This topic contains 5 replies, has 4 voices, and was last updated by AvatarAvatar Rotela 14 years, 4 months ago.

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  • #36608
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    Rotela
    Participant

    I was doing some research for a website aboutNigerian-Born players in NCAA, and I was quite amazed that there are a lot of them, see below.

    1.Trevor Mbakwe — Minnesota
    2.Noruwa Agho — Columbia
    3.Festus Ezeli — Vanderbilt
    4.Alex Oriakhi — Uconn
    5.J.P. Olukemi — Oklahoma State
    6.Victor Oladipo — Indiana
    7.Duece Bello — Baylor
    8.God’s Gift Achiuwa
    9.Talib Zanna — – Pittsburgh
    10.Olu Ashaolu — Oregon

    11.Kevin Olekaibe – Fresno State
    12.Michael Eric – Temple
    13.Okaro White — Florida State
    14.Melvin Ejim – Iowa State
    15.Chris Otule — Marquette
    16.Michael Gbinije — Duke
    17.Mfon Udofia — Georgia Tech
    18.Nnanna Egwu – Illinois
    19.Maverick Ahanmisi – Minnesota
    20.Victor Ojeleye — Kansas State

    21.Aron Nwakwo — Pittsburgh
    22.Moses Ayegba – Georgetown
    23.Analy Okoloji – George Mason
    24.Teddy Okereafor — VCU
    25.Ehimen Orukpe — Wichita State
    26.Osamuede Egharevba — Wichita State
    27.Ugo Okam — Harvard
    28.Ovie Soko – UAB
    29.Yemi Makanjuola — Tennessee
    30.Eso Akunne — Michigan

    31.Ike Nwamu — Cleveland St
    33.Raphael Akpejiori — Miami
    34.Chukwuemeka Iroegbu — Washington State
    35.Kodi Maduka — Tulsa
    36.Jamal Olasewere — Long Island
    37.Kenny Onyechi — Long Island
    38.Maurice Aniefiok — Ole Miss
    39.Deji Ibitayo — Akron
    40.Stephen Nwaukoni — Hofstra

    41.Francis Edosomwan — East Carolina
    42.Dera Nd-Ezuma — Rider
    43.Bisi Latunde-Addey — Coastal Carolina
    44.Anthony Odunsi — Utah
    45.Mogboluwaga Oginni — Creighton
    46.Jordan Akwenuke — Santa Clara
    47.Zach Chionuma — Boston University
    48.Kris Obaseki — Oral Roberts
    49.Jordan Omogbehin — South Florida
    50.John Nwannunu — NCA

    51.Maxie Esho — Massachussettes
    52.Ike Azotam — Quinnipiac
    52.Joe Efese — Central Conneticut
    53.Danny Agbelese — Hampton
    54.Emmanuel Okoroba — Hampton
    55.Milade Lola-Charles — Hampton
    56.Ify Umodu — Northern Arizona
    57.Ben Olayinka — Northern Arizona
    58.Ephraim Ekanem — Northern Arizona
    59.Aaron Adeoye — Ball State
    60.Gabe Olaseni — Iowa

    61.Chido Onyiuke — Loyola MD
    62.Michael Onuorah — IPFW
    63.Frank Ben-Eze — Davidson
    64.Kinley Ogbonnaya-Branch — Arkansans state
    65.Sommy Ogukwe — Liberty
    66.Brian Okam — Appalachian State
    67.O’Karo Akamune — Western Kentucky
    68.Kene Ayigbo — Western Kentucky
    69.Patrick Onwenu — Texas Southern
    70.Bassey Inameti — Tennessee Tech

    71.Dennis Ogbe — Tennessee Tech
    72.Imoh Silas — Siena
    73.OD Anosike — Siena
    74.Chim Kadima — Loyola IL
    75.London Dokubo — Loyola IL
    76.Stan Okoye — Virginia Military
    77.Bryant Mbamalu — Louisiana Lafayette
    78.Onochie Ochie — Southeastern Lousiania
    79.Paul Gombwer — Charleston South
    80.Lotanna Nwogbo — Tulane

