Search the Community

I know he has had some off the court issue but this guy will be very important down the stretch for UNT and may end up winning them some ball games as well. His line for the Rice win - off the bench mind you - 13 points, 5 boards and an assist with only one turnover.

Aniefiok showed that he is another one of those types of players in his breakout performance against Nicholls State that included a key shooting run. UNT trailed by as many as eight and didn’t take its first lead until Aniefiok heated up in the closing moments before halftime. The Mean Green was down 28-20 when Aniefiok hit his first 3, sparking UNT. The sophomore hit three 3s in the final 6:08 of the first half, including one that gave UNT its first lead at 33-32. The Mean Green went 4-for-6 from behind the arc in first half and led 38-36 at the break. “I got on a bit of a run,” Aniefiok said. “I took it upon myself because I knew we needed to score. They left me open. I had to take them.” Those shots changed the game for UNT. “We were stagnant a little bit and Maurice opened it up for us,” Benford said. “He shot them with confidence. That is something he can do for us.” UNT believes Aniefiok is just one player on its roster this year who is capable of getting on a roll. The arsenal of shooters is one reason UNT believes it won’t experience the same shooting problems it experienced last season. The Mean Green will head off to Portland, Ore., next week shooting a respectable 39.1 percent from 3-point range after its win over Nicholls State, thanks largely to Aniefiok. “Maurice was solid, made big shots and rebounded the ball,” Benford said. “He’s a good player. He sat out all of last year and is trying to get into a groove and rhythm. He got into one for us tonight.” Read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/north-texas-headlines/20131115-men-s-basketball-aniefiok-helps-unt-shoot-down-nicholls.ece

http://instagram.com/p/csc_MLx9Ny/#

When Tony Benford looked back on his first season at North Texas, he saw two areas where the Mean Green needed to improve — shooting and the ability of individual players to create for their teammates. Benford felt like he took one final step toward addressing both concerns on Tuesday when former Ole Miss guard Maurice Aniefiok enrolled at UNT and became the last addition to the Mean Green’s 2013-14 roster. The 6-foot-5 former Huntington (W.Va.) Prep standout spent one year with the Rebels in 2011-12 season, when he averaged 1.4 points a game. Aniefiok left Ole Miss and enrolled at Collin County Community College last season but did not play. He will have three years of eligibility remaining with UNT beginning this fall. Aniefiok completed his two-year degree at Collin County. “He’s a great addition,” Benford said. “We recruited him a little while I was at Marquette. He is a good all-around player who can play the one [point guard] through the four [power forward] because he has good size. He can really shoot the ball and create for himself and his teammates.” Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2013/07/maurice-aneifolk-enrolls.html/

Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Aniefiok came through the Ejike Ugboaja Foundation where his talent earned him the MVP of the 2010 Ejike Ugboaja Basketball camp, he played High School Basketball at Huntington Prep. where he averaged 13.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in his Senior year. Aniefiok will offer North Texas a lot of steel in the back court, he is an athletic guard who can play both position and has the ability to knock it down from deep. Read more: http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/maurice-aniefiok-headed-to-north-texas/

July 9, 2013 DENTON, Texas - North Texas head basketball coach Tony Benford has announced the signing of former ‘Ole Miss guard Maurice Aniefiok to a scholarship. The versatile guard will be eligible immediately, and will have three years to play for the Mean Green. “We couldn’t be more excited to have Maurice on board here at North Texas,” Benford said. “He is a really good all-round player who will bring experience to our team this year. Position-wise, we envision him playing anywhere from the point to power forward because of his ability to score the basketball, rebound and pass. Maurice is a quality addition to our Mean Green program.” Aniefiok saw 30 games of action for Ole Miss as a freshman and scored 43 total points (1.4 per game) on 25.8 percent shooting. He tallied a season-best 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-3 from 3-point, against Marquette. He also Racked up seven points in 14 minutes against SEC Tournament champion Vanderbilt, and eight points in 16 minutes against SMU. The Lagos, Nigeria, native showed his range by hitting seven 3-pointers on the year for the Rebels. As a prep standout, Aniefiok averaged 13.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest while shooting 41 percent from 3-point range at Huntington (W. Va.) Prep. He led Huntington to a 24-3 record and a national ranking as high as No. 14 by MaxPreps and 18th in the final Rivals.com rankings. He was rated a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and ESPN.com. North Texas Basketball 2013-14 Recruiting Class Maurice Aniefiok - 6-5, 205, So., G/F, Lagos, Nigeria (‘Ole Miss) Kelvin Gaines - 6-10, 227, Jr., C, Ocala, Fla. (Cincinnati) Vertrail Vaughns - 6-2, 184, Sr., G, Mesquite, Texas (George Mason) Colin Voss - 6-7, 240, Jr., F, Grand Rapids, Mich. (Northern Oklahoma) Armani Flannigan - 6-8, 200, Jr., F, Rockford, Ill. (Central Wyoming State) Josh Friar - 6-8, F, Houston, Texas (Kingwood HS) Greg Wesley - 6-7, F, Arlington, Texas (Seguin HS) Read more: http://www.meangreensports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/070913aam.html

