Tonye Jekiri selected the top Nigerian playing abroad in last week's games

We bring you last week's top performances from Nigerians who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.

Tonye Jekiri

   #1. This week's number one is an international center Tonye Jekiri (212-94, agency: Network Sports International, college: Miami, FL, currently plays in Euroleague). He could not help Baskonia (2-4) in their last game. Despite Jekiri's very good performance Baskonia was edged 88-86 at home by the one of league's weakest teams (#17) ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket. He was the top scorer with 21 points. Jekiri also added 7 rebounds and 2 blocks in 24 minutes on the court. It was Baskonia's third consecutive loss in a row. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. This year Jekiri averages: 6.7ppg, 4.5rpg, 2.0apg, 2FGP: 43.8% and FT: 75.0% in six games he played so far. He is currently a member of the Nigerian senior national team.

Micheal Eric

   #2. Second place goes to an international center Micheal Eric (210-88, college: Temple, currently plays in Turkey). Eric was the major contributor in a 1-point Turk Telekom's victory against the 11th-ranked Bursaspor (3-4) 108-107 in the Turkish BSL last Saturday. He recorded 15 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Turk Telekom Ankara (6-1) is placed third in the BSL. It was his team's sixth consecutive victory in a row. Eric has relatively good stats this season: 13.9ppg, 6.1rpg, 1.7bpg, 2FGP: 68.3%(41-60) and FT: 65.2%. He is in the roster of the Nigerian senior national team.

Stan Okoye

   #3. The Nigerian player who performed third best last week abroad was an international small forward Stan Okoye (198-91, college: VMI, currently plays in EuroCup). Okoye was not able to help Gran Canaria (4-2) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the third-placed Gran Canaria (4-2) was badly defeated 90-74 on the road by the lower-ranked (#5) JSF Nanterre in the group D of Eurocup. Okoye was the top scorer with 24 points. He also added 6 rebounds in 31 minutes. There are only four games left until the end of the Eurocup Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. This year Okoye has relatively solid stats: 14.8ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.8apg, 2FGP: 45.5%, 3FGP: 52.6%(20-38) and FT: 81.8% in six games. He has a dual citizenship: Nigerian and American. Okoye is also a member of the Nigerian senior national team.

Suleiman Braimoh

   #4. Power forward Suleiman Braimoh (203-89, college: Rice, currently plays in Basketball Champions League) contributed to a Hapoel Jerusalem's victory against the closely-ranked Limoges CSP Elite (1-1) 81-75 in the Basketball Champions League last Wednesday. He recorded 8 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in 35 minutes. Hapoel Jerusalem (1-1) is placed second in group G. There are only four games left until the end of the Basketball Champions League Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. Braimoh has reliable stats this year: 13.0ppg, 5.5rpg and 3.5apg in two games. He used to play for the Nigerian national team back in 2016.

Caleb Agada

   #5. Former international guard Caleb Agada (196-94, agency: Blacktop Management, college: Ottawa, currently plays in Israel) led H.Beer Sheva to a victory over the closely-ranked Maccabi Haifa crushing them 102-61 in the Israeli Winner League on Sunday night. He was MVP of the game. Agada had a double-double by scoring 28 points and getting 10 rebounds. He also added 8 assists and 3 steals in 29 minutes. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva (2-0) is placed second in the Winner League. But the season just started, so everything may happen. It's Agada's first year with the team. Agada has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 26.5ppg, 9.0rpg, 7.0apg and 3.0spg in two games. Agada is another player who holds two passports: Nigerian and Canadian. Despite he played previously for the Canadian university national team, Agada is currently in the Nigerian national team roster.

Chima Moneke

   #6. Forward Chima Moneke (198-95, college: UC Davis, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for Entente Orleans 45 (1-3) in their last game on Sunday. Despite his very good performance Entente Orleans 45 was defeated 93-83 in Villeurbanne by the higher-ranked ASVEL Lyon- Basket (#6). Moneke was the top scorer with 22 points. He also added 8 rebounds and made 3 blocks. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Moneke's stats this season are: 14.2ppg, 6.2rpg and 1.4apg. He is an international player who is currently on the senior Nigerian National Team roster.

