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

- December 4, 2020

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

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). Jekiri contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Anadolu Efes (6-5) 77-59 in the Euroleague last Friday. He scored 8 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (6-5) is placed seventh in the Euroleague. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. It's Jekiri's first year with the team. This season Jekiri averages: 6.8ppg, 5.6rpg, 2.5apg and FT: 65.2%. He is currently a member of the Nigerian senior national team.

Abdullahi Kuso

#2. Second place goes to an experienced former international forward Abdullahi Kuso (206-84, college: Tallahassee, currently plays in Japan). Kuso led Cyberdyne Ibaraki Robots to an easy victory against the fourth-ranked Fukushima (11-6) crushing them 114-85 in the Japanese B2 League in Sunday night's game. He scored 14 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in a mere 18 minutes. Cyberdyne Ibaraki Robots (12-5) are placed second in East group. But the season just started, so everything may happen. This year Kuso's overall stats are: 6.7ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.1apg, 1.1spg and FT: 68.4% in 17 games he played so far. He played for the Nigerian national team in 2007.

Micheal Eric

#3. The Nigerian player who performed third best last week abroad was an international center Micheal Eric (210-88, college: Temple, currently plays in Turkey). Eric managed to help Turk Telekom Ankara to win against the league outsider OGM Orman (3-7) 83-64 in a derby game in the Turkish BSL in Wednesday night's game. He recorded only one point. Turk Telekom Ankara (7-3) is placed third in the BSL. It's Eric's first season with the team. Eric has relatively good stats this year: 12.6ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.4bpg, 2FGP: 60.7%(54-89). He is also a member of the Nigerian senior national team.

Andy Ogide

   #4. Forward Andy Ogide (206-87, college: Colorado St., currently plays in Italy) was the major contributor in an San Severo's victory against the sixth-ranked Pistoia 74-60 in the Italian Serie A2 (second division) last Sunday. He recorded 18 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 30 minutes. Allianz Pazienza Cestistica San Severo (1-2) is placed sixth in Group B. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. This year Ogide has relatively solid stats: 14.3ppg and 5.7rpg in three games. He has a dual citizenship: Nigerian and American. Ogide used to play for the Nigerian national team back in 2016.

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 Czech Republic) led Nymburk to an easy victory against the sixth-ranked Usti n/Labem (5-5) 102-85 in the Czech Republic NBL in Wednesday night's game. He scored 14 points in a mere 19 minutes. ERA Basketball Nymburk (9-1) is placed first in the NBL. Obasohan has relatively good stats this year: 13.0ppg, 2.5rpg, 2.0apg and 3.0spg in two games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Belgian and Nigerian.

   #2. Daniel Utomi (198-G-97, agency: Slash Sports, college: USC, currently plays in Finland) led Kauhajoki to a victory over one of league's weakest teams Ura Basket (1-10) 85-73 in the Finnish Korisliiga on Wednesday night. Utomi was MVP of the game. He scored 20 points in 27 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Utomi's first season in pro basketball. Karhu Kauhajoki (8-3) is placed third in the Korisliiga. It was his team's sixth consecutive victory in a row. It's Utomi's first year with the team. He has relatively good stats this season: 12.5ppg, 3.9rpg and 1.1apg in 11 games. Utomi is another player who holds two passports: Nigerian and American.

   #3. Abdul-Malik Abu (203-C-95, college: NC State, currently plays in Turkey) could not help Fethiye (3-6) in their last game on Wednesday. Despite his good performance Fethiye was crushed 110-81 on the road by the much higher-ranked Tofas (#5). Abu recorded 14 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. It's Abu's first season with the team. He has relatively good stats this year: 14.8ppg, 5.3rpg and 1.4apg.

   #4. 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 last Thursday. Bassey had a double-double by scoring 21 points and getting 14 rebounds. He also added 7 blocks in 31 minutes. The Western Kentucky University has 0-1 overall record this season. Bassey has relatively good stats this year: 15.0ppg, 11.3rpg and 4.0bpg in four games.

   #5. Sidney Umude (201-F-95, college: Southern, currently plays in Denmark) was not able to help Svendborg in their game against Naestved (7-3) in the Danish BasketLigaen. Despite his very good performance on Wednesday night He was the top scorer with 16 points. Umude also added 9 rebounds. Umude's overall stats this season are: 9.9ppg and 5.2rpg. He has both American and Nigerian nationalities.

   #6. Christian Mekowulu (205-F-95, college: Texas A&M, currently plays in Italy) was not able to secure a victory for Treviso in their game against Reggio Emilia in the Italian Serie A. He recorded 7 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. His team was crushed by 24 points 98-74. Mekowulu has relatively good stats this season: 11.9ppg and 4.3rpg. Worth to mention Mekowulu played also at Eurobasket Summer League, which helped him get the job in pro basketball.

   #7. Nnanna Egwu (211-C-92, college: Illinois, currently plays in Japan) couldn't help Tokyo Z in their game against Sendai 89ers in the Japanese B2 League, despite his very good performance on Saturday night. He had a double-double by scoring 14 points and getting 12 rebounds in 34 minutes. But his team was crushed by 42 points 107-65. This year Egwu's total stats are: 9.1ppg, 7.1rpg and 2.0apg in 17 games. He also holds two passports: Nigerian and American.

   #8. Osaro Rich (190-SG-98, currently plays in Germany) was the major contributor in a Rist Wedel's victory against the seventh-ranked SSV Lok Bernau 85-74 in the German ProB (third division) last Sunday. Rich recorded 19 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 29 minutes. He has individually a very good year with high stats. Rich averages: 17.8ppg, 5.8rpg, 3.3apg and 3.0spg in six games. He holds both Nigerian and German passports.

   #9. Michael Fakuade (201-F-89, also represented by Slash Sports, college: UIS, currently plays in Poland) couldn't help Wilki Morskie in their game against GTK in the Polish EBL. Fakuade scored only 4 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. His team was defeated 81-72. This season he has relatively solid stats: 11.9ppg, 6.8rpg, 2.4apg and 1.2bpg. Fakuade holds both American and Nigerian passports.

   #10. Gideon George (198-F, currently studies in the States) contributed to BYU's surprising victory against the St. John's University 74-68 in the NCAA in Wednesday night's game. He had a double-double by scoring 13 points and getting 15 rebounds in 22 minutes. This year George's total stats are: 6.8ppg and 5.4rpg in five games.