Nigerian Basketball, Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Standings

Traditionally, every week we bring you a list of the top performances of Nigerians who are currently playing abroad.

#1. This week's number one is an international center Alade Aminu (210-87, college: Georgia Tech, currently plays in Turkey). He led Karsiyaka to a victory over the 14th-ranked Olin Edirne (8-22) crushing them 81-60 in the Turkish TBL in Monday night's game. Aminu was MVP of the game. He had a double-double by scoring 20 points and getting 11 rebounds in 24 minutes on the court. Pinar Karsiyaka SK Izmir (23-7) is placed fifth in the TBL. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. They will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical. It's Aminu's first season with the team. Aminu has relatively good stats this year: 11.8ppg, 5.6rpg, 2FGP: 67.6%(144-213) and FT: 65.1% in the 29 games he played so far. He is currently a member of the Nigerian senior national team.

Benjamin Eze

#2. Second place goes to former international power forward Benjamin Eze (207-81, college: S.Idaho JC, currently plays in Italy). Eze contributed to a Montepaschi Siena's victory against the closely-ranked Armani Milano (19-11) 75-69 in the Italian SerieA last Thursday. He recorded a double-double by scoring 14 points and getting 12 rebounds. Eze also added 2 blocks. Montepaschi Siena (18-12) is placed fifth in the SerieA. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. Eze is currently second on the league's list of best blockers. This season he averages: 6.3ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.6bpg, 2FGP: 58.8%(80-136) and FT: 53.3%. Eze has a dual citizenship: Nigerian and Italian. He played for the Nigerian national team in 2009.

Ebi Ere

#3. The Nigerian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international swingman Ebi Ere (195-81, college: Oklahoma, currently plays in Italy). Ere was the major contributor in a Cimberio Varese's victory against the eighth-ranked Umana Venezia (16-14) 81-72 in the Italian SerieA on Sunday night. He had a double-double by scoring 19 points and getting 10 rebounds in 31 minutes. Cimberio Varese (23-7) is placed first in the SerieA. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. This year Ere has relatively solid stats: 14.3ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.1apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 47.1%, 3FGP: 39.9% and FT: 73.6% in the 32 games. He is another player who holds two passports: Nigerian and American. Ere played for the Nigerian national team four years ago.

Ike Diogu

#4. Power forward Ike Diogu (204-83, college: Arizona St., currently plays in Puerto Rico), who plays in the Puerto Rican BSN could not help Leones (12-0) in their last game on Monday. Despite his very good performance his team was defeated 89-80 on the road by the second-ranked Indios. Diogu was the top scorer with 30 points. He also added 8 rebounds. Diogu has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 21.8ppg, 9.4rpg and 1.5apg. Diogu has both American and Nigerian nationalities. He is also Nigerian national team player.

Ike Ofoegbu

#5. Former international forward Ike Ofoegbu (205-85, college: SMU, currently plays in Venezuela) was the main contributor in Bucaneros' victory against the eighth-ranked Guaiqueries (19-30) 94-75 in the Venezuelan LPB in Monday night's game. Ofoegbu was the best player in that game. He recorded 24 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 34 minutes. Bucaneros de La Guaira (25-23) is placed fourth in the LPB. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. Ofoegbu has reliable stats this year: 12.6ppg, 6.1rpg and 1.4apg in the 18 games. He also holds two passports: Nigerian and American. Ofoegbu used to play for the Nigerian national team two years ago.

Michael Efevberha

#6. Guard Michael Efevberha (197-84, college: CS Northridge, currently plays in Czech Republic) helped CEZ Nymburk win their game against the fifth-ranked BK Pardubice (19-15) crushing them 90-57 in the Czech Republic NBL last Tuesday. He scored 11 points. CEZ Basketball Nymburk (33-1) is placed first in Group A1. It was his team's eighth consecutive victory in a row. Efevberha's stats this season are: 10.5ppg, 2.9rpg and 1.1apg. He holds both American and Nigerian passports. Efevberha is a former international player as he played for the Nigerian senior team four years ago.