Talib Zanna

   #7. International power forward Talib Zanna (206-90, college: Pittsburgh, currently plays in Israel) couldn't help Hapoel Tel-Aviv (1-1) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Zanna's very good performance Hapoel Tel-Aviv was badly defeated 88-68 in Rosh Pina by the leading Galil Gilboa. He was the top scorer with 15 points. Zanna also added 9 rebounds. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. It's Zanna's first year with the team. He averaged so far 13.5ppg and 8.5rpg. Zanna is also Nigerian national team player.

Obi Emegano

   #8. Guard Obi Emegano (189-93, college: ORU, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help one of league's weakest teams Baloncesto Fuenlabrada in their game against Real Madrid (10-0) in the Spanish Liga Endesa. Emegano recorded 8 points in 18 minutes. His team lost 68-79 in a derby game to the leading Real Madrid. It's Emegano's first season with the team. His stats this year are: 11.4ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.4apg and 1.6spg in nine games. Emegano plays currently for the Nigerian national team.

Keith Omoerah

   #9. International guard Keith Omoerah (194-92, college: Manitoba, currently plays in Ukraine) couldn't help one of league's weakest teams Mykolaiv in their last game on Thursday. Despite his good performance his team was defeated 85-81 on the opponent's court by the league outsider Cherkasy (#11). Omoerah scored 11 points, had 7 rebounds and dished 9 assists. This season Omoerah has very high stats. He averages: 17.0ppg, 4.8rpg, 4.3apg and 1.3spg. Omoerah used to play for the Nigerian national team last year.

Abdullahi Kuso

   #10. An experienced forward Abdullahi Kuso (206-84, college: Tallahassee, currently plays in Japan) helped Cyberdyne Ibaraki Robots win their game against the third-ranked Koshigaya Alphas (8-3) 101-91 in the Japanese B2 League last Saturday. He recorded 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group East. Cyberdyne Ibaraki Robots (8-3) are placed second. It was his team's eighth consecutive victory in a row. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Kuso's overall stats this season are: 5.7ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.2apg and 1.1spg. He is a former international player as thirteen years ago he still played for the Nigerian senior national team.

   #11. Former international forward Emmanuel Omogbo (203-95, college: Colorado St., currently plays in Spain) helped Huesca win their game against the third-ranked Girona 90-84 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) in Saturday night's game. Omogbo recorded 8 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Omogbo averaged so far 11.3ppg and 3.7rpg. He has both American and Nigerian nationalities. Omogbo used to play for the Nigerian national team two years ago.


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

   #1. Retin Obasohan (191-G-93, college: Alabama, currently plays in Basketball Champions League) led his Czech Republic team Nymburk to a 3-point victory over the closely-ranked Tofas (1-1) 96-93 in the Basketball Champions League in Tuesday night's game. He was MVP of the game. Obasohan recorded 19 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists. ERA Basketball Nymburk (1-1) is placed second in group B. There are only four games left until the end of the Basketball Champions League Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. It's Obasohan's first season with the team. He has reliable stats this year: 11.0ppg, 3.5rpg, 4.0apg and 1.5spg. Obasohan has a dual citizenship: Belgian and Nigerian.

   #2. Martins Igbanu (203-F-97, college: Tulsa, currently plays in ABA League) could not help one of league's weakest teams Mladost ZE (1-1) in their last game on Wednesday. Despite Igbanu's very good performance Mladost ZE was edged 89-87 at home by the higher-ranked KK Sloboda Uzice (#7). He scored 16 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. There are only two games left until the end of the KLS Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. It's Igbanu's first season with the team. Igbanu's stats this year are: 13.0ppg, 5.5rpg and 3.5apg.