    81.Emmanuel Ochenje — Pepperdine
    82.Longi Yiljep — Brown
    83.Chris Udofia — Denver
    84.Lekan Ajayi — Wyoming
    85.Afam Muojeke – Wyoming
    86.Ayodeji Egbeyemi — Loyola
    87.Godwin Okonji — Loyola
    88.Mark Nwakamma — Hartford
    89.Shareif Adamu — Alabama State
    90.Toso Adebamowo — Sacred Heart

    91.Femi Akinpetide — Sacred Heart
    92.Ebuka Anyaorah — North Carolina Central
    93.Robert Nwakwo — Towson
    94.Tola Akomolafe — Florida International
    95.Cliff Ederaine — Eastern Washington
    96.Justin Omogun — Eastern Washington
    97.Wale Akinbobola — Tennesee Martin
    98.Prince Obasi — Seattle
    99.Osas Ebomwonyi — Lamar
    100.Alex Ogundadegbe — Binghamton

    101.John Adenrele — UC Davis — 6’7
    102.Abdulwali Kasim — Delaware state
    103.Babatunde Olumuwiya — USC Upstate
    104.Odra Nweke — NJIT
    105.Andrew Osemhen — Kennesaw
    106.Chukwuemeka Duruji — Maryland Eastern
    107.Olatunji Kosile — Maryland Eastern
    108.Ife Ike — Louisiana-Monroe
    109.Ayotunde Oyeniyi — Fairleigh
    110.Prince Okoroh — Howard

    111.Joe Ikhinmwin — South Carolina state
    112.Obi Emegano — Western Illinois
    113.Quincy Ukaigwe — Chicago State
    114. Sean Ezeamama — Canisius
    115. Tomie Aromona — Missouri State

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • #638402
    AvatarAvatar
    McDunkin

    Lebron wants to know which one is going to d him up?

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  • #638404
    AvatarAvatar
    mikeyvthedon
    Participant

    That is a lot, though there are 340 NCAA teams. Nonetheless, that would have been way more than I would have predicted. Were these guys all born in Nigeria or do they all have Nigerian roots? I know Olu was, though he has repped Canada in the past. But, I have not seen anything about Okaro White being born in Nigeria and Deuce Bello was born in New Jersey.

    The Ducks had a guy named Chamberlain "Champ" Oguchi who was born in Houston, Texas, but played for the Nigerian national team (He spent his last year at Illinois State). I also know that Ime Udoka has been captain of the Nigerian team for quite a while. The only other NBA guy I knew of on the 2011 roster was Olumide Oyedji aka the first Bismack Biyombo.

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  • #638414
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    Rotela
    Participant

    A lot of them are 2nd generation, their parents came as immigrants to the US, but we Nigerians like to keep a strong tradition no matter what, you can tell by the names. A few playing in the NBA now are Emeka Okafor, Al-Farouq Aminu, Ekpe Udoh, Ben Uzoh, Andre Iguodala, Solomon Alabi and Jeff Green.

    Others like Festus Ezeli, God’s Gift Achiuwa and Talib Zanna were born in Nigeria….

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  • #638555
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    CoachWorthy
    Participant

    more than I expected. Is basketball a popular sport in Nigeria (I imagine a distant 2nd place to soccor) or have 2nd generation Nigerians Americans just adopted the game? All Nigerians I have ever come across has had an innate confidence in themselves that crosses over to cockiness quite often. This is not something I view as having a negative connotation by the way. Do you think thats a stereotype or pretty accuarate? Rotela do you think that quality has helped them in excelling at basketball?

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  • #638758
    AvatarAvatar
    Rotela
    Participant

    @ coachworthy, To be honest soccer is probably the only sport that is popular in Nigeria, then maybe boxing; then basketball and athletics are further down the line. As you pointed out, I think Nigerian-Americans have just adopted the game in the US same as in American Football we are very sport oriented people, so whatever the most popular game is, we will try and adopt. Also dont forget Hakeem Olajuwon also did a lot for the sport as well, no one can imagine that a former hand-ball player can go to the the US and become a major star. And yes you are right about the confidence thing lol, i think its more to do with the way we are raised, we are taught at an early age by our parents and older family member to always be the best at anything we do. 

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