Alade Aminu's double-double lands him Player of the Week award among Nigerians playing currently abroad:

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

Alade Aminu

   #1. This week's number one is an experienced former international power forward Alade Aminu (207-87, college: Georgia Tech, currently plays in Iran). He led Chemidor to a 3-point victory over the second-ranked Sirjan (12-6) 63-60 in the Iranian Superleague last Friday. Aminu was MVP of the game. He recorded a double-double by scoring 24 points and getting 15 rebounds. It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams. Chemidor Tehran (16-2) is placed first in Group E. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. There are only two games left until the end of the Second Stage. So now every game will be critical. Aminu has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 17.5ppg, 11.0rpg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 64.6%(31-48) and FT: 72.7%. Aminu played for the Nigerian senior national team two years ago.

Suleiman Braimoh

   #2. Second place goes to former international power forward Suleiman Braimoh (203-89, college: Rice, currently plays in Basketball Champions League). He could not help Hapoel Jerusalem (0-2) in their last game. Despite Braimoh's very good performance Hapoel Jerusalem was edged 82-79 on the road by the leading Prometey. He was the second best scorer with 21 points. Braimoh also added 8 rebounds in 35 minutes. The Second Stage already ended in the Basketball Champions League. It's Braimoh's first season with the team. He has relatively good stats this year: 14.6ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.4apg, 2FGP: 65.5%(19-29) and FT: 66.7% in five games he played so far. Braimoh played for the Nigerian national team in 2020.

Tonye Jekiri

   #3. The Nigerian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international center Tonye Jekiri (212-94, agency: Network Sports International, college: Miami, FL, currently plays in Euroleague). Jekiri was not able to help Unics (12-9) in their last game. Despite his good performance Unics was badly defeated 85-68 in Madrid by the leading Real. Jekiri was the second best scorer with 13 points. He also added 2 blocks in 28 minutes. This year Jekiri's overall stats are: 7.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 2FGP: 65.7%(67-102) and FT: 56.8% in 20 games. He played for the Nigerian national team two years ago.

Chima Moneke

   #4. Forward Chima Moneke (198-95, college: UC Davis, currently plays in Spain) contributed to a 3-point Manresa's victory against the 16th-ranked Andorra (5-12) 82-79 in the Spanish Liga Endesa on Saturday night. Moneke recorded 7 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. BAXI Manresa (2-1) is placed second in the Liga Endesa. This season Moneke has relatively solid stats: 14.4ppg, 8.1rpg, 1.2apg and 1.6spg. He is also Nigerian national team player.

Daniel Utomi

   #5. International guard Daniel Utomi (198-97, agency: Slash Sports, college: USC, currently plays in Italy) was the major contributor in Pistoia's victory against the tenth-ranked Piacentina (5-9) 89-76 in the Italian Serie A2 (second division) last Saturday. Utomi scored 22 points and grabbed 5 rebounds; not bad, considering it's only his second season in pro basketball. Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoiais placed in Group Green. Utomi has reliable stats this season: 14.0ppg, 3.9rpg and 1.1apg. He has a dual citizenship: Nigerian and American. Utomi plays currently for the Nigerian national team.

Gabe Vincent

   #6. Guard Gabe Vincent (190-96, college: UCSB, currently plays in NBA) was not able to secure a victory for the Miami Heat (31-17) in their game against the Atlanta Hawks (22-25) in the NBA, despite his very good performance on Friday night. He scored 14 points and added 9 assists in 38 minutes. But the Miami Heat (31-17) was edged 110-108 in Atlanta by the Hawks. Vincent's stats this year are: 8.9ppg, 1.9rpg and 3.2apg in 39 games. He is an international player who is currently on the senior Nigerian National Team roster.

Rasheed Sulaimon

   #7. Former international guard Rasheed Sulaimon (193-94, college: Maryland, currently plays in France) led JL Bourg to a 2-point victory over one of league's weakest teams Cholet Basket (5-12) 81-79 in the French Betclic ELITE ProA in Saturday night's game. Sulaimon was the best player in that game. He scored 20 points. JL Bourg Basket (2-0) is placed first in the Betclic ELITE ProA. This season Sulaimon has very high stats. He averages: 15.5ppg, 3.6rpg and 2.8apg. Sulaimon is another player who holds two passports: Nigerian and American. Despite he played previously for the USA U19 national team, Sulaimon is currently in the Nigerian national team roster.