UNT announced the addition of Maurice Aniefiok today. One quick fix I made in the story here in the last few minutes — Aniefiok actually picked up his two-year degree at Marshalltown Community College in Iowa. As far as my thoughts on the addition of the 6-5 wing, it’s well beyond what one could reasonably expect at this point of the summer. Aniefiok was good enough coming out of prep school to land at Ole Miss and play in the SEC. He didn’t play a lot for the Rebels and left. He spent some time at Collin County, was briefly committed to Tulsa and somehow made a stop in Iowa somewhere along the way. The bottom line is the guy can clearly play. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2013/07/tuesday-late-night-basketball-tidbits-thoughts.html/

(What was basketball like for you before you got to America?) “I never played games as much as folks my age play here. We don't have AAU. We don't have a lot of competitions. Even the little ones we have, we approach with so much energy, because that might be the last one you have for the year. It wasn't the same thing like what y'all have here. What you guys have here is more organized. There's always something to do. In the whole year, there's no time for you to sit around and say for two or three months I don't have anything to do. As soon as you're done with the season, you have to rest for a few weeks before AAU games are kicking in. There's always something to do, and that kind of like gives you an edge. “That was one of the things I saw. That's why, competing with people my age, they were a little bit different from me. Me being who I am, I don't back down like that. I just know to an extent these guys have an edge over me. They've played more games than I have. All I need to do is keep working hard, because I want to get there. I want to be as good as they are. All I need to do is spend more time in the gym. When everybody's out there partying, I have to be in the gym working on something I know I'm not really good. That's paid off and brought me this far so far. I don't want to stop doing that.” Read more: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal - Aniefiok s adjustment

Freshman guard Maurice Aniefiok is a long way from home. Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, Aniefiok played soccer growing up before ever picking up a basketball. From that day on, though, Aniefiok knew basketball was his ticket in life. He soon realized, however, that he needed to come to America to take his skills to the next level. “Two years after I started playing basketball, I realized basketball could really take me far,” Aniefiok said. “I told myself that if basketball was going to be something that I wanted to do, to play college basketball and then maybe play overseas or in the NBA or somewhere just anywhere basketball can take me, then I needed to come to America. I told myself if I really want to take my game to the next level, this is what I needed to do.” Aniefiok came to America and played his senior season for Huntington Prep in West Virginia. Aniefiok averaged 13.7 points and 6.6 rebounds a game, while shooting 41 percent from behind the 3-point line. His team finished the season with a 24-3 record and finished as high as 14th in the nation by one publication. Aniefiok said that leaving his home in Nigeria and adjusting to the game in America has been tough but says that it continuously gets easier with the more experience he sees. “It has been a little tough,” he said. “It’s reality. This is where I am now. I don’t want to be dazed by it anymore. I just want to be focused on what I have to do, what I am here for and just do it. Playing basketball in America and Mississippi is completely different from what I thought it was going to be. It is faster, the players are very athletic and, technical-wise, it is very advanced. But that’s the reason I went through so much practice to help me adjust to everything before the games started kicking in. Read more: http://archive.thedmonline.com/article/aniefiok-adjusting-life-both-and-court

Ole Miss bolstered the future of its basketball program by signing 6-foot-5, 215-pound guard Maurice Aniefiok to a national letter of intent on Thursday. Aniefiok, a native of Nigeria, attended Huntington (W. Va.) Prep last year and averaged 13.7 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per contest while shooting 41 percent from 3-point range. Rated a three-star prospect, he chose the Rebels over Rutgers, USC, Indiana, James Madison, Arizona State and Duquesne. “During this time of year when there are not a lot of high level players still on the board, Ole Miss won a big time recruiting battle when they received a commitment from one of the top remaining players available,” said Mike LaPlante, a basketball recruiting analyst for ESPN. “Andy Kennedy must be excited to have secured the services of Maurice Aniefiok who, because of his physical attributes combined with his ability to shoot the ball, has drawn favorable comparisons to former NBA scorer Mitch Richmond.” http://oxfordeagle.com/2011/04/ole-miss-men%E2%80%99s-hoops-squad-adds-aniefiok-to-signing-class/