Michael Umeh

#7. Former international point guard Michael Umeh (188-84, agency: Two Points, college: UNLV, currently plays in Italy) helped Pall.Trento edge in an overtime the second-ranked Sigma Barcellona (19-9) 95-93 in the Italian Lega2 (second division) last Tuesday. He scored 18 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and dished 4 assists (was perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line) in 39 minutes. Pallacanestro Trento 2009 (14-14) is placed eighth in the Lega2. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. Umeh has very impressive stats this year: 17.2ppg, 3.3rpg and 2.0apg in the 31 games. He holds both American and Nigerian passports. Umeh used to play for the Nigerian national team two years ago.

Aloysius Anagonye

#8. Forward Aloysius Anagonye (203-81, college: Michigan St., currently plays in Greece), who plays in the Greek A1 was not able to help Ilysiakos (7-19) in their last game on Sunday. Despite his good performance Ilysiakos was edged 83-82 in a derby game by the one of league's weakest teams Peristeri GS (#13). Anagonye recorded a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting 10 rebounds. He also added 2 blocks. The Regular Season already ended. Anagonye is ranked fourth on the list of the best rebounders in the league. He has very reliable stats this season: 11.1ppg and 7.3rpg. Anagonye holds both American and Nigerian passports. He used to play for the Nigerian national team back in 2009.

Chukwudinma Odiakosa

#9. Former U22 international power forward Chukwudinma Odiakosa (203-85, agency: N.E.T., college: Illinois St., currently plays in Israel) helped Hod Hasharon win their game against the league leader Ironi Nes-Ziona (22-4) 90-77 in the Israeli National League (second division) on Friday night. He was the top player that evening. Odiakosa scored 19 points and grabbed 6 rebounds; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his third season in pro basketball. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Maccabi Hod Hasharon (18-8) is placed third in the National League. Odiakosa is ranked ninth on the list of the top scorers in the league and also on the list of best rebounders (third place). This season he has very high stats. Odiakosa averages: 19.5ppg, 12.0rpg and 1.7apg. He used to play for the Nigerian U22 national team nine years ago.

Solomon Alabi

   #10. Center Solomon Alabi (216-88, college: Florida St., currently plays in Greece) was not able to secure a victory for Ikaros (12-14) in their game against Panionios (20-6) in the Greek A1. Alabi scored 7 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 17 minutes. Ikaros was crushed 86-62 at home by the higher-ranked (#3) Panionios. His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial. This year Alabi's overall stats are: 2.8ppg and 2.7rpg in the six games. He is a former U19 international player as six years ago he still played for the Nigerian national team.

   #11. International shooting guard Chamberlain Oguchi (198-86, college: Illinois St., currently plays in Spain) managed to help Herbalife Gran Canaria 2014 to win against the 16th-ranked Blancos de Rueda 78-62 in the Spanish ACB last Sunday. Oguchi recorded only 2 points. It was his first game for G.Canaria 2014 this season. Oguchi plays currently for the Nigerian national team.

The list of other players, who all have Nigerian passport but never been selected to any of Nigerian national teams:

   #1. Gani Lawal (205-C/F-88, agency: Three Eye Sports, college: Georgia Tech, currently plays in Italy), who plays in the Italian SerieA could not help Lottomatica Roma (20-10) in their last game. Despite Lawal's good performance Lottomatica Roma lost 82-91 on the road to the lower-ranked (#6) Trenkwalder RE. He scored 13 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 33 minutes. Lawal belongs to league's best rebounders (ranked #2) and also on the list of best blockers (third place). He has very reliable stats this year: 13.2ppg, 8.6rpg and 1.4bpg in the 34 games he played so far. Lawal has a dual citizenship: Nigerian and American.

   #2. Experienced Jefferson Agba (209-F/C-80, college: Embry Riddle, currently plays in Brazil), who plays in the Brazilian NBB was not able to help Paschoalotto/Bauru (22-10) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his very good performance the league leader Paschoalotto/Bauru was edged 80-77 on the opponent's court by the lower-ranked Uberlandia (#4). Agba recorded a double-double by scoring 19 points and getting 10 rebounds. Agba is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his fourth year in Paschoalotto/Bauru's roster. He is currently seventh on the list of best rebounders. Agba has very reliable stats this season: 11.3ppg and 7.1rpg. He is another player who holds two passports: Nigerian and American.

