Suleiman Braimoh selected the top Nigerian playing abroad in last week's games

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

Suleiman Braimoh

   #1. This week's number one is an international power forward Suleiman Braimoh (203-89, college: Rice, currently plays in Israel). He was the major contributor in a Hapoel Jerusalem's victory against the closely-ranked Maccabi Haifa crushing them 111-77 in the Israeli Winner League in Thursday night's game. Braimoh scored 24 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 23 minutes on the court. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Hapoel Jerusalem (4-0) is placed third in the Winner League. So far his team won all four games in the Regular Season. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. Braimoh has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 17.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 2FGP: 57.6%(19-33), 3FGP: 33.3% and FT: 66.7% in four games he played so far. Braimoh 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). He could not help one of league's weakest teams Turk Telekom (6-3) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Eric's very good performance Turk Telekom was defeated 94-89 on the road by the second-ranked Galatasaray. He recorded a double-double by scoring 17 points and getting 11 rebounds. Eric has relatively good stats this season: 13.9ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.6bpg, 2FGP: 62.8%(54-86) and FT: 65.4%. He is in the roster of the Nigerian senior national team.

Melvin Ejim

   #3. The Nigerian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international forward Melvin Ejim (201-91, agency: BeoBasket, college: Iowa St., currently plays in EuroCup). Ejim led his Montenegrin team Buducnost to a victory over the sixth-ranked Brescia (2-6) 75-66 in the Eurocup on Friday night. He was MVP of the game. Ejim scored 18 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 35 minutes. KK Buducnost Voli Podgorica (4-3) is placed third in group B. There are only two games left until the end of the Eurocup Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. It's Ejim's first season with the team. This year he has relatively solid stats: 13.1ppg, 6.3rpg, 3FGP: 56.3%(9-16) and FT: 87.5% in seven games. Ejim has a dual citizenship: Canadian and Nigerian. He played for the Nigerian national team eight years ago.

Tonye Jekiri

   #4. Center Tonye Jekiri (212-94, agency: Network Sports International, college: Miami, FL, currently plays in Euroleague) contributed to an easy victory against the 16th-ranked Panathinaikos (2-6) crushing them 93-72 in the Euroleague last Thursday. Jekiri had a double-double by scoring 10 points and getting the same number of rebounds in 27 minutes. TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (5-5) is placed tenth in the Euroleague. But the season just started, so everything may happen. This year Jekiri's overall stats are: 6.7ppg, 5.4rpg and 2.5apg in 10 games. He is also Nigerian national team player.

Caleb Agada

   #5. International guard Caleb Agada (196-94, agency: Blacktop Management, college: Ottawa, currently plays in Israel) was the main contributor in a H.Beer Sheva's victory against one of league's weakest teams Ironi Nahariya (0-4) crushing them 104-80 in the Israeli Winner League in Saturday night's game. Agada was the best player in that game. He scored 29 points (!!!), grabbed 6 rebounds and dished 5 assists. Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva (3-1) is placed fifth in the Winner League. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. This season Agada has very high stats. He averages: 26.3ppg, 7.0rpg, 5.8apg and 2.8spg. 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.

Stan Okoye

   #6. Small forward Stan Okoye (198-91, college: VMI, currently plays in Spain) was not able to help Gran Canaria (0-0) in their game against Andorra (4-4) in the Spanish Liga Endesa. He scored 8 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 17 minutes. Gran Canaria was badly defeated 79-62 at home by the lower-ranked (#11) Andorra. This year Okoye's total stats are: 8.7ppg and 3.6rpg in 11 games. He has both American and Nigerian nationalities. Okoye is an international player who is currently on the senior Nigerian National Team roster.

Obi Emegano

   #7. International guard Obi Emegano (189-93, college: ORU, currently plays in Spain) was not able to secure a victory for Baloncesto Fuenlabrada in their game against UCAM Murcia (6-5) in the Spanish Liga Endesa. Emegano scored 6 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 34 minutes. Baloncesto Fuenlabrada was edged 84-81 in Murcia by the lower-ranked (#8) UCAM. Emegano has reliable stats this year: 11.6ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.5apg and 1.5spg in 11 games. He is also Nigerian national team player.

Keith Omoerah

   #8. Guard Keith Omoerah (194-92, college: Manitoba, currently plays in Ukraine) contributed to Mykolaiv's victory against one of league's weakest teams K.Sokoly (2-7) 81-73 in the Ukrainian Superleague in Sunday night's game. Omoerah recorded 10 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. MBC Mykolaiv (6-6) is placed third in the Superleague. This season Omoerah has very high stats. He averages: 15.6ppg, 5.4rpg, 4.4apg and 1.4spg. Omoerah plays currently for the Nigerian national team.

Abdullahi Kuso

   #9. An experienced former international forward Abdullahi Kuso (206-84, college: Tallahassee, currently plays in Japan) couldn't help Cyberdyne Ibaraki Robots (10-5) in their game against Gunma (13-2) in the Japanese B2 League. Kuso scored 8 points. The fourth-placed Cyberdyne Ibaraki Robots (10-5) were defeated 86-81 on the opponent's court by the leading Gunma in the East group. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Kuso has averaged so far 5.9ppg, 4.7rpg and 1.1spg. He used to play for the Nigerian national team thirteen years ago.