See more players at nigerian-basketball.blogspot.co.uk If there is anyone i missed can you please let me know.....when i have some free time, I will try and cover other African players. 1.Trevor Mbakwe --- Minnesota --- 6’8 --- Forward --- Senior 2.Noruwa Agho --- Columbia --- 6’3 --- Guard --- Senior 3.Festus Ezeli --- Vanderbilt --- 6’11--- Centre --- Senior 4.Alex Oriakhi --- Uconn --- 6’9 --- Forward --- Junior 5.J.P. Olukemi --- Oklahoma State --- 6’6 --- Guard --- Junior 6.Victor Oladipo --- Idiana --- 6’5 --- Guard --- Sophmore 7.Duece Bello --- Baylor --- 6’4 --- Guard --- Freshman 8.God's Gift Achiuwa --- St John --- 6’9 --- Forward --- Junior 9.Talib Zanna -- - Pittsburgh --- 6’9 --- Forward --- Sophmore 10.Olu Ashaolu --- Oregon --- 6’7 --- Forward --- Senior 11.Kevin Olekaibe – Fresno State --- 6’1 --- Guard --- Sophomore 12.Michael Eric – Temple --- 6’11 --- Centre --- Graduate Student 13.Okaro White -- Florida State --- 6’8 --- Forward --- Sophomore 14.Melvin Ejim – Iowa State --- 6’6 --- Forward --- Sophomore 15.Chris Otule --- Marquette --- 6’11 --- Centre --- Junior 16.Michael Gbinije --- Duke --- 6’7 --- Guard --- Freshman 17.Mfon Udofia -- Georgia Tech --- 6’2 --- Guard --- Junior 18.Nnanna Egwu – Illinois --- 6’11 --- Centre --- Freshman 19.Maverick Ahanmisi – Minnesota --- 6’2 --- Guard --- Sophomore 20.Victor Ojeleye --- Kansas State --- 6’6 --- Forward --- Senior 21.Aron Nwakwo --- Pittsburgh --- 6’7 --- Forward --- Sophomore 22.Moses Ayegba – Georgetown --- 6’8 --- Forward --- Sophomore 23.Analy Okoloji – George Mason --- 6’8 --- Forward --- Sophomore 24.Teddy Okereafor --- VCU --- 6’3 --- Guard --- Freshman 25.Ehimen Orukpe --- Wichita State --- 7’0 --- Centre --- Junior 26.Osamuede Egharevba --- Wichita State --- 6’6 --- Forward --- Freshman 27.Ugo Okam --- Harvard --- 7’0 --- Centre --- Sophomore 28.Ovie Soko – UAB --- 6’8 --- Forward --- Sophomore 29.Yemi Makanjuola --- Tennessee --- 6’9 --- Centre --- Freshman 30.Eso Akunne --- Michigan --- 6’3 --- Guard --- Junior 31.Ike Nwamu --- Cleveland State --- 6’4 --- Guard --- Freshman 32.Retin Obasohan --- Alabama --- 6’1 --- Guard --- Freshman 33.Raphael Akpejiori --- Miami --- 6’10 --- Forward --- Sophomore 34.Chukwuemeka Iroegbu --- Washington State --- 6’3 --- Guard --- Freshman 35.Kodi Maduka --- Tulsa --- 6’10 --- Centre --- Sophomore 36.Jamal Olasewere --- Long Island --- 6’7 --- Forward --- Junior 37.Kenny Onyechi --- Long Island --- 6’7 --- Forward --- Junior 38.Maurice Aniefiok --- Ole Miss --- 6’5 --- Guard --- Freshman 39.Deji Ibitayo --- Akron --- 6’3 --- Guard --- Freshman 40.Stephen Nwaukoni --- Hofstra --- 6'8 --- Forward --- Sophomore 41.Francis Edosomwan --- East Carolina --- 6'4 --- Guard --- Freshman 42.Dera Nd-Ezuma --- Rider --- 6'10 --- Centre --- Junior 43.Bisi Latunde-Addey --- Coastal Carolina --- 6'7 --- Forward --- Junior 44.Anthony Odunsi --- Utah --- 6’3 --- Guard --- Freshman 45.Mogboluwaga Oginni --- Creighton --- 6'8 --- Forward --- Freshman 46.Jordan Akwenuke --- Santa Clara --- 6'6 --- Forward --- Freshman 47.Zach Chionuma --- Boston University --- 6’5 --- Guard --- Freshman 48.Kris Obaseki --- Oral Roberts --- 6’9 --- Forward --- Freshman 49.Jordan Omogbehin --- South Florida --- 7’3 --- Centre --- Freshman 50.John Nwannunu --- NCA --- 6’8 --- Forward --- Junior 51.Maxie Esho --- Massachussettes --- 6'8 --- Forward --- Freshman 52.Ike Azotam --- Quinnipiac --- 6'7 --- Forward --- Sophomore 52.Joe Efese --- Central Conneticut --- 6'6 --- Forward --- Junior 53.Danny Agbelese --- Hampton – 6’8 --- Forward --- Senior 54.Emmanuel Okoroba --- Hampton --- 6’8 --- Centre --- Red Shirt 55.Milade Lola-Charles --- Hampton --- 6’10 --- Centre --- Senior 56.Ify Umodu --- Northern Arizona --- 6'3 --- Guard --- Sophomore 57.Ben Olayinka --- Northern Arizona --- 6'7 --- Forward --- Junior 58.Ephraim Ekanem --- Northern Arizona --- 6'7 --- Forward --- Junior 59.Aaron