they can see how hard I’ve worked over the last few years. It’s both my job and my passion. It’s always great to watch someone doing what they love.

Q: What did young Will Perry have in mind basketball-wise some 15 years ago?
A: Fifteen years ago, I was a high school player. I was a good player, but I never thought I could play professional basketball. The young Will would be very surprised at what I am doing right now. 

Q: How would you compare the competitiveness of the Kalari and the Sahara Conferences?
A: I didn't watch enough games in the first conference. I saw a lot of high-scoring games in that conference. This conference is more about. There are some highly tactical teams in this conference. Club Africain is really tactical; they play in a style that is almost European. The level here is really high.

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