   #3. O.D. Anosike (203-F/C-91, college: Siena, currently plays in Mexico) led Fuerza Regia to a victory over the leader Mineros (15-3) crushing them 94-73 in the Mexican LNBP (second division) in Sunday night's game. He was MVP of the game. Anosike recorded 16 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 22 minutes. It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group East. Fuerza Regia Monterrey (9-7) is placed third. It was his team's sixth consecutive victory in a row. Anosike's stats this year are: 14.8ppg, 9.9rpg, 1.3apg and 1.2spg in 12 games he played so far. He is another player who holds two passports: Nigerian and American.

   #4. Avery Ugba (203-F-94, college: Austin Peay, currently plays in Ukraine) was not able to help Ternopil-TNEU (5-4) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Ugba's very good performance Ternopil-TNEU was defeated 97-90 on their home court in Ternopil by the second-ranked Kyiv Basket. He recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 12 rebounds. Ugba also added 5 assists and 2 blocks. It's Ugba's first season with the team. He has individually a very good year with high stats. Ugba averages: 15.2ppg, 8.9rpg, 2.4apg and 1.3spg.

   #5. Al-Wajid Aminu (201-PF-98, college: N.Florida, currently plays in Estonia) was not able to secure a victory for one of league's weakest teams Rapla (5-5) in their last game. Despite Aminu's very good performance Rapla lost 69-83 on the road to the higher-ranked (#4) Parnu. He had a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 15 rebounds. Aminu also added 4 blocks in 35 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. It was Rapla's third consecutive loss in a row. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. Aminu's stats this year are: 13.0ppg, 6.9rpg and 1.6bpg in 10 games. He has both American and Nigerian nationalities.

   #6. Temidayo Yussuf (201-C, college: LBSU, currently plays in Portugal) was the main contributor in Lusitania's victory against the closely-ranked Ovarense 75-69 in the Portuguese LPB on Saturday night. Yussuf was the best player in that game. He recorded a double-double by scoring 18 points and getting 14 rebounds. This season Yussuf has very high stats. He averages: 18.6ppg, 12.6rpg and 2.4apg. Yussuf also holds two passports: Nigerian and American.

   #7. Derek Ogbeide (203-F-97, college: Georgia, currently plays in Cyprus) contributed to a AEK Larnaca's victory against the league outsider AEL 73-60 in the Cypriot OPAP Basket League in Sunday night's game. He had a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 11 rebounds. Ogbeide also added 3 assists in 35 minutes. Ogbeide has very impressive stats this year: 17.3ppg, 10.0rpg and 1.4bpg in seven games. He has dual citizenship: Canadian and Nigerian.

   #8. Sidney Umude (201-F-95, college: Southern, currently plays in Denmark) was the major contributor in Svendborg's victory against the third-ranked BAC 99-86 in the Danish BasketLigaen last Monday. Umude recorded a double-double by scoring 14 points and getting 11 rebounds. He also added 3 blocks. Umude's overall stats this season are: 8.5ppg and 4.8rpg. He holds both American and Nigerian passports.

   #9. Peter Olisemeka (207-C-91, currently plays in Poland) couldn't help Polpharma (1-11) in their last game. Despite Olisemeka's very good performance the bottom-ranked Polpharma lost 89-94 in Bydgoszcz to the higher-ranked (#10) Enea Astoria. He was the second best scorer with 19 points. Olisemeka also added 8 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 20 minutes. Olisemeka's stats this year are: 11.1ppg, 7.9rpg and 1.7spg in 12 games. He has Nigerian and Italian nationalities.

   #10. Michael Fakuade (201-F-89, agency: Slash Sports, college: UIS, currently plays in Poland) couldn't help one of league's weakest teams Wilki Morskie in their game against Slask in the Polish EBL. He scored 7 points, had 6 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 31 minutes. His team was badly defeated by 18 points 91-73. Fakuade's stats this year are: 11.9ppg, 6.8rpg, 2.3apg and 1.5bpg in eight games. He holds both American and Nigerian passports.