Adeoye --- Ball State --- 6'6 --- Forward --- Freshman 60.Gabe Olaseni --- Iowa --- 6’10 --- Centre --- Freshman 61.Chido Onyiuke --- Loyola MD --- 6'6 --- Forward --- Sophomore 62.Michael Onuorah --- IPFW --- 6'2 --- Guard --- Freshman 63.Frank Ben-Eze --- Davidson --- 6’10 --- Forward --- Senior 64.Kinley Ogbonnaya-Branch --- Arkansans state --- 6'6 --- Forward --- Sophomore 65.Sommy Ogukwe --- Liberty --- 6'7 --- Forward --- Sophomore 66.Brian Okam --- Appalachian State --- 7’0 --- Centre --- Sophomore 67.O'Karo Akamune --- Western Kentucky --- 6’6 --- Forward --- Sophomore 68.Kene Ayigbo --- Western Kentucky --- 6’5 --- Forward --- Sophomore 69.Patrick Onwenu --- Texas Southern --- 6'7 --- Guard --- Freshman 70.Bassey Inameti --- Tennessee Tech --- 6’8 --- Forward --- Senior 71.Dennis Ogbe --- Tennessee Tech --- 6’7 --- Forward --- Freshman 72.Imoh Silas --- Siena --- 6’8 --- Centre --- Freshman 73.OD Anosike --- Siena --- 6’8 --- Forward --- Junior 74.Chim Kadima --- Loyola IL --- 6'4 --- Guard --- Sophomore 75.London Dokubo --- Loyola IL --- 6'0 --- Guard --- Freshman 76.Stan Okoye --- Virginia Military --- 6'5 --- Forward --- Junior 77.Bryant Mbamalu --- Louisiana Lafayette --- 6'2 --- Forward --- Sophomore 78.Onochie Ochie --- Southeastern Lousiania --- 6'6 --- Guard ---Freshman 79.Paul Gombwer --- Charleston South --- 6’6 --- Forward --- Freshman 80.Lotanna Nwogbo --- Tulane --- 6'8 --- Forward --- Freshman 81.Emmanuel Ochenje --- Pepperdine --- 6’9 --- Forward --- Freshman 82.Longi Yiljep --- Brown --- 6’5 --- Guard --- Freshman 83.Chris Udofia --- Denver --- 6'6 --- Forward --- Sophomore 84.Lekan Ajayi --- Wyoming --- 6’10 --- Forward --- Freshman 85.Afam Muojeke – Wyoming --- 6’8 --- Guard --- Senior 86.Ayodeji Egbeyemi --- Loyola --- 6’4 --- Guard --- Sophomore 87.Godwin Okonji --- Loyola --- 6’8 --- Forward --- Sophomore 88.Mark Nwakamma --- Hartford --- 6'6 --- Forward --- Freshman 89.Shareif Adamu --- Alabama State --- 6’7 --- Forward --- Freshman 90.Toso Adebamowo --- Sacred Heart --- 6'5 --- Guard --- Junior 91.Femi Akinpetide --- Sacred Heart --- 6'6 --- Forward --- Junior 92.Ebuka Anyaorah --- North Carolina Central --- 6'3 --- Guard --- Junior 93.Robert Nwakwo --- Towson --- 6’8 --- Forward --- Senior 94.Tola Akomolafe --- Florida International --- 6'6 --- Guard --- Junior 95.Cliff Ederaine --- Eastern Washington --- 6'7 --- Forward --- Senior 96.Justin Omogun --- Eastern Washington --- 6’8 --- Centre --- Sophomore 97.Wale Akinbobola --- Tennesee Martin --- 6'2 --- Guard ---Freshman 98.Prince Obasi --- Seattle --- 6'2 --- Guard --- Junior 289 99.Osas Ebomwonyi --- Lamar --- 6’11 --- Forward --- Sophomore 100.Alex Ogundadegbe --- Binghamton --- 6'8 --- Forward --- Sophomore 101.John Adenrele --- UC Davis --- 6’7 --- Forward --- Freshman 102.Abdulwali Kasim --- Delaware state --- 6'7 --- Forward --- Freshman 103.Babatunde Olumuwiya --- USC Upstate --- 6'8 --- Forward --- Sophomore 104.Odra Nweke --- NJIT --- 6’5 --- Guard --- Freshman 105.Andrew Osemhen --- Kennesaw --- 6'9 --- Forward --- Sophomore 106.Chukwuemeka Duruji --- Maryland Eastern --- 6'5 --- Forward --- Freshman 107.Olatunji Kosile --- Maryland Eastern --- 6'11 --- Center --- Junior 108.Ife Ike --- Louisiana-Monroe --- 6’7 --- Forward --- Freshman 109.Ayotunde Oyeniyi --- Fairleigh --- 6'9 --- Freshman --- Sophomore 110.Prince Okoroh --- Howard --- 6'5 --- Guard --- Freshman 111.Joe Ikhinmwin --- South Carolina state --- 6'6 --- Forward --- Senior 112.Obi Emegano --- Western Illinois --- 6’3 --- Forward --- Freshman 113.Quincy Ukaigwe --- Chicago State --- 6'9 --- Forward --- Junior 114. Sean Ezeamama --- Canisius --- 6'2 --- Guard --- Freshman 115. Tomie Aromona --- Missouri State --- 5'10 --- Guard --- Freshman 116. Simi Fajemisin --- San Diego --- 6'10 --- Forward --- Freshman Read more: http://forums.interbasket.net/showthread.php?18559-Top-Nigerian-Players-In-NCAA-Ranked

