Adaora Elonu 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.

Adaora Elonu

   #1. This week's number one is an international power forward Adaora Elonu (185-90, college: Texas A&M, currently plays in Spain). She led Argon Uni Girona to an easy victory against the 13th-ranked Promete (7-17) crushing them 93-57 in the Spanish Liga Dia in Sunday night's game. Elonu scored 12 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 22 minutes on the court. Spar Citylift Girona (20-5) is placed third in the Liga Dia. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Elonu has relatively good stats this year: 10.1ppg, 3.5rpg, 2FGP: 58.9%(103-175), 3FGP: 28.6% and FT: 75.7% in 25 games she played so far. She has a dual citizenship: Nigerian and American. Elonu is currently a member of the Nigerian senior national team.

Evelyn Akhator

   #2. Second place goes to an international power forward Evelyn Akhator (190-95, college: Kentucky, currently plays in France). She could not help Flammes (7-5) in their last game on Wednesday. Despite Akhator's good performance Flammes was defeated 68-59 at home by the lower-ranked Roche (#8). She recorded a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting 14 rebounds. This season Akhator has relatively solid stats: 14.2ppg, 8.6rpg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 58.3%(63-108) and FT: 78.8%. She is in the roster of the Nigerian senior national team.

Pallas Kunaiyi

   #3. The Nigerian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international forward Pallas Kunaiyi (188-97, agency: LBM Management, college: Northwestern, currently plays in Belgium). She was the major contributor in Namur's victory against the ninth-ranked Lummen (1-8) 71-58 in the Belgian Top Division Women in Saturday night's game. Kunaiyi recorded a double-double by scoring 17 points and getting 15 rebounds; not bad, considering it's only her second season in pro basketball. Basket Namur Capitale (8-2) is placed third in the Top Division Women. It was her team's third consecutive victory in a row. It's Kunaiyi's first year with the team. Kunaiyi's overall stats this season are: 9.9ppg, 10.3rpg, 1.1apg, 2FGP: 61.3%(38-62). She played for the Nigerian national team two years ago.

Ezinne Kalu

   #4. Guard Ezinne Kalu (173-92, college: SSU, currently plays in France) was not able to help Bretagne (7-6) in their last game on Tuesday. Despite Kalu's good performance Bretagne was badly defeated 75-59 on the road by the second-ranked Basket Landes. She was the second best scorer with 11 points. Kalu also added 5 rebounds and dished 3 assists (was perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line). Kalu has reliable stats this season: 14.6ppg, 3.5rpg, 4.5apg and 2.0spg. She is another player who holds two passports: Nigerian and American. Kalu is also Nigerian national team player.

Atonye Nyingifa

   #5. International forward Atonye Nyingifa (180-90, college: UCLA, currently plays in Spain) was not able to secure a victory for ASEFA Estudiantes in their game against Gran Canaria (9-16) in the Spanish Liga Dia. She scored only 4 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and dished 3 assists. ASEFA Estudiantes was defeated 70-65 in Las Palmas by the much lower-ranked Gran Canaria (#12). It's Nyingifa's first season with the team. Nyingifa's stats this year are: 10.3ppg, 6.6rpg and 1.6apg. She has both American and Nigerian nationalities. Nyingifa plays currently for the Nigerian national team.

Promise Amukamara

   #6. Guard Promise Amukamara (173-93, college: ASU, currently plays in France) contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Villeneuve D'Ascq (7-7) crushing them 76-55 in the French LFB on Wednesday night. She scored 9 points, grabbed 5 boards, dished 3 assists and stole 6 balls in 25 minutes. Charnay Basket Bourgogne SUD (3-11) is placed tenth in the LFB. They ended the series of four consecutive loses. Amukamara averaged so far 12.2ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.0apg and 3.1spg in 14 games. She also holds two passports: Nigerian and American. Amukamara is an international player who is currently on the senior Nigerian National Team roster.

Elizabeth Balogun

   #7. An experienced international guard Elizabeth Balogun (185-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the Louisville (7-4) in their game against the Florida State University (8-7) in the NCAA. Balogun scored 8 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 26 minutes. The Louisville lost 59-68 on their home court in Louisville to the Florida State University. Her team will play only one more game in the NCAA Regular Season. This year Balogun averages: 7.0ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.9apg, 1.8bpg and 1.2spg in 20 games. She is also Nigerian national team player.

Aisha Balarabe

   #8. Center Aisha Balarabe (191-85, college: Virginia, currently plays in Kosovo) contributed to an easy victory against one of league's weakest teams Kastrioti (2-13) crushing them 122-64 in the Kosovan Superleague last Saturday. She recorded 6 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Bashkimi Prizren (13-1) is placed first in the Superleague. It was her team's sixth consecutive victory in a row. Balarabe has individually a very good season with high stats. She averages: 15.7ppg, 11.3rpg, 4.7apg and 1.3spg. Balarabe holds both American and Nigerian passports. She plays currently for the Nigerian national team. Balarabe used to play for First Bank BC in Nigerian league.


