Suleiman Braimoh's 30 points make him top Nigerian player abroad of the week

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.

Suleiman Braimoh

   #1. This week's number one is an international power forward Suleiman Braimoh (203-89, college: Rice, currently plays in Israel). He could not help Hapoel Jerusalem (3-3) in their last game. Despite Braimoh's very good performance the fourth-placed Hapoel Jerusalem (3-3) lost 85-97 on the road to the lower-ranked (#5) H.Haifa in the Winners Stage group. He was the top scorer with 30 points. Braimoh also added 6 rebounds in 28 minutes on the court. The Second Stage already ended. Braimoh has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 17.0ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.7apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 62.5%(157-251), 3FGP: 35.1% and FT: 73.7% in 29 games he played so far. Braimoh is currently a member of the Nigerian senior national team.

Tonye Jekiri

   #2. Second place goes to an international center Tonye Jekiri (212-94, agency: Network Sports International, college: Miami, FL, currently plays in Spain). He was not able to help Baskonia (23-13) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Jekiri's very good performance Baskonia was edged 71-68 in Manresa by the lower-ranked La ICL (#9). He recorded a double-double by scoring 17 points and getting 11 rebounds. Jekiri also added 4 assists and 3 steals. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Jekiri's overall stats this season are: 6.7ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.5apg, 2FGP: 54.6% and FT: 75.0%. He is in the roster of the Nigerian senior national team.

Rasheed Sulaimon

   #3. The Nigerian player who performed third best last week abroad was an international guard Rasheed Sulaimon (193-94, college: Maryland, currently plays in Spain). Sulaimon was not able to secure a victory for Zaragoza (5-7) in their last game. Despite his very good performance Zaragoza was crushed 91-68 in Murcia by the lower-ranked (#12) UCAM. Sulaimon was the top scorer with 21 points. He also added 6 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 29 minutes. The Regular Season already ended. This year Sulaimon's overall stats are: 8.0ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.2apg, 2FGP: 45.3%, 3FGP: 33.3% and FT: 76.4% in 28 games. He has a dual citizenship: Nigerian and American. Despite Sulaimon played previously for the USA U19 national team, he is currently a member of the Nigerian senior national team.

Chima Moneke

   #4. Forward Chima Moneke (198-95, college: UC Davis, currently plays in France) couldn't help Entente Orleans 45 (11-5) in their last game. Despite Moneke's very good performance Entente Orleans 45 lost 87-99 in Nanterre to the lower-ranked (#10) JSF Nanterre. He was the top scorer with 22 points. Moneke also added 4 rebounds in 23 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his third season in pro basketball. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. It's Moneke's first year with the team. Moneke has relatively good stats this season: 12.9ppg, 6.1rpg and 1.7apg in 25 games. He is also Nigerian national team player.

Gani Lawal

   #5. An experienced former international power forward Gani Lawal (206-88, college: Georgia Tech, currently plays in France) was the major contributor in Chalons-Reims' victory against the closely-ranked Cholet Basket (9-18) 98-87 in the French Jeep ELITE ProA last Friday. Lawal recorded a double-double by scoring 17 points and getting 10 rebounds. He also added 2 blocks. Champagne Chalons-Reims Basket (11-16) is placed 12th in the Jeep ELITE ProA. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be important. This season Lawal has relatively solid stats: 10.8ppg, 6.4rpg and 1.1bpg. He is another player who holds two passports: Nigerian and American. Lawal used to play for the Nigerian national team eight years ago.

Melvin Ejim

   #6. Forward Melvin Ejim (201-91, agency: BeoBasket, college: Iowa St., currently plays in ABA League) contributed to Buducnost's victory against the league leader Crvena Zvezda (22-3) 75-71 in the ABA League last Saturday. Ejim scored 9 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 19 minutes. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. KK Buducnost Voli Podgorica (20-4) is placed second in the ABA League. It was his team's 12th consecutive victory in a row. Ejim has reliable stats this year: 10.1ppg, 4.6rpg and 1.3apg in 31 games. He is a former international player as he played for the Nigerian senior team nine years ago.

