When Marvin arrived in Camberwell with his parents and sister in the early '80s, basketball arrived with him. His father, Paul, was introduced to the game in Liverpool by the late Jimmy Rogers, who founded Atac Basketball Club in 1969. Paul later played alongside American legends LeRoy Shaw and Mike Pyatt in the National League for Liverpool Basketball Club. His deep connection to the game meant the orange ball was ever-present in Marvin’s earliest memories, soon becoming part of his daily routine. At six, he eagerly awaited his chance to get shots up at his dad’s weekly Brixton Rec sessions. When his dad took the reins of the Brixton Junior Topcats, Marvin hit the court—becoming the second generation coached by Jimmy Rogers and quickly developing into a solid point guard and elite shooter.

Tuck in the elbows. Follow through. Repeat.

It was the women’s game that carried the most inspiration in Marvin’s formative years. Brixton’s women’s team—featuring players like Alex Raymond, Elaine Johnson, Andrea Norton, and Ann Pitman—drew crowds unlike anything seen before and played a key role in Marvin's early nurturing and development. 

"I was watching greatness at a young age," Marvin reflects. "I just wanted to emulate that. Anytime there was a chance to play, I’d try to be on the court with them, even though I was so young."

It was always the Topcats. From age five to fifteen, from the Rec to captaining England’s U18 squad, often playing above his age bracket—pushed by his dad and motivated by Jimmy Rogers (who founded the Topcats in 1984) to "drive the body." At times, the push may have gone too far. Between fourteen and seventeen, Marvin suffered five ankle fractures and a serious knee injury.

He continued attending camps, but when considering his longevity in the sport, he turned to another passion—music. Though his sister, Marsha (who also played for England), was always the singer, Marvin took an interest in the recording studio, particularly in songwriting and backing vocals. After early success—and validation from his future wife—music became the lead vocal, while basketball faded into the background.

That shift also introduced Big Marv. Studio life, away from the active lifestyle of basketball, led to significant weight gain. One day, catching a glimpse of himself on a digital camera, he deleted the entire photo library and sought immediate change. What followed was drastic—he lost five stone, dropping below his previous playing weight. But with that came an identity crisis. Big Marv was now Small Marv, trying to regain confidence in his place in music. That confidence came—he formed a group that opened for Floetry (his sister’s duo) and went on to write for some of music’s brightest stars.

Marvin never fully left the game, playing pickup worldwide whenever the opportunity arose. He also used his dramatic weight-loss journey to build a career as a personal trainer and TV host. Eventually, though, he fell out of love with fitness—until his wife reminded him of his true passion: basketball. 

The Black Prince Trust in Kennington serves the local community through sports. Its dedicated basketball courts, however, serve the entire London hoop network, with some of British basketball’s most viral moments happening at The Regal, one of the UK’s most iconic indoor courts. Across the hall, another court brings Marvin Ambrosius full circle. At its centre, the unmistakable Jumpman logo. Overlooking it, Wings—the masterpiece image of Michael Jordan that every ’90s kid once wished for. The Jordan Court is drenched in Jordan Brand prestige, inspiring anyone who steps onto it to play their best basketball.