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

   #1. Nicole Enabosi (187-F-97, college: Delaware, currently plays in Slovakia) led MBK Ruzomberok to a victory over the fourth-ranked Young Angels (0-4) 72-67 in the Slovakian Extraliga on Sunday night. Enabosi was MVP of the game. She had a double-double by scoring 19 points and getting 12 rebounds. Enabosi also added and 3 steals in 31 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only her third season in pro basketball. MBK Ruzomberok (3-1) is placed second in Places 1-4 group. There are only two games left until the end of the Second Stage. So now every game will be critical. It's Enabosi's first year with the team. Enabosi has individually a very good season with high stats. She averages: 17.3ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.6apg, 1.1bpg and 3.3spg in 17 games she played so far. Enabosi has a dual citizenship: Nigerian and American.

   #2. Michaela Onyenwere (183-F-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an UCLA's surprising victory against the University of Southern California (8-10) crushing them 93-51 in a derby game in the NCAA last Friday. Onyenwere scored 30 points (!!!) and grabbed 8 rebounds in 30 minutes. The University of California at Los Angeles have a very good 13-3 conference record this season. Her team will play only one more game in the NCAA Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial. Onyenwere is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's her fourth year in UCLA's roster. Onyenwere has very impressive stats this season: 18.2ppg, 8.0rpg and 2.3apg in 18 games. She is another player who holds two passports: Nigerian and American.

   #3. Temi Fagbenle (193-F-92, college: USC, currently plays in Italy). She could not help Venezia (3-0) to beat Schio (18-2). Fagbenle scored only 4 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 29 minutes. The league leader Venezia was crushed 84-62 on the road by the second-ranked Schio. It's Fagbenle's first season with the team. Her stats this year are: 12.2ppg, 7.9rpg, 1.6apg and 1.1spg in 16 games. Fagbenle has both British and Nigerian nationalities.

   #4. Lucy Ibeh (183-F, currently studies in the States) contributed to a Cent Arkansas' victory against the Nicholls State University (6-7) 61-50 in the NCAA in Saturday night's game. She scored 20 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. The Central Arkansas University has not so impressive 2-10 conference record this season. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. Ibeh averaged so far 13.3ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.1apg and 2.3spg.

   #5. Patience Idoko (180-F-97, is currently at the American university) helped HBU win their game against the Nicholls State University (6-7) 64-59 in the NCAA last Wednesday. She scored 17 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 31 minutes. The Houston Baptist University has not so impressive 3-8 conference record this season. Idoko's team will play only one more game in the NCAA Regular Season. And now that game is quite important. This year Idoko averages: 6.3ppg and 3.2rpg in 13 games.

   #6. Kem Nwabudu (180-F, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA was not able to help the one of league's weakest teams Wagner (11-5) in their last game on Thursday. Despite her good performance the Wagner was defeated 49-43 in Smithfield by the Bryant University. Nwabudu recorded a double-double by scoring 10 points and getting the same number of rebounds. She also added 2 blocks. Nwabudu's overall stats this season are: 9.8ppg, 5.8rpg and 1.5spg. She also holds two passports: Nigerian and American.

   #7. Ene Adams (185-F, currently plays college basketball in the States) was not able to secure a victory for the one of league's weakest teams Wichita St. in their game against the East Carolina University in the NCAA. Adams scored 5 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and dished 3 assists. Her team was defeated 74-59. Adams' overall stats this season are: 3.4ppg and 4.9rpg.

   #8. Blessing Ejiofor (196-C, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the the league outsider WVU in their game against the Iowa State University in the NCAA. She cannot count Wednesday's game as one of the best ones. Ejiofor scored only 2 points in 21 minutes. Her team was badly defeated by 17 points 85-68. This year Ejiofor's overall stats are: 2.1ppg and 3.4rpg in 21 games.

   #9. Lilian Izundu (190-C, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the UNCG in their game against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the NCAA. She cannot count Friday's game as one of the best ones. Izundu recorded only 3 points. Her team was badly defeated by 16 points 57-41. Izundu's overall stats this season are: 2.2ppg and 3.3rpg.

   #10. Uchechi Ufochukwu (193-C, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the Bradley in their game against the Missouri State University in the NCAA. She cannot count Friday's game as one of the best ones. Ufochukwu recorded only 2 points in 13 minutes. Her team lost 56-62. This year Ufochukwu's overall stats are: 1.9ppg and 2.6rpg in 22 games.