Micheal Eric

   #7. International center Micheal Eric (210-88, college: Temple, currently plays in VTB United League) managed to help CSKA Moscow to win against the leader Zenit (20-4) 96-82 in the VTB United League on Saturday night. Eric scored only 3 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. CSKA Moscow (17-7) is placed fourth in group A. Eric's total stats this season are: 6.2ppg and 3.5rpg. He is also Nigerian national team player.

Michael Umeh

   #8. Guard Michael Umeh (188-84, college: UNLV, currently plays in France) couldn't help Le Portel (12-17) in their last game. Despite Umeh's good performance Le Portel lost 78-84 at home to the higher-ranked (#5) JL Bourg. He was the second best scorer with 14 points in a mere 16 minutes. The Regular Season already ended. This year Umeh's total stats are: 6.2ppg and 1.5rpg in 22 games. He has both American and Nigerian nationalities. Umeh used to play for the Nigerian national team back in 2019.

Obi Emegano

   #9. International guard Obi Emegano (189-93, college: ORU, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Baloncesto Fuenlabrada in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance Baloncesto Fuenlabrada was badly defeated 96-76 in Valencia by the second-ranked Basket. Emegano scored 12 points. Emegano has averaged so far 10.0ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.1apg and 1.1spg. He is also in the roster of the Nigerian national team.

Josh Ajayi

   #10. Forward Josh Ajayi (201-96, college: USA, currently plays in France) led Nantes to an easy victory against the closely-ranked JA Vichy (15-15) crushing them 91-70 in the French ProB (second division) on Tuesday night. He scored 22 points; not bad, considering it's only Ajayi's third season in pro basketball. Hermine Nantes Atlantique (4-18) is placed 12th in the ProB. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be extremely important. It's Ajayi's first year with the team. He averaged so far 10.6ppg and 4.6rpg. Ajayi also holds two passports: Nigerian and American. He is an international player who is currently on the senior Nigerian National Team roster.

   #11. Former international forward Jordan Nwora (203-98, college: Louisville, currently plays in NBA) contributed to an easy victory against the Miami Heat crushing them 132-98 in the NBA in Monday night's game. Nwora scored 5 points in 8 minutes. He has averaged so far 5.5ppg and 1.9rpg in 32 games. Nwora holds both American and Nigerian passports. He used to play for the Nigerian national team two years ago.

   #12. Former international power forward Ike Ofoegbu (205-84, college: SMU, currently plays in Israel) couldn't help Hasharon in their game against Maccabi Raanana in the Israeli National League (second division), despite his very good performance on Wednesday night. Ofoegbu was the second best scorer with 14 points. He also added 6 rebounds in 33 minutes. But his team was crushed by 27 points 83-56. Ofoegbu's stats this year are: 13.6ppg, 6.4rpg and 1.6apg in eight games. He holds both American and Nigerian passports. Ofoegbu used to play for the Nigerian national team back in 2016.

   #13. Former international center Ekenechukwu Ibekwe (206-85, college: Maryland, currently plays in France) couldn't help Chorale de Roanne in their game against JSF Nanterre in the French Jeep ELITE ProA. He recorded 6 points in only 11 minutes. His team lost 66-77. Ibekwe has averaged so far 7.0ppg and 3.6rpg in 16 games. He holds both American and Nigerian passports. Ibekwe used to play for the Nigerian national team two years ago.

   #14. Former international guard Gabe Vincent (190-96, college: UCSB, currently plays in NBA) faced previously mentioned Jordan Nwora in the NBA last game. Vincent couldn't help the Miami Heat in their game against the Milwaukee Bucks. He cannot count Monday's game as one of the best ones. Vincent scored only 3 points in 7 minutes on the court. His team was crushed by 34 points 132-98 in the NBA. He has averaged so far 4.8ppg, 1.1rpg and 1.3apg in 51 games. Vincent used to play for the Nigerian national team back in 2019.

   #15. Former international power forward Lotanna Nwogbo (203-93, college: Longwood, currently plays in Spain) contributed to a Leyma Basquet's victory against the fifth-ranked Oviedo 74-66 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) in Friday night's game. He recorded 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Nwogbo averaged so far 11.2ppg and 4.2rpg. He holds both American and Nigerian passports. Nwogbo used to play for the Nigerian national team three years ago.


