Ben_Emelogu

Ben Emelogu

Ben Emelogu

Nigerian-American basketball player

Benjamin Anyahukeya Emelogu II (born November 24, 1994) is a US-born Nigerian[1] professional basketball player who formerly played for Avtodor Saratov of the VTB United League. He played college basketball for the SMU Mustangs and the Virginia Tech Hokies.

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High school career

Emelogu attended South Grand Prairie High School. As a senior, he averaged 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.2 steals per game, earning First Team All-Area honors.[2] He led the team to the 2013 5A state championship game for the first time since 1975. Emelogu had 14 points and four assists in the 60–43 semifinal win against Byron P. Steele II High School.[3]

College career

Emelogu was named team captain of Virginia Tech as a freshman, averaging 10.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.[4] After the season, he transferred to SMU to be closer to his family and was granted immediate eligibility.[5] As a sophomore, Emelogu played through a torn meniscus and shot 27.7 percent from the floor. He underwent surgery after the season, before tearing it again and undergoing another operation. He suffered a back injury during a workout prior to his junior season and was granted a medical redshirt.[6] As a junior, Emelogu averaged 4.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game and was named American Athletic Conference (AAC) Co-Sixth Man of the Year with Jarron Cumberland.[7] On February 1, 2018, he scored a career-high 24 points in a 76–67 loss to Tulsa.[8] As a senior, he averaged 10.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, shooting an AAC-high 47 percent from three-point range.[9]

Professional career

On July 26, 2018, Emelogu signed his first professional contract with Arka Gdynia of the Polish Basketball League (PLK) and the EuroCup.[10] He was unable to join the team due an injury. On July 24, 2019, Emelogu signed a new contract with Gdynia.[11] He mutually agreed to part ways on February 18, 2020. In 17 PLK games, he averaged 7.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, and in 10 EuroCup games, he averaged 8.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.[12]

On August 14, 2020, Emelogu signed a one-year contract with Russian club Avtodor Saratov of the VTB United League.[13] On October 23, 2020, he parted ways with the team after appearing in one game, in which he recorded six points and two steals.[14]

Personal life

Emelogu's mother, Stephanie Hughey, is from the United States, while his father is from Nigeria. When he was in ninth grade, his parents separated and his father moved back to Nigeria.[15][16] Emelogu's brother, Lindsey Hughey, played college basketball for Weber State.[9]

Nigeria national team

He has been part of Nigeria's national team at the AfroBasket 2021 in Kigali, Rwanda.[1]

References

  1. [1]
    D’Tigers FIBA Afrobasket final roster released TODAY.ng, 19 August 2021. Accessed 26 August.
  2. [2]
    Smith, Corbett (March 20, 2013). "Best of the best: 2013 all-area boys basketball first-team includes Ben Emelogu, Matt Jones, Julius Randle, Ridge Shipley, Kendal Yancy-Harris". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  3. [3]
    "South Grand Prairie rolls into 5A final". The Monitor. Associated Press. March 9, 2013. p. 16. Retrieved September 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. [4]
    Giannotto, Mark (July 4, 2014). "Ben Emelogu is fourth Hokie to leave Virginia Tech basketball team". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  5. [5]
    Berman, Mark (October 24, 2014). "Celtics sign Eddie; Emelogu to play right away for SMU". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  6. [6]
    Grosbard, Adam (February 27, 2018). "After a back injury almost ended his career, Ben Emelogu is finishing his time at SMU on his own terms". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  7. [7]
    "Emelogu Named American Athletic Conference Sixth Man Of The Year". SMU Athletics. March 8, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  8. [8]
    Mayer, Phil (February 1, 2018). "Milton-less SMU falls to Tulsa". The Daily Campus. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  9. [9]
    "Ben Emelogu". SMU Athletics. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  10. [10]
    "Arka Gdynia signs Josh Bostic and Ben Emelogu". EuroHoops. July 26, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  11. [11]
    "Emelogu dołącza do ekipy z Gdyni" (in Polish). Polish Basketball League. July 24, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  12. [12]
    "Rozwiązanie umowy z Benem Emelogu" (in Polish). Arka Gdynia. February 18, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  13. [13]
    "Avtodor Inked Ben Emelogu". Avtodor. August 14, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  14. [14]
    Skerletic, Dario (October 23, 2020). "Avtodor Saratov, Ben Emelogu part ways". Sportando. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  15. [15]
    Berman, Mark (November 11, 2013). "Newcomers hope to change Tech's tune". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  16. [16]
    Giannotto, Mark (October 17, 2013). "Freshman Ben Emelogu already proving to be a leader for Virginia Tech basketball". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
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