Nigerian Athletics Spotlight: Nkem Ojougboh

These days, it is not uncommon to see a professional athlete with a Nigerian surname. Nkem Ojougboh, one of the many potential Naija stars, came from humble beginnings. Ojougboh came to America when he was only 12 years old to live with his aunt and uncle in Phoenix, Arizona. Coming in, he might have known that Phoenix has a significant Nigerian community, what he did not know was that he would morph into one of the top basketball players in Arizona’s recent high school history.

Nkem Ojougboh #54
Position: Center/Forward
Age: 20
Height: 6'9 (205.4cm)
Weight: 220lbs (99.8kg)
Points Average: 10
Total Points: 307
Rebounds Average: 6.4

Education:
High School: Scottsdale Christian Academy '05
College: Univeristy of Texas at San Antonio, Northeastern University

Fun Facts:
Favorite food: Ogbono soup
Favorite actor: Denzel Washington
Favorite NBA team: Phoenix Suns
Hobbies: Stock market trading, reading, golfing

Even though he is currently living in the States, Ojougboh has maintained a constant relationship with his immediate family since his move in his childhood. He sees his parents at least four to five times every year and has been with his siblings every summer. He does have some other regrets about leaving Nigeria, mainly it is missing the delicious Naija food. Sadly, Nkem has no where to turn when he has a sudden craving for some scrumptious ogbono soup, or chicken feet, unless he can find a decent ethnic store in his area.

Growing up in the bustling, Benin City, of Edo State, little Nkem’s first experience with a ball and a hoop came at the age ten. Nkem was not an instant phenom as he had hoped he would be. Discouraged, he gave up on the sport all together, but only to resume with a vengeance four years later. Ojougboh’s second appearance on the court proved to be a success, as the fourteen year old had acquired some tenacity and a few much needed growth spurts.

Ojougboh credits much of his skills to the time spent with his high school coach, Bob Frederics. Coach Frederics, as Ojougboh refers to him, helped to mold the young athlete into a talented big man in a sport where size and athleticism are the determining factors on how long a career lasts. Nkem credits Coach Frederics with putting a lot of faith in him. When asked the difference his coach made, he responds:

"He took a chance on me. After I got my scholarship, he told me that when he put me on the varsity team as a freshman, a lot of parents were calling in complaining about why I was on the team, that I was horrible, but he stuck with me and gave me a chance and I got a lot better. Now, here I am playing D1 basketball."

That investment proved to be wise, as Nkem is the only one out of his high school teammates, from the same graduating class to still be playing Division 1 college basketball, though he was not the only one offered scholarships.

Out of the gym, Ojougboh spends many hours studying NBA players to model his game after, two of the greats that he has chosen are Amare Stoudemire and Kevin Garnett. Both of these players are known around basketball circles as powerful finishers and excellent athletes, despite their large size.

Northeastern vs Illinois: Nkem Ojougboh contests the shot of Illinois Brian Randle.Though Ojougboh went to a very small private school, he was still elected to one of the All-Arizona teams in his high school career. Also, showing his intelligence, he was nominated for the All-Academic team. Ojougboh led his team to two straight championships and his team was reputable throughout the state despite the school’s small size.

The hard work and time that Ojougboh sacrificed in high school proved to be fruitful, as was given the opportunity to go on and play his sport in college. The feat is not something to be taken for granted, as many strive for this goal, but only few have what it takes to make it at the level. Originally, Ojougboh attended the University of Texas at San Antonio. In the time he spent there, he was a leader on the team and was second in total minutes played.

After spending two years at UT San Antonio, Ojougboh transferred colleges to Northeastern University, which is located in Boston, Massachusetts. His new school is in the same conference as George Mason University, the team embarked on a Cinderella journey in March of 2006, with an unprecedented trip to the NCAA Tournaments’ Final Four, beating several established powerhouses along the way.

Although Ojougboh had to sit out last year because of NCAA regulations, he started this year and played a major role. He was third in minutes played, with 31, and averaged 10 points, and 6.4 rebounds per game. Northeastern has a legitimate chance to make it in the tournament next year, which will give Ojougboh a chance to showcase his talents on a national level.

Nkem Ojougboh (right) and his brother Omam Ojougboh (left)
Apart from its athletic teams, Northeastern is renown for its excellence in academics and research, so it is encouraging to know that Nkem has maintained a 3.3 GPA despite his extracurricular activities.

His focus in school is on Finance and Marketing, and he is currently gaining practical experience with Merrill Lynch and Co. Aside from that, Ojougboh is also a Real Estate specialist in the Boston Metropolitan area, a skill he picked up while still in San Antonio.

Ojougboh is able to balance many things on his plate and do them all successfully. Whether its making a slam dunk on the court, preparing for an exam, or even keeping tabs on his stock market portfolio, Nkem puts in the hard work necessary to be successful.

Nkem is excited for the next basketball season. He knows he can do much better on the court, and is already putting in the training to get the job done. Nigerians around the world should keep a watchful eye out for this young man with a bright future ahead of him.