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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

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