J. Cole is dropping his new album The Off-Season on Friday, but that’s not all the North Carolina rapper is up to this week. According to ESPN’s Marc J. Spears, Cole has signed with the Rwanda Patriots Basketball Club, the African country’s national team. The signing is expected to be announced on Thursday, a few days before the team plays the Nigeria River Hoopers on Sunday at 7 am. EST. Sources confirm @NewTimesRwanda report @JColeNC expected to play for Rwanda Patriots BBC in @theBAL. The rap star is in the four-day quarantine and the signing is expected to be official Thursday. Patriots open BAL action Sunday vs Nigeria River Hoopers 7 am EST live on ESPNews. https://t.co/QorCELnX96 — Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 10, 2021 Before he became a rap star, Cole had NBA dreams. He hooped for the Fayetteville Bulldogs during high school and considered pursuing basketball at St. John’s University in New York before deciding on a career in music. Cole outlined his decision in an editorial titled “The Audacity,” published last year: “As I envisioned this future for myself, there was a truth that I couldn’t escape… I came to New York to be a rap legend.”Report: J. Cole to play for Rwandan basketball team