Festus Ezeli
Encyclopedia
Festus Ezeli, in full Ifeanyi Festus Ezeli-Ndelue (born October 21, 1989 in Benin City
), is a Nigeria
n basketball player preparing to begin his senior (final) season at Vanderbilt University
. As of August 2011, the NBA Draft
projection site DraftExpress.com rates the 6'11" (2.11 m) center
as a late first-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.
of ESPN.com
, "My parents told me I was an unusual child. My first name is Ifeanyi, and that means 'nothing is impossible with God.' That sets the tone for my journey while I'm alive." He concentrated on academics, graduating from high school while still age 14, and aspiring to become a physician. To further his career goals, his parents sent him in 2004 to live with his uncle, a pediatrician
in Yuba City, California
.
, but did not play basketball; different sources report that he was either ineligible to play because he had graduated from high school in Nigeria or cut during tryouts. The start of his organized basketball career, with a low-level AAU
team, was especially inauspicious; his first points were scored in his own team's basket. Recalling that incident, he said, "Everybody was running up the court, and I was just running with them. It's kind of surreal. Sometimes I think about it now and I'm like, Damn. How did I get here?"
Also in the Katz interview, Ezeli remarked on his struggles to learn the game:
At age 16, Ezeli joined a second AAU team and also enrolled part-time at Yuba Community College. By not attending full-time, he retained a full four years of college eligibility and was still able to practice with the team; he also served as the team's videographer
. Although still learning the most basic of basketball skills, he made his high-level competitive debut on the AAU circuit in the summer of 2007. By then, he had reached 6'11" (2.11 m), and averaged 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game, earning an invitation to the Reebok All-American Camp in July 2007.
writer Pablo S. Torre,
With the help of his AAU coaches, Ezeli narrowed his list to Boston College
, Connecticut
, Harvard
, and Vanderbilt
. The Vanderbilt coaching staff sold him on the school, citing its academic reputation and the program's recent experience with international players. Head coach Kevin Stallings
added that Ezeli would be able to redshirt
his first year at the school to allow him more time to develop, since the program had a highly-touted Australian prospect, A. J. Ogilvy
, arriving at the same time and playing Ezeli's position.
in 2007 as a biology
major and among the rawest of basketball prospects. During his first two years in the program, while still learning many of the basics of the sport, he was frequently dominated in practice by Ogilvy. However, as early as midway through his redshirt freshman season, the Commodores staff noticed that Ogilvy was beginning to have difficulty scoring against Ezeli in practice. While obsessively studying the game and working on his basic skills, he spent his first two seasons of eligibility primarily as a backup to Ogilvy, occasionally starting, until Ogilvy declared for the NBA Draft
after the 2009–10 season
.
With Ogilvy gone, Ezeli had a breakout season in 2010–11
, averaging 13 points and 6.3 rebounds while being named a second-team All-SEC (Southeastern Conference
) performer. He also broke Will Perdue
’s Vanderbilt single-season record for blocked shots
. Ezeli's improvement was noted by many in the basketball world; then-Tennessee
coach Bruce Pearl
told the Chattanooga Times Free Press, “I don't think they miss [Ogilvy] at all. Ezeli has improved so much that he gives them the best of both worlds [offense and defense].” Before the 2011–12 season
, Ezeli was also named by Basketball Prospectus in its preseason outlook as one of the top 20 players in men's college basketball, along with teammates John Jenkins
and Jeffery Taylor
.
As the Commodores were preparing for Ezeli's final season at Vanderbilt, Stallings said about him,
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has raved about his intelligence, saying, “You can imagine what it is like to hear his perspective on world trade, globalization, and the economics of American sports.” As of August 2011, Ezeli has not returned to Nigeria since his parents sent him to California, although his family has frequently visited him in the U.S.
Benin City
Benin City, is a city and the capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria. It is a city approximately twenty-five miles north of the Benin River. It is situated 200 miles by road east of Lagos...
), is a 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 basketball player preparing to begin his senior (final) season at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
. As of August 2011, the NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
projection site DraftExpress.com rates the 6'11" (2.11 m) center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
as a late first-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.
Life in Nigeria
One of five children, Ezeli remembered in a 2011 interview with Andy KatzAndy Katz
Andy Katz is a senior college basketball journalist for ESPN.com. He is a regular sports analyst on College GameNight on ESPN. Katz earned a B.A. at the University of Wisconsin–Madison , and has worked for ESPN since January 5, 2000....
of ESPN.com
ESPN.com
ESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
, "My parents told me I was an unusual child. My first name is Ifeanyi, and that means 'nothing is impossible with God.' That sets the tone for my journey while I'm alive." He concentrated on academics, graduating from high school while still age 14, and aspiring to become a physician. To further his career goals, his parents sent him in 2004 to live with his uncle, a pediatrician
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
in Yuba City, California
Yuba City, California
Yuba City is a Northern California city, founded in 1849. It is the county seat of Sutter County, California, United States. The population was 64,925 at the 2010 census....