Jamal Olasewere

   #10. Small forward Jamal Olasewere (201-91, college: LIU Brooklyn, currently plays in Italy) couldn't help Eurobasket RO (0-1) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Olasewere's very good performance Eurobasket RO (#9) was defeated 83-72 on their home court in Roma by the higher-ranked Napoli (#3) in the Group B. He was the top scorer with 19 points. Olasewere also added 5 rebounds. It was his first game for Eurobasket RO this season. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Olasewere also holds two passports: Nigerian and American. He is a former international player as four years ago he still played for the Nigerian senior national team.

   #11. Former international forward Andy Ogide (204-87, college: Colorado St., currently plays in Italy) couldn't help San Severo (0-1) in their last game. Despite Ogide's good performance San Severo (#13) lost 49-64 on the opponent's court to the second-ranked Latina in the Group B. He was the second best scorer with 14 points. Ogide also added 5 rebounds in 40 minutes. It was his first game for San Severo this season. Ogide used to play for the Nigerian national team four years ago.


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

   #1. Michael Fakuade (201-F-89, agency: Slash Sports, college: UIS, currently plays in Poland) could not help Wilki Morskie (7-6) in their last game on Thursday. Despite Fakuade's very good performance Wilki Morskie was defeated 83-73 on the road by the much lower-ranked HydroTruck Radom (#14). He recorded a double-double by scoring 20 points and getting 10 rebounds. Fakuade also added 4 assists. Fakuade has reliable stats this season: 12.8ppg, 7.1rpg, 2.4apg and 1.3bpg. He has a dual citizenship: Nigerian and American.

   #2. Danny Agbelese (205-C-90, agency: Octagon Europe, college: Hampton, currently plays in Greece) contributed to a 3-point Promitheas' victory against the seventh-ranked PAOK (1-1) 83-80 in the Greek A1 on Saturday night. Agbelese scored 9 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, passed 3 assists and added 2 blocks. It was his first game for Promitheas this season. His team is placed second in the A1. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Agbelese is another player who holds two passports: Nigerian and American.

   #3. Retin Obasohan (191-G-93, college: Alabama, currently plays in Czech Republic) led Nymburk to an easy victory against the ninth-ranked Kralovsti sokoli (3-6) crushing them 102-52 in the Czech Republic NBL in Saturday night's game. He recorded 12 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in only a mere 14 minutes. It was his first game for Nymburk this season. His team is placed first in the NBL. Obasohan has both Belgian and Nigerian nationalities.

   #4. O.D. Anosike (203-F/C-91, college: Siena, currently plays in Mexico) was the major contributor in a Fuerza Regia's victory against the second-ranked Aaguacateros (13-5) 90-78 in the Mexican LNBP (second division) last Thursday. He recorded 15 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. 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 has reliable stats this season: 14.8ppg, 9.9rpg, 1.3apg and 1.2spg. He also holds two passports: Nigerian and American.

   #5. Al-Wajid Aminu (201-PF-98, college: N.Florida, currently plays in Estonia) led Rapla to a victory against one of league's weakest teams Kalev/TLU (1-8) 89-83 in the Estonian EstLatBL on Saturday night. Aminu scored 25 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 36 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. AVIS UTILITAS Rapla (6-5) is placed fifth in the EstLatBL. It was his team's first victory after three consecutive loses. Aminu has reliable stats this year: 14.1ppg, 7.0rpg and 1.5bpg in 11 games he played so far. He holds both American and Nigerian passports.

   #6. Sidney Umude (201-F-95, college: Southern, currently plays in Denmark) led Svendborg to a victory over the second-ranked Amager crushing them 119-69 in the Danish BasketLigaen on Saturday night. He was the top player that evening. Umude scored 18 points. Umude has averaged so far 9.1ppg and 4.8rpg. He holds both American and Nigerian passports.

   #7. Experienced Charles Bassey (211-C-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to WKU's victory against the University of Memphis 75-69 in the NCAA in Thursday night's game. Bassey had a double-double by scoring 21 points and getting 14 rebounds. He also added 7 blocks in 31 minutes. Bassey has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 16.0ppg, 11.0rpg, 1.5apg and 4.5bpg in two games.

   #8. Daniel Utomi (198-G-97, also represented by Slash Sports, college: USC, currently plays in Finland) contributed to Kauhajoki's victory against the ninth-ranked Kouvot 83-78 in the Finnish Korisliiga last Friday. Utomi scored 11 points and blocked 2 blocks. Utomi has reliable stats this season: 11.8ppg, 4.1rpg and 1.1apg. He holds both American and Nigerian passports.

   #9. Clifford Omoruyi (211-C-1, currently studies in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the Sacred Heart University crushing them 86-63 in the NCAA last Wednesday. He had a double-double by scoring 14 points and getting 11 rebounds in 22 minutes. It was his first game for Rutgers this season.

   #10. Richmond Aririguzoh (206-C, college: Princeton, currently plays in Denmark) contributed to an easy victory against the second-ranked Wolfpack crushing them 83-63 in the Danish BasketLigaen on Saturday night. Aririguzoh scored 12 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. It was his first game for Horsens IC this season.