Melvin Ejim

   #8. Forward Melvin Ejim (201-91, agency: BeoBasket, college: Iowa St., currently plays in ABA League) couldn't help KK Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (9-6) in their game against Crvena Zvezda (14-1) in the ABA League, despite his good performance last Monday. He scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 28 minutes. But KK Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana was edged 83-82 in Beograd by the leading Crvena Zvezda. They ended the series of four consecutive victories. This year Ejim's total stats are: 8.9ppg, 5.7rpg and 2.1apg in 15 games. He used to play for the Nigerian national team back in 2012.

Lotanna Nwogbo

   #9. Former international power forward Lotanna Nwogbo (203-93, college: Longwood, currently plays in BNXT-League) led his Dutch team Groningen to a victory against the closely-ranked Feyenoord (9-8) 93-79 in the BNXT League on Wednesday night. Nwogbo scored 14 points. Donar Groningen (10-5) is placed fourth in the BNXT League. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. They will play only one more game in the BNXT League Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial. Nwogbo's stats this season are: 12.3ppg, 5.3rpg and 1.4apg. He has both American and Nigerian nationalities. Nwogbo used to play for the Nigerian national team four years ago.

Dinma Odiakosa

   #10. Power forward Dinma Odiakosa (203-85, college: Illinois St., currently plays in France) couldn't help SO Maritime Boulogne (9-10) in their game against GET Vosges (4-15) in the French NM1 (third division), despite his very good performance in Friday night's game. He was the top scorer with 20 points. Odiakosa also added 8 rebounds in 35 minutes. But the eighth-placed SO Maritime Boulogne (9-10) was edged 84-82 in Golbey by the lower-ranked (#14) GET Vosges in the Group B. It was SO Maritime Boulogne's third consecutive loss in a row. Odiakosa averaged so far 11.3ppg and 6.1rpg in 15 games. He is a former U22 international player as eighteen years ago he still played for the Nigerian national team.

   #11. International small forward Precious Achiuwa (206-99, college: Memphis, currently plays in NBA) contributed to a Toronto Raptors' victory against the Charlotte Hornets 125-113 in the NBA last Tuesday. Achiuwa recorded 9 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists in 25 minutes. Achiuwa averaged so far 7.7ppg, 7.5rpg and 1.2apg in 37 games. He plays currently for the Nigerian national team.

   #12. Former international center John Egbunu (211-94, college: Florida, currently plays in Basketball Champions League) is a teammate of previously mentioned Suleiman Braimoh. But that was another game of his team in Basketball Champions League which we would like to mention. Egbunu couldn't help Hapoel Jerusalem in their game against Prometey. He scored 6 points, had 4 rebounds and made 3 blocks. His team was defeated 85-75. Egbunu has averaged so far 5.0ppg, 5.0rpg and 2.0bpg. He used to play for the Nigerian national team back in 2020.

   #13. Former international center Micheal Eric (211-88, college: Temple, currently plays in Basketball Champions League) couldn't help Unicaja in their game against Cluj Napoca in the Basketball Champions League. Eric recorded 5 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks. His team was defeated 79-73. Eric has averaged so far 9.6ppg, 6.1rpg and 1.6bpg. He used to play for the Nigerian national team two years ago.

   #14. International forward Jordan Nwora (203-98, college: Louisville, currently plays in NBA) helped Milwaukee Bucks win their game against the Sacramento Kings 133-127 in the NBA on Saturday night. Nwora recorded 10 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 22 minutes. Nwora averaged so far 8.4ppg and 4.0rpg in 38 games. He also holds two passports: Nigerian and American. Nwora plays currently for the Nigerian national team.

   #15. International forward Amaze Egekeze (203-95, college: Belmont, currently plays in BNXT-League) is a teammate of previously mentioned Lotanna Nwogbo. However that was another game of his team in BNXT League which brought him to that list. Egekeze helped his Dutch team Groningen edge the closely-ranked Leiden 71-69. He scored 9 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Egekeze averaged so far 10.8ppg and 3.3rpg. He holds both American and Nigerian passports. Egekeze is also in the roster of the Nigerian national team.


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

   #1. Tanksley Efianayi (198-G/F-94, college: UCF, currently plays in Uruguay) could not help Urunday (4-9) in their last game. Despite his very good performance Urunday lost 78-85 in a derby game to the second-ranked Bigua. Efianayi had a double-double by scoring 32 points and getting 12 rebounds. He also added 5 assists and 3 steals in 40 minutes. The Regular Season already ended. It's Efianayi's first season with the team. Efianayi has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 19.0ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.9apg and 1.4spg in seven games he played so far. Efianayi has a dual citizenship: Nigerian and American.