.
Life in America
Shortly after Ezeli arrived in Yuba City, his uncle encouraged him to take up what seemed to be the most appropriate sport for a 6'8" (2.03 m) teenager—basketball. This proved much more difficult for him than academics; although he had played soccer as a child, he had never played any organized sports. He took a year of classes at Jesuit High School in SacramentoSacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, but did not play basketball; different sources report that he was either ineligible to play because he had graduated from high school in Nigeria or cut during tryouts. The start of his organized basketball career, with a low-level AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
team, was especially inauspicious; his first points were scored in his own team's basket. Recalling that incident, he said, "Everybody was running up the court, and I was just running with them. It's kind of surreal. Sometimes I think about it now and I'm like, Damn. How did I get here?"
Also in the Katz interview, Ezeli remarked on his struggles to learn the game:
"I didn't know what I was doing. Imagine someone who is 14 or 15 years old, and you're teaching them as if they're a 6-year-old. It was tough. Everyone was getting frustrated with me. I was getting frustrated with it. I tried playing in 2005. I stopped. I tried again in 2006. And when I had my first dunk in a summer league game in Las Vegas in 2006, that's when I was so excited. It was so exhilarating that I started to like it."
At age 16, Ezeli joined a second AAU team and also enrolled part-time at Yuba Community College. By not attending full-time, he retained a full four years of college eligibility and was still able to practice with the team; he also served as the team's videographer
Videography
Videography refers to the process of capturing moving images on electronic media even streaming media). The term includes methods of video production and post-production...
. Although still learning the most basic of basketball skills, he made his high-level competitive debut on the AAU circuit in the summer of 2007. By then, he had reached 6'11" (2.11 m), and averaged 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game, earning an invitation to the Reebok All-American Camp in July 2007.
Recruitment
Ezeli's appearance at the camp marked a major turning point in his life. According to Sports IllustratedSports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
writer Pablo S. Torre,
"Recruiters. . .awaited his arrival as if he were BigfootBigfootBigfoot, also known as sasquatch, is an ape-like cryptid that purportedly inhabits forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid...
. They left with their heads spinning at Ezeli's size and raw potential, even if it was clear that he lacked confidence. Offers from 27 Division I schools he knew almost nothing about rolled in."
With the help of his AAU coaches, Ezeli narrowed his list to Boston College
Boston College Eagles men's basketball
The Boston College Eagles are a Division I college basketball program that represents Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA. The team has competed in the ACC since 2005, having previously played in the Big East. Home games have been played at the Conte Forum since 1988, having previously been played...
, Connecticut
Connecticut Huskies men's basketball
The Connecticut Huskies is the name of the men's college basketball team representing the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...
, Harvard
Harvard Crimson men's basketball
Harvard Crimson men's basketball program represents intercollegiate men's basketball at Harvard University. The team currently competes in the Ivy League in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and play home games at the Lavietes Pavilion in Boston, Massachusetts. The team's...
, and Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball
The Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team represents Vanderbilt University in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference . The Commodores have won three SEC regular season titles . They have competed in ten NCAA Tournaments, making it to the Elite Eight once and the Sweet 16 six times...
. The Vanderbilt coaching staff sold him on the school, citing its academic reputation and the program's recent experience with international players. Head coach Kevin Stallings
Kevin Stallings
Kevin Stallings is currently in his 11th season as the head men’s basketball coach at Vanderbilt University. Previously, he served as head coach at Illinois State University and was an assistant coach at Purdue University and the University of Kansas.-High school & college:Stallings was born in...
added that Ezeli would be able to redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
his first year at the school to allow him more time to develop, since the program had a highly-touted Australian prospect, A. J. Ogilvy
Andrew Ogilvy
Andrew James "A.J." Ogilvy is an Australian basketball player currently with Power Electronics Valencia. He was also the starting center for the Commodores college basketball team at Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. On 8 April 2010, Ogilvy announced that he was making...
, arriving at the same time and playing Ezeli's position.
College career
Ezeli arrived in NashvilleNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
in 2007 as a biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
major and among the rawest of basketball prospects. During his first two years in the program, while still learning many of the basics of the sport, he was frequently dominated in practice by Ogilvy. However, as early as midway through his redshirt freshman season, the Commodores staff noticed that Ogilvy was beginning to have difficulty scoring against Ezeli in practice. While obsessively studying the game and working on his basic skills, he spent his first two seasons of eligibility primarily as a backup to Ogilvy, occasionally starting, until Ogilvy declared for the NBA Draft
2010 NBA Draft
The 2010 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2010 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur...
after the 2009–10 season
2009–10 Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team
The 2009–10 Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team represented Vanderbilt University in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's college basketball season. The team competed in the East Division of the Southeastern Conference, as it has since the SEC expanded to 12 schools in 1991...
.
With Ogilvy gone, Ezeli had a breakout season in 2010–11
2010–11 Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team
The 2010–2011 Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team represented Vanderbilt University during the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Commodores, led by twelfth year head coach Kevin Stallings, played their home games at the Memorial Gymnasium and are members of the...
