Nigerian NT 2016

[Mindozas6]

Nigerian coach Will Voigt on possible roster and Oladipo and Ezeli additions

“I don’t think there will be lots of changes from what we have seen in the previous summer. Right now we are not hundred percent sure whether or not he [Oladipo] will be able to do it, but he certainly is a name that everyone is well aware of. Probably, pretty shortly we should be able to confirm whether or not he will be involved. I have spoken with Festus, and I think he actually is on board and committed. He is ready to be a part of it.”

more here http://www.fiba.com/olympics/2016/news/high-aspirations-for-rio-bound-nigeria

Would be huge boost for D'Tigers if both will commit

 

[Shawshank2]

Nigeria with 4 nba players: Oladipo,Ezeli,Aminu and Diogu (former nba player) wont be no push around team even in Olympics death group.That group B most likely will put record of nba players playing in same group and no team Usa

 

[Mindozas6]

Nigeria with 4 nba players: Oladipo,Ezeli,Aminu and Diogu (former nba player) wont be no push around team event in Olympics death group.That group B most likely will put record of nba players playing in same group and no team Usa

Talking about former NBA players, Nigeria has not only Diogu, also there's Ben Uzoh, Ekpe Udoh, Olumide Oyedeji. Especially Udoh, having great season in EL with Fener would be big boost. As always Nigerian frontcourt looks impressive, but they lacks decent PG. Uzoh could be such, but health problems damaged his career big time

 

[Mojado2]

Talking about former NBA players, Nigeria has not only Diogu, also there's Ben Uzoh, Ekpe Udoh, Olumide Oyedeji. Especially Udoh, having great season in EL with Fener would be big boost. As always Nigerian frontcourt looks impressive, but they lacks decent PG. Uzoh could be such, but health problems damaged his career big time

Uzoh is more of a SG while Umeh is past his prime. Al Farouq Aminu brought up the ball many times due to the lack of talent of Uzoh and Umeh.
A training-camp for PG & SG's should be IMHO a good thing to do.
Pick some pros and some college guys and see where this gets you.
http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/rankings/ncaa-male-ranking/
and what about him? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Akognon

Oladipo might be in, Ezeli should be according to this article:
http://www.fiba.com/olympics/2016/news/high-aspirations-for-rio-bound-nigeria

 

[Mindozas6]

Uzoh is more of a SG while Umeh is past his prime. Al Farouq Aminu brought up the ball many times due to the lack of talent of Uzