Tunji Awojobi
Encyclopedia
Tunji Femi Awojobi is a retired Nigeria
n professional basketball
player. A former boxer
, Awojobi graduated from Boston University
in 1997. Following graduation, he played in several Europe
an countries, most notably in Israel
. Awojobi was also a member of the Nigerian national team
, and he participated in the 1998
and 2006 FIBA World Championship
.
at Boston University
(BU) for four years (1993–1997). He is the first player in New England
college basketball history to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Awojobi concluded his outstanding career as just one of five Division I players to register career totals of 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 300 blocked shots. He joined a select group composed of Alonzo Mourning
(Georgetown
), Pervis Ellison
(Louisville
), Derrick Coleman
(Syracuse
), and David Robinson
(Navy
). Awojobi established 13 BU records, including points (2,308), rebounds (1,237), blocked shots (302), and field goals (871). His rebounding and scoring totals also rank among the best in the history of the America East. In 1996–97, Awojobi led BU to a school-record 25 victories and America East regular-season and tournament titles, and to the NCAA tournament. In recognition of his efforts, Awojobi was a four-time team MVP and first-team all-conference selection. In his senior year, he was named the league's Player of the Year as well as the MVP of the conference's tournament, while adding New England Division I Player of the Year and first-team All-ECAC honors. He was inducted into the BU Hall of Fame in 2002.
(2000–2001) Union Olimpija
(2001–2002) Imola
(2002) Ironi Ramat Gan
(2002–2003) Hapoel Jerusalem (2003–2004) Spirou Charleroi
(2004–2005) Crvena zvezda
(2005) Ironi Ramat Gan
(2005–2006) Maccabi Givat Shmuel (2006) Hapoel Gilboa/Afula
(2007–2008)
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. A former boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, Awojobi graduated from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in 1997. Following graduation, he played in several Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an countries, most notably in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Awojobi was also a member of the Nigerian national team
Nigeria national basketball team
The Nigeria national basketball team is the national team of Nigeria and is generally considered one of the best in Africa along with Angola and Senegal. They are ranked 21st in the world FIBA rankings....
, and he participated in the 1998
1998 FIBA World Championship
The 1998 FIBA World Championship was the 13th FIBA World Championship, an international basketball tournament held by the International Basketball Federation and hosted in Athens, Greece from July 29 to August 9, 1998...
and 2006 FIBA World Championship
2006 FIBA World Championship
The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation , Japan Basketball Association and the 2006 Organizing Committee...
.
College career
Awojobi played college basketballCollege basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
(BU) for four years (1993–1997). He is the first player in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
college basketball history to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Awojobi concluded his outstanding career as just one of five Division I players to register career totals of 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 300 blocked shots. He joined a select group composed of Alonzo Mourning
Alonzo Mourning
Alonzo Harding Mourning, Jr. is a former American professional basketball player, who played most of his 15-year NBA career for the Miami Heat....
(Georgetown
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
), Pervis Ellison
Pervis Ellison
Pervis Ellison is a former college and professional NBA basketball player.Ellison was nicknamed "Never Nervous Pervis" for his play with the University of Louisville. At 6 ft 9 in and 242 lb, he started all four years as the center under coach Denny Crum...
(Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
), Derrick Coleman
Derrick Coleman
Derrick D. Coleman is a retired American basketball player in the NBA. Coleman grew up and attended high school in Detroit, Michigan and attended college at Syracuse University...
(Syracuse
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
), and David Robinson
David Robinson (basketball)
David Maurice Robinson is a retired American NBA basketball player, who played center for the San Antonio Spurs for his entire NBA career. Based on his prior service as an officer in the United States Navy, Robinson earned the nickname "The Admiral". He and teammate power forward Tim Duncan were...
(Navy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
). Awojobi established 13 BU records, including points (2,308), rebounds (1,237), blocked shots (302), and field goals (871). His rebounding and scoring totals also rank among the best in the history of the America East. In 1996–97, Awojobi led BU to a school-record 25 victories and America East regular-season and tournament titles, and to the NCAA tournament. In recognition of his efforts, Awojobi was a four-time team MVP and first-team all-conference selection. In his senior year, he was named the league's Player of the Year as well as the MVP of the conference's tournament, while adding New England Division I Player of the Year and first-team All-ECAC honors. He was inducted into the BU Hall of Fame in 2002.
Pro career
Meysuspor (1997) Kuşadası (1998–1999) Châlons en Champaign (1999–2000) CibonaKK Cibona
Košarkaški klub Cibona is a professional basketball club based in Zagreb, Croatia. It competes in the Croatian League and the Adriatic League.-History:The club was founded in 1946 under the name Sloboda...
(2000–2001) Union Olimpija
KK Union Olimpija
-Depth Chart:-In: Ben Woodside Deon Thompson Aleksandar Ćapin Jaka Blažič Danny Green Ratko Varda Robert Rothbart -Out: Giorgi Shermadini - return from a loan Kenny Gregory Samo Udrih Aloysius Anagonye Vladimir...
(2001–2002) Imola
Andrea Costa Imola
Andrea Costa Imola, also known for sponsorship reasons as Aget Imola, is an Italian professional basketball team from the town of Imola and named after Andrea Costa, a former mayor of Imola....
(2002) Ironi Ramat Gan
Ironi Ramat Gan
Ironi Ramat Gan is a basketball club based in Ramat Gan in central Israel. The team plays in Liga Leumit, the Second division in Israeli basketball.The club was formed by a merger of Beitar Ramat Gan and Maccabi Ramat Gan...
(2002–2003) Hapoel Jerusalem (2003–2004) Spirou Charleroi
Spirou Charleroi
Spirou Charleroi, also known as Spirou Basket, is a Belgian professional basketball club that is located in Charleroi, Belgium. The club competes in the top Belgian League...
(2004–2005) Crvena zvezda
KK Crvena zvezda
Košarkaški klub Crvena zvezda is a professional basketball club based in Belgrade, Serbia. Its name Crvena zvezda means Red Star and it's part of the Red Star Belgrade sports society ....
(2005) Ironi Ramat Gan
Ironi Ramat Gan
Ironi Ramat Gan is a basketball club based in Ramat Gan in central Israel. The team plays in Liga Leumit, the Second division in Israeli basketball.The club was formed by a merger of Beitar Ramat Gan and Maccabi Ramat Gan...
(2005–2006) Maccabi Givat Shmuel (2006) Hapoel Gilboa/Afula
Hapoel Gilboa/Afula
Hapoel Afula was a basketball club in Israel. The club had been formed by a merger of Hapoel Gilboa and Hapoel Afula.The club played in Ligat HaAl until 2008 when it was relegated after finishing bottom in the 2007-08 season...
(2007–2008)
See also
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds
External links
- Hall of Fame - Tunji Awojobi
- Tunji Awojobi at tblstat.net
- Tunji Awojobi at euroleague.net
- Tunji Awojobi at adriaticbasket.com