Ill tell you this much. UNT is going to look good coming off the bus and in the layup line next year. UNT has added not only Gaines, but Collin Voss (a former DI tight end recruit), Armani Flannigan (who is supposed to be a Tony Mitchell level dunk artist) and Josh Friar (another big guy who looks the part). And dont forget Keith Coleman, another huge guy. What will be interesting to see is if all that physical talent translates to the court and into wins. And in a side note, dont count out the possibility of UNT continuing to turn its roster over. Benford said publicly that he wanted to bring in another wing player. It wouldnt surprise me if somehow Maurice Aniefiok, a former Ole Miss wing who spent last season at Collin County Community College and was briefly committed to Tulsa finds his way on to the roster by the beginning of the season. If he does, that will mean another returning player will be gone. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2013/06/unt-basketball-notes-more-on-gaines-and-another-potential-target.html/

Tulsa still has one more basketball scholarship open in the 2013 class. It appeared the Golden Hurricane would use it this week on 6-foot-5 guard Maurice Aniefiok, who committed on Friday and expected to start class at TU on Monday. However, things changed during the weekend. Maurice Aniefiok is now looking at North Texas Aniefiok (ah-KNEE-fee-ock), who played at Ole Miss as a freshman last season and then transferred to Collin County Community College in Texas, is looking to transfer back to a Division I school at mid-term. On Friday, he said he would begin classes at Tulsa on Monday. "I'm leaving for Tulsa today," he told InsideTulsaSports.com on Friday morning. "I made my decision this week after my visit to Rider. I chose Tulsa because I have a good feeling about it, and I like their style of play." On Saturday morning, just 24 hours later, Aniefiok said he ran into some difficulties with TU. "I'm still having some issues for now, so I might end up changing my mind," he explained. "We are still trying to settle a couple of things." The former SEC guard did not elaborate on those issues. His transfer to TU would not have been official until he attended class, and on Monday, Aniefiok said that isn't going to happen. He could not sort out his issues, and the two parties apparently decided to part ways and move on. Read more: http://tulsa.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1459895