Several months ago, Mike Buffalo's passion for the game of basketball took a nosedive. His dream to play professional ball and eventually move into the front office of a professional team just didn't seem possible anymore. At the time Mike was a senior at York College and had notified his coaches he was leaving the team.
A chance meeting with Mason Conner, then a student at York Middle School, during a trip to the York Community Center changed how Mike felt. Suddenly he had a revitalized eagerness to return to the game.
"I am proud to announce that I will be beginning my professional basketball career in the English Basketball League (England) with the Mansfield Giants," Mike said. "I am very thankful for this opportunity from the man above. The Lord works in mysterious ways. This is all 'God's Plan, Not Mine' — and just to think I gave up on basketball several months ago and now look where he has me, in another country to start my professional career. I am truly blessed."
Since graduating from York College, Mike faced six months of uncertainty. He even thought about going out and finding a regular 9-to-5 job. "I must admit this process was a bit stressful. After graduating in May 2014 with a degree in business, sitting around for six months not knowing where I'll be playing next season was frustrating."
"But I continued training and kept believing that God was going to place me somewhere. It just takes time and patience because sometimes you have to expect the unexpected and allow God's timing to bring you where you need to be at His pace."
Mike is very thankful to everyone who kept believing in him. "I want to thank my immediate family, my friends, my professional basketball agent Wesley Alston, my trainer Marlon Smith, coach Matt Shaw of the Derby Trailblazers, the Simon family, and my second family in Nebraska — the Conners — for their continuous love and support."
Mike and his trainer plan to give back to the community of York the following summer when they return to host the Mike Buffalo Basketball Camp. "So at the moment I'm actually in England. I have to begin practice for my upcoming game on Saturday, which means I am six hours ahead of you guys in time."