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

   #1. Danny Agbelese (205-C-90, agency: Octagon Europe, college: Hampton, currently plays in Greece) led Promitheas to a victory against the closely-ranked Lavrio (17-5) 86-79 in the Greek A1 in Thursday night's game. Agbelese recorded 14 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. ASP Promitheas Patras (4-1) is placed second in the A1. Agbelese's total stats this season are: 8.0ppg, 4.4rpg and 1.5bpg. He has a dual citizenship: Nigerian and American.

   #2. Jawachi Nzeakor (203-F/C-97, college: Lamar, currently plays in Basketball Africa League) could not help AS Police (0-3) in their last game on Thursday. Despite Nzeakor's very good performance AS Police was defeated 88-79 on the road by the second-ranked AS Sale. He recorded a double-double by scoring 33 points and getting 12 rebounds. The Regular Season already ended in the Basketball Africa League. Nzeakor has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 20.7ppg, 8.3rpg and 2.0apg. Nzeakor is another player who holds two passports: Nigerian and American.

   #3. O.D. Anosike (203-F/C-91, college: Siena, currently plays in Greece) faced previously mentioned Danny Agbelese in the Greek A1 last game. Anosike was not able to help Lavrio in their game against Promitheas (16-6). He recorded 7 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists in 21 minutes. Lavrio lost 79-86 at home to the lower-ranked (#3) Promitheas. This year Anosike's total stats are: 7.6ppg and 6.1rpg in 16 games he played so far. He has both American and Nigerian nationalities.

   #4. Experienced Weyinmi Rose (196-G/F-86, college: Providence, currently plays in Colombia) was not able to secure a victory for Bucaros (4-5) in their last game. Despite his very good performance Bucaros was crushed 105-68 on their home court in Bucaramanga by the leading Titanes. Rose was the second best scorer with 16 points in 33 minutes. Rose has very impressive stats this year: 16.7ppg, 6.0rpg, 3.1apg and 1.8spg in 11 games. He also holds two passports: Nigerian and Jamaican.

   #5. Michael Fakuade (201-F-89, agency: Slash Sports, college: UIS, currently plays in Basketball Africa League) contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked FAP (1-2) crushing them 82-53 in the Basketball Africa League in Wednesday night's game. Fakuade recorded 12 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Al Zamalek (3-0) is placed first in the Basketball Africa League. So far his team won all one games in the Quarter-Finals. Fakuade's total stats this season are: 9.3ppg and 5.5rpg. He holds both American and Nigerian passports.

   #6. Chinemelu Elonu (206-F/C-87, college: Texas A&M, currently plays in Basketball Africa League) is a teammate of previously mentioned Michael Fakuade. But that was another game of his team in Basketball Africa League which we would like to mention. Elonu contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Douanes crushing them 86-62. He scored 9 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 19 minutes. Elonu has averaged so far 7.3ppg, 7.0rpg and 1.3apg in four games. He holds both American and Nigerian passports.

   #7. Eric Okenchi (201-C-97, college: UVA Wise, currently plays in Argentina) was the major contributor in a Estudiantes Concordia's victory against the 11th-ranked Estudiantes Olavarria 62-57 in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division) in Friday night's game. Okenchi scored 12 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Okenchi has averaged so far 9.1ppg and 4.3rpg. He holds both American and Nigerian passports.

   #8. Martins Igbanu (203-F-97, college: Tulsa, currently plays in Serbia) couldn't help Mladost ZE in their game against Partizan NiS in the Serbian KLS. Igbanu recorded 5 points in 22 minutes. His team was badly defeated by 20 points 70-50. Igbanu's stats this year are: 12.1ppg, 6.1rpg and 1.1apg in 28 games.

   #9. Moses Kingsley (208-F-94, agency: Network Sports International, college: Arkansas, currently plays in Greece) couldn't help AEK in their game against Panathinaikos in the Greek A1. Kingsley cannot count Sunday's game as one of the best ones. He scored only 2 points. His team was defeated 94-83. Kingsley has averaged so far 4.4ppg and 3.4rpg. He holds both American and Nigerian passports.

   #10. Richmond Aririguzoh (206-C, college: Princeton, currently plays in Denmark) contributed to a Horsens IC's victory against the leader Bakken 85-79 in the Danish BasketLigaen in Monday night's game. He scored 8 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Aririguzoh averaged so far 10.6ppg, 5.8rpg and 1.2apg.