Nigeria’s men’s basketball team coach Mike Brown has listed 12 NBA players in a 49-man squad as the D’Tigers begin preparations for the 2020 Olympic Games.
Monte Morris of Denver Nuggets, Miye Oni who plays for Utah Jazz, Toronto Raptors’ OG Anunoby; and Kz Okpala of Miami Heat are among the players invited for camping in California, US.
Others are Festus Ezeli, Precious Achiuwa (Miami Heat), Udoka Azubuike (Utah Jazz), Jahlil Okafor (Detroit Pistons), Josh Okogie (Minnesota Timberwolves), Gabe Vincent (Miami Heat), Al-Farouq Aminu (Chicago Bulls), Jordan Nwora (Milwaukee Bucks) and Chimezie Metu (Sacramento Kings).
The team’s captain Ike Diogu (Bameso, Dominican Rep) was also named in the side alongside 2015 NBA champion Festus Ezeli.
Fuenlabrada’s (Spain) Obi Emegano, Ike Iroegbu (Elan Chalon, France), Ike Nwamu (Samara, Russia), and Michael Gbinije (BC Nevèżíe, Lithuania) were also invited for the camping.
According to the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), the players started arriving in the camp on June 20 for the first phase of the exercise.
Nigeria will play in Group B alongside Australia and winners of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Serbia and Croatia.
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D’TIGERS’ FULL SQUAD FOR TOKYO GAMES
Below is the full list of players invited by the coach:
Monte Morris (Denver Nuggets), Miye Oni (Utah Jazz), OG Anunoby (Toronto Raptors), Kz Okpala (Miami Heat), Festus Ezeli, Precious Achiuwa (Miami Heat), Udoka Azubuike (Utah Jazz), Jahlil Okafor (Detroit Pistons).
Josh Okogie (Minnesota Timberwolves) will join other NBA players who include Gabe Vincent (Miami Heat), Al-Farouq Aminu (Chicago Bulls), Jordan Nwora (Milwaukee Bucks) and Chimezie Metu (Sacramento Kings), Ike Diogu (Bameso, Dominican Rep).
Obi Emegano (Fuenlabrada, Spain), Ike Iroegbu (Elan Chalon, France), Michael Oguine (BC Souffelweyersheim, France), Zaid Hearst (Alba Fehervar, Hungary), Ike Nwamu (Samara, Russia) and Michael Gbinije (Nevèżíe, Lithuania).
Talib Zanna (Hapoel Tel-Aviv, Israel), Emmanuel Omogbo (Vellaznimi, Kosovo), Christian Mekowulu (Treviso, Italy), Tonye Jekiri (Baskonia, Spain), Abdul-Malik Abu (Fethiye, Turkey), Chima Moneke (Orleans, France), Amanze Egekeze (Gries/Oberhoffen, France), Calab Agada (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel), TK Edogi (St. Chamond, France), Joshua Ajayi (Hermine Nantes, France), Keith Omoerah (Poitiers, France) & Michael Eric (CSKA Moscow of Russia).
Festus Ezeli, UC Iroegbu, Ike Ndugba (2021 NBA draft prospect), Mike Okauru (UNC- Wilmington), Ben Uzoh (Hoopers), Michael Adewunmi (UT-Rio Grand Valley), Aminu Mohammed (Georgetown Univ), Manny Obaseki (Texas A&M University), Elijah Olaniyi (Stony Brook Uni) & Chibuzo Agbo (Texas Tech Uni).
Gideon George (BYU), Makenzie Mgbako (Gill St. Bernard School), Warith Alatishe (Oregon State Uni), Efe Abogidi (Washington State Univ), Stephen Domingo (Lakeland Magic), Emeka Okafor, Clifford Omoruyi (Rutger Uni) & Ekpe Udoh (Beijing RF, China).