, averaging 13 points and 6.3 rebounds while being named a second-team All-SEC (Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
) performer. He also broke Will Perdue
Will Perdue
William Edward Perdue is a retired American NBA basketball player who won four NBA Championships. Perdue is now an ESPN basketball commentator and analyst.Perdue attended Merritt Island High School, Merritt Island, Florida...
’s Vanderbilt single-season record for blocked shots
Block (basketball)
In basketball, a block , not to be confused with blocking, occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player. The defender must not touch the offensive player's hands or otherwise a foul is called. In order to be legal, the block must occur while the shot...
. Ezeli's improvement was noted by many in the basketball world; then-Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers basketball
The Tennessee Volunteers basketball team represents the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee in NCAA men's basketball competition. The Volunteers currently compete in the Southeastern Conference...
coach Bruce Pearl
Bruce Pearl
Bruce Dean-Fredrick Pearl is an American college basketball coach who most recently served as head coach of the University of Tennessee Volunteers men's team. He is a graduate of Boston College, where he obtained his first position as an assistant basketball coach. He was the first coach to lead...
told the Chattanooga Times Free Press, “I don't think they miss [Ogilvy] at all. Ezeli has improved so much that he gives them the best of both worlds [offense and defense].” Before the 2011–12 season
2011–12 Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team
-2011–12 outlook:In a major offseason development, three of the Commodores' most important players—Festus Ezeli, John Jenkins, and Jeffery Taylor—all spurned the NBA Draft and announced they would return for the 2011–12 season. Jenkins, the SEC's leading scorer in 2010–11 at 19.5 points per game,...
, Ezeli was also named by Basketball Prospectus in its preseason outlook as one of the top 20 players in men's college basketball, along with teammates John Jenkins
John Jenkins (basketball)
John Logan Jenkins , is an American college basketball player at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. He is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound shooting guard. He was a two-time TSSAA Class AA Mr. Basketball selection, and was the Gatorade Tennessee High School Player of the Year in 2008-09...
and Jeffery Taylor
Jeffery Taylor
Jeffery Matthew Taylor is a Swedish basketball player currently in his senior season at Vanderbilt University. A 6'7" swingman, he was rated by the NBA Draft projection site DraftExpress.com in August 2011 as the top rising senior in college basketball and a late first-round pick in the 2012 NBA...
.
As the Commodores were preparing for Ezeli's final season at Vanderbilt, Stallings said about him,
"He now has a feel for the game. He has made himself an effective player. I think it's very rare. All of us are looking for more finished products. But we all understood if the payday came, if it really came, if he understood the game, if he was experienced, then it was going to give him a chance to be different than other guys. He didn't learn the game in elementary school like I did. He was trying to learn the game while competing effectively in the SEC. That makes it even more amazing."
Statistics
| Festus Ezeli Statistics at Vanderbilt University | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Year | G | FG | FGA | PCT | 3FG | 3FGA | PCT | FT | FTA | PCT | REB | AVG | A | TO | B | AVG | S | MIN | AVG | PTS | AVG |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–08 | Redshirted – did not play | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–09 | 29 | 41 | 75 | .547 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 28 | 55 | .509 | 74 | 2.6 | 1 | 43 | 22 | 0.8 | 4 | 360 | 12.4 | 110 | 3.8 |
| 2009–10 | 32 | 49 | 90 | .544 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 22 | 59 | .373 | 102 | 3.2 | 3 | 34 | 43 | 1.3 | 6 | 406 | 12.7 | 120 | 3.8 |
| 2010–11 | 34 | 151 | 257 | .588 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 140 | 216 | .648 | 213 | 6.3 | 6 | 60 | 87 | 2.6 | 20 | 799 | 23.5 | 442 | 13.0 |
| Totals | 95 | 241 | 422 | .571 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 190 | 330 | .576 | 389 | 4.1 | 10 | 137 | 152 | 1.6 | 30 | 1565 | 16.5 | 672 | 7.1 |
Personal life
Although he began his Vanderbilt studies as a biology major, he changed his major to economics because of the time demands of basketball. Vanderbilt chancellor Nicholas ZepposNicholas S. Zeppos
Nicholas S. Zeppos is the eighth Chancellor of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.-Biography:Zeppos received both his B.A. in history and his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Prior to joining the faculty of the Vanderbilt Law School in 1987, he was a practicing attorney in...
has raved about his intelligence, saying, “You can imagine what it is like to hear his perspective on world trade, globalization, and the economics of American sports.” As of August 2011, Ezeli has not returned to Nigeria since his parents sent him to California, although his family has frequently visited him in the U.S.
External links
- Festus Ezeli at Vanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt Commodores men's basketballThe Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team represents Vanderbilt University in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference . The Commodores have won three SEC regular season titles . They have competed in ten NCAA Tournaments, making it to the Elite Eight once and the Sweet 16 six times...