Ekene Ibekwe
Encyclopedia
Ekene Brian Ibekwe is a basketball Power forward
from the United States
of Nigeria
n ancestry. Ibekwe, who also played for the Carson High School's Boys Basketball team, graduated from the University of Maryland at College Park and was a member of the Nigeria national basketball team
at the 2006 FIBA World Championships where Ibekwe was one of the team leaders in points (4th) and rebounds (1st).
During the 2006-2007 season at Maryland, Ibekwe averaged over 10 points and nearly 8 rebounds per game in over 25 minutes of action per game. He was 4th on Maryland in scoring average and first in rebounds; His rebounding average was good enough for 4th in the Atlantic Coast Conference
. For his career, he accrued 1,109 points, 781 rebounds, and 230 blocked shots, becoming the fourth player in school history (and the first since Lonny Baxter
) to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 200 blocked shots.
on the 2006 FIBA World Championship
that was held in Japan
. Prior to the 2007/2008 season he signed with Hapoel Galil Elyon
from the Israeli Basketball Super League, but he was released on October 2007 and joined Hapoel Gilboa/Afula
where he played with his national team-mate, Selcuk University Tunji Awojobi
.
In July 2009, Ekene played NBA Summer League Basketball for the Toronto Raptors
.
Ibekwe has played for the Portland Trail Blazers
in the NBA Summer League
in 2010.
In February 2011 he signed with BBC Bayreuth
in Germany
.
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
of Nigeria
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 ancestry. Ibekwe, who also played for the Carson High School's Boys Basketball team, graduated from the University of Maryland at College Park and was a member of the Nigeria national basketball 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....
at the 2006 FIBA World Championships where Ibekwe was one of the team leaders in points (4th) and rebounds (1st).
During the 2006-2007 season at Maryland, Ibekwe averaged over 10 points and nearly 8 rebounds per game in over 25 minutes of action per game. He was 4th on Maryland in scoring average and first in rebounds; His rebounding average was good enough for 4th in the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
. For his career, he accrued 1,109 points, 781 rebounds, and 230 blocked shots, becoming the fourth player in school history (and the first since Lonny Baxter
Lonny Baxter
Lonny Leroy Baxter is an American professional basketball player. He is 203 cm in height, and plays the position of power forward-center.-College:...
) to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 200 blocked shots.
Professional Career
In the summer of 2006, Ibekwe played for the Nigeria national basketball teamNigeria 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....
on the 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...
that was held in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Prior to the 2007/2008 season he signed with Hapoel Galil Elyon
Hapoel Galil Elyon
Hapoel Galil-Elyon was an Israeli basketball club. The team represented the north-east region of the country – the Upper Galilee, and the Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights...
from the Israeli Basketball Super League, but he was released on October 2007 and joined 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...
where he played with his national team-mate, Selcuk University Tunji Awojobi
Tunji Awojobi
Tunji Femi Awojobi is a retired Nigerian professional basketball player. A former boxer, Awojobi graduated from Boston University in 1997. Following graduation, he played in several European countries, most notably in Israel...
.
In July 2009, Ekene played NBA Summer League Basketball for the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
.
Ibekwe has played for the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
in the NBA Summer League
NBA Summer League
The NBA Summer League is a period during which NBA teams come together to try out different summer rosters instead of their regular season line-ups. Typically, there is a mix of rookies and some of the younger bench players to see how well some players work with others...
in 2010.
In February 2011 he signed with BBC Bayreuth
BBC Bayreuth
BBC Bayreuth is a German basketball club based in Bayreuth, Bavaria..The club won the 2009-10 Pro A Championship and will play Basketball Bundesliga in the 2010-11 season.- Season by season :...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.