   #2. Retin Obasohan (189-G-93, college: Alabama, currently plays in Basketball Champions League) was not able to help Hapoel Jerusalem (0-2) in their last game on Thursday. Despite his very good performance Hapoel Jerusalem was defeated 85-75 on the road by the leading Prometey. Obasohan was the top scorer with 19 points. He also added 7 assists. The Second Stage already ended in the Basketball Champions League. This season Obasohan has relatively solid stats: 14.7ppg, 3.2rpg, 5.3apg and 1.4spg. He is another player who holds two passports: Belgian and Nigerian.

   #3. Experienced Onyeka Okongwu (206-PF-0, college: USC, currently plays in NBA) was the major contributor in an Atlanta Hawks' victory against the Sacramento Kings (18-32) 121-104 in the NBA in Wednesday night's game. Okongwu scored 18 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 20 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his second season in pro basketball. The Atlanta Hawks have 22-25 record this season. It was his team's fifth consecutive victory in a row. Okongwu has reliable stats this year: 9.8ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.2apg and 1.7bpg in 15 games. He has both American and Nigerian nationalities.

   #4. Mike Balogun (194-G-91, college: Arkansas Tech, currently plays in Georgia) led Kavkasia to a victory over one of league's weakest teams Mgzavrebi (0-1) crushing them 111-50 in a derby game in the Georgian A League (second division) last Monday. Balogun was the top player that evening. He recorded 23 points and added 3 assists. It was his first game for Kavkasia this season. His team is placed second in the A League. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. Balogun also holds two passports: Nigerian and American.

   #5. Ike Joseph Udanoh (202-PF-89, college: WSU, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for one of league's weakest teams SIG Strasbourg (2-1) in their game against Metropolitans (13-3) in the French Betclic ELITE ProA. He scored 5 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 20 minutes. SIG Strasbourg lost 80-85 in Levallois to the leading Metropolitans. It was SIG Strasbourg's first loss after five consecutive victories. Udanoh has averaged so far 5.8ppg, 5.9rpg and 1.6apg in 14 games. He holds both American and Nigerian passports.

   #6. Chris Otule (211-C-90, agency: Octagon Europe, college: Marquette, currently plays in Japan) couldn't help Bambitious Nara (7-25) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Otule's very good performance Bambitious Nara (#7) was defeated 89-79 in Saga by the higher-ranked Ballooners (#4) in the West group. He recorded a double-double by scoring 28 points and getting 20 rebounds. Otule also added 2 blocks. Otule averaged so far 14.7ppg and 9.5rpg. He holds both American and Nigerian passports.

   #7. David Efianayi (188-G-95, college: Gardner-Webb, currently plays in France) couldn't help Denain Voltaire (0-1) in their last game. Despite Efianayi's very good performance Denain Voltaire was badly defeated 79-61 on the opponent's court by the second-ranked Chalon/Saor. He was the top scorer with 17 points. Efianayi also added 4 assists and 3 steals in 33 minutes. Efianayi averaged so far 14.9ppg, 1.9rpg, 2.7apg and 1.1spg in 12 games. He holds both American and Nigerian passports.

   #8. Maxie Esho (206-F/C-91, college: UMass, currently plays in Saudi Arabia) contributed to an easy victory against the eighth-ranked Al Salam crushing them 104-76 in the Saudi Arabian SBL last Monday. He had a double-double by scoring 21 points and getting 22 rebounds. Esho also added 4 assists in 36 minutes. Esho has very impressive stats this year: 21.0ppg, 14.1rpg and 3.4apg in 10 games. He holds both American and Nigerian passports.

   #9. James Nnaji (209-C-4, currently plays in Euroleague) couldn't help Barca in their game against Unics in the Euroleague. Nnaji cannot count Thursday's game as one of the best ones. He recorded only 2 points. His team was defeated 70-64. Nnaji has averaged so far 1.0ppg and 1.3rpg.

   #10. Francis Okoro (206-F-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to St.Louis' victory against the The George Washington University 80-67 in the NCAA on Wednesday night. He had a double-double by scoring 22 points and getting 11 rebounds in 24 minutes. Okoro has averaged so far 9.6ppg, 7.7rpg and 1.4bpg in 19 games.