   #3. Chinemelu Elonu (206-F/C-87, college: Texas A&M, currently plays in Turkey), who plays in the Turkish TBL was not able to secure a victory for Tofas (12-18) in their last game. Despite his good performance Tofas was crushed 92-64 in Istanbul by the leading Galatasaray. Elonu was the second best scorer with 12 points. He also added 6 rebounds in 21 minutes. Elonu is currently fifth on the league's list of best rebounders and also on the list of best blockers (fourth place). This year his overall stats are: 9.8ppg, 7.4rpg and 1.1bpg in the 31 games.

   #4. Festus Ezeli (210-C-89, college: Vanderbilt, currently plays in NBA) couldn't help the Golden State Warriors (47-35) in their game against the San Antonio Spurs (58-24) in the NBA. Ezeli cannot count Thursday's game as one of the best ones. He scored only 2 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. The Golden State Warriors were defeated 94-82 in San Antonio by the Spurs. Ezeli's overall stats this season are: 2.4ppg and 3.8rpg.

   #5. Uche Nsonwu-Amadi (208-F/C-78, agency: Beo Basket, college: Wyoming, currently plays in France) couldn't help ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket (18-12) in their game against Le Mans (16-14) in the French ProA. He scored 8 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket was defeated 63-55 in Le Mans by the lower-ranked Le Mans (#6). Nsonwu-Amadi averaged so far 10.6ppg, 6.0rpg and 1.4apg.

   #6. Oritseweyinmi Efejuku (196-G-86, college: Providence, currently plays in Puerto Rico) was the major contributor in Indios' victory against the league outsider Vaqueros 85-74 in the Puerto Rican BSN in Thursday night's game. He scored 18 points, had 6 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 30 minutes. Efejuku is currently eighth on the list of top scorers with 16.5ppg. He also averaged so far 5.3rpg and 2.0apg in the 22 games. Efejuku has both Nigerian and Jamaican nationalities.

   #7. Olaseni Lawal (208-F/C-86, agency: IBS, college: Wayne St., MI, currently plays in Italy) couldn't help Tezenis VE in their game against Novipiu Casale in the Italian Lega2 (second division), despite his good performance on Sunday night. He had a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting 14 rebounds in 34 minutes. But his team lost 67-76. Lawal is the league's best rebounder and also on the list of best blockers (first place). This year he has very good stats: 10.7ppg, 13.6rpg, 1.8bpg and 1.9spg in the 32 games. Lawal also holds two passports: Nigerian and American. Worth to mention Lawal played also at Eurobasket Summer League, which helped him get the job in pro basketball.

   #8. Ndudi Ebi (206-F-84, agency: Higher Vision Sports, currently plays in Puerto Rico) faced previously mentioned Oritseweyinmi Efejuku in the Puerto Rican BSN last game. Ebi couldn't help Vaqueros in their game against Indios. Despite his very good performance in Thursday night's game He was the second best scorer with 15 points. Ebi also added 8 rebounds. He has individually a very good season with high stats. Ebi averages: 15.8ppg and 6.3rpg.

   #9. Olu Ashaolu (200-F-88, agency: Norton Sports Management, college: Oregon, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Caceres Basket in their game against River Andorra in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division), despite his very good performance last Sunday. He was the top scorer with 17 points. Ashaolu also added 6 rebounds in 28 minutes. But his team lost 70-82. His stats this year are: 10.3ppg and 5.5rpg in the 35 games. Ashaolu holds both Nigerian and Canadian passports. Despite his Nigerian nationality, Ashaolu previously played for the Canadian U18 national team and is probably not eligible to play for the Nigerian team.

   #10. Brian Egwuatu (199-F-86, college: USC Aiken, currently plays in Colombia) couldn't help Patriotas in their game against Once Caldas in the Colombian DPB, despite his good performance on Saturday night. He scored 10 points in 20 minutes. But his team was crushed by 21 points 114-93. This year Egwuatu's total stats are: 8.8ppg, 4.1rpg and 1.3apg in the 18 games.

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Nigerian Basketball (Men)