# @the.tournament on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CcDz6tiOorf
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/7174452-thetournament-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/627894b712.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-04-07T18:15:53.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** TBT (@the.tournament) — https://gondola.cc/the.tournament

## Caption

Marc-Eddy Norelia went from son of a metal welder in Haiti to pro basketball player while overcoming a million obstacles along the way

The Florida TNT forward was born in Port-au-Prince Haiti - his father was a metal worker and mother sold charcoal on the streets. Norelia spoke only Creole and knew no English while his family worked to move them out of the country. They eventually relocated to Deerfield Beach, Florida, when Marc-Eddy was three years old and lived there for the majority of his life. Norelia started playing organized basketball after his sister told him he should give it a try. Despite this, Norelia was cut from his middle school team in 7th grade after measuring in at only 5-foot-5.

"That gave me that drive of every day, every day," Norelia said in a 2016 interview with the Naples Daily News.

He continued to work on his game and grew ten inches over the next year -- Norelia even has scars from the immense growing pains.

Norelia would go on to star at Olympia High in Orlando, Florida. He played three years of varsity basketball there and by senior year, he made the Class 8A All-State First Team, All-Central Florida First Team and All-Metro Conference West Division with averages of 16.9 points and 9.7 rebounds. ESPN rated him 17th among forwards in the state.

Norelia is now a vital part of Florida TNT after three seasons at Florida Gulf Coast University -- his best coming in 2015 when he averaged 17.1 PPG and 9.3 RPG for the Eagles.

University of North Florida coach Matt Driscoll, who recruited Marc-Eddy twice, saw the improvement in his game throughout his high school and college years.

"He's way better," Driscoll told the Naples Daily News. "He's one of the top five most efficient players in the league. He's got the ability to stretch it sometimes to 17 (feet). He finishes well around the rim. He's definitely gotten better and he's definitely a very good player."

Best of luck to Marc-Eddy as he continues his basketball journey in France!

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 554
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 18

## Credits

These are the roles credited on Gondola. Credits may be incomplete.
A brand, account owner, or featured person is not necessarily the creator.

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| TBT | @the.tournament | https://gondola.cc/the.tournament | Sports Tournament |
| Maurice Richardson | @mo_20 | https://gondola.cc/mo_20 | Social Media Manager |
| Maurice Richardson | @mo_20 | https://gondola.cc/mo_20 | Copywriter |

---
Copyright (c) Gondola