EJ Onu

EJ Onu (born July 31, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for Brose Bamberg of the easyCredit BBL (BBL). He played college basketball for the Shawnee State Bears.

EJ Onu
No. 35 – Brose Bamberg
PositionPower forward / center
LeagueBBL
Personal information
Born (1999-07-31) July 31, 1999
Cleveland, Ohio
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High schoolRichmond Heights
(Richmond Heights, Ohio)
CollegeShawnee State (2017–2021)
NBA draft2021: undrafted
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2022Texas Legends
2022Memphis Hustle
2022Niagara River Lions
2022–2023Memphis Hustle
2023Santa Cruz Warriors
2023Niagara River Lions
2023–presentBrose Bamberg
Career highlights and awards
  • CEBL Defensive Player of the Year (2022)
  • CEBL blocks leader (2023)
  • NAIA champion (2021)
  • First-team NAIA All-American (2021)
  • MSC Player of the Year (2021)
  • 2× First-team All-MSC (2020, 2021)
  • Second-team All-MSC (2019)
  • 3× MSC Defensive Player of the Year (2018, 2020, 2021)
  • MSC Freshman of the Year (2018)

Early life and high school career

Born to Nigerian parents, Ejiofor Onu grew up near Cleveland, Ohio. He started playing basketball at age 14 and stood under 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) as a high school freshman.[1] Onu played for Richmond Heights High School in Richmond Heights, Ohio, earning Division IV All-Northeast Lake District honors from the Associated Press. He also ran track in high school.[2]

College career

During his freshman season at Shawnee State, Onu set a program single-game record with 11 blocks against the University of the Cumberlands.[2] As a freshman, he averaged 9.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and a nation-leading 3.4 blocks per game, earning Mid-South Conference (MSC) Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors.[3] He set a program single-season record for blocks.[4] In his sophomore season, he averaged 12 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game. Onu was selected to the Second Team All-MSC.[3]

As a junior, Onu averaged 11.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and a nation-leading 5.7 blocks per game. He was an Honorable Mention National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-American, First Team All-MSC and MSC Defensive Player of the Year.[5] As a senior, Onu averaged 16.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game, earning First Team NAIA All-American, MSC Player of the Year and First Team All-MSC honors.[6] For a third time, he was named MSC Defensive Player of the Year and led the nation in blocks. Onu became Shawnee State's all-time leader in blocks while ranking third in points and rebounds.[7] He helped his team win an NAIA national championship.[8] After the season, Onu declared for the 2021 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility and entering the transfer portal.[9][10][11] On July 6, 2021, he announced that he was remaining in the draft.[12]

Professional career

Texas Legends (2021–2022)

After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Onu joined the Dallas Mavericks for the NBA Summer League.[13] On August 21, 2021, the Mavericks announced that they had signed Onu,[14] but was waived by the on September 4.[15] He returned to Dallas on October 15, 2021, but was waived a day later.[16] On October 23, he signed with the Texas Legends as an affiliate player.[17] Onu was then later waived by the Legends on January 13, 2022.[18]

Memphis Hustle (2022)

On January 14, 2022, Onu was acquired via available player pool by the Memphis Hustle.[18] In 25 games, he averaged 5.96 points and 3.72 rebounds.[19]

Niagara River Lions (2022)

On April 5, 2022, Onu signed with the Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.[19] He was named the CEBL Defensive Player of the Year after averaging a league record 3.3 blocks per game, establishing Niagara as one of the best defensive teams in the league.[20]

Return to Memphis (2022–2023)

Onu joined the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2022 NBA Summer League.[21] On November 4, 2022, Onu was named to the opening night roster for the Memphis Hustle.[22]

Santa Cruz Warriors (2023)

On January 22, 2023, Onu was traded to the Santa Cruz Warriors in exchange for Tremont Waters.[23]

Return to the Niagara River Lions (2023)

On April 4, 2023, Onu returned to the Niagara River Lions.[24]

Brose Bamberg (2023–present)

On July 14, 2023, Onu signed with Brose Bamberg of the easyCredit BBL.[25]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Shawnee State 3030–.517.256.7235.2.4.23.49.4
2018–19 Shawnee State 3029–.570.346.7286.5.2.23.112.0
2019–20 Shawnee State 323230.7.451.270.6797.8.4.35.711.7
2020–21 Shawnee State 333329.6.573.400.7488.1.5.74.516.9
Career 125124–.528.330.7216.9.4.34.212.6

References
  1. Chepkevich, Jon (May 27, 2021). "The Draft Files: Why EJ Onu Could Be the NAIA's Sleeping Giant". The Analyst. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  2. "EJ the Eraser". Portsmouth Daily Times. January 20, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  3. "One-on-one: EJ Onu". Shawnee State University. December 9, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  4. Colley, Kevin (January 28, 2018). "Onu you didn't!". Portsmouth Daily Times. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  5. "SSU MBB picked for 4th in MSC poll". Portsmouth Daily Times. October 16, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  6. Givony, Jonathan (April 30, 2021). "Two-time NAIA All-American EJ Onu to explore transfer market". ESPN. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  7. "SSU's Onu, Jones named NAIA All-Americans". Portsmouth Daily Times. March 27, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  8. Quinn, Justin (June 8, 2021). "Celtics reportedly working out E.J. Onu, potential sleeper stretch big man". Celtics Wire. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  9. Schumann, Mike (April 30, 2021). "Transfer portal names to know: NAIA All-American EJ Onu". The Daily Hoosier. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  10. Foinon, Julien (May 17, 2021). ""Zooming On" : EJ Onu (Shawnee State), de la NAIA à… la NBA ?". Midnight on Campus (in French). Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  11. "Shawnee State's Onu To Enter NBA Draft, Keep Eligibility Open". Victory Sports Network. April 9, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  12. "Shawnee State's Onu to keep name in NBA Draft". The Highland County Press. July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  13. Fisher, Mike (August 2, 2021). "LOOK: Dallas Mavs Release NBA Summer League Roster & Schedule". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  14. "Mavericks finalize training camp roster with three signees". mavs.com. August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  15. "Mavericks add two-way player McLaughlin". mavs.com. September 4, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  16. "Mavericks add two familiar faces". Mavs.com. October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  17. "Legends Draft Three, Announce Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  18. "2021-22 NBA G League Transactions". NBA.com. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  19. "River Lions Sign American EJ Onu". CEBL.ca. April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  20. "2022 CEBL Award Winners Announced at Championship Weekend". www.cebl.ca. August 11, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  21. "Memphis Grizzlies 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster". NBA.com. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  22. "Memphis Hustle Announce Roster Moves; Finalize Opening Night Roster". oursportscentral.com. November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  23. "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  24. "River Lions Re-Sign 2022 CEBL Defensive Player of the Year, EJ Onu". CEBL.com. April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  25. "BAMBERG BASKETS VERPFLICHTEN EJIOFOR „EJ" ONU". Bamberg.basketball (in German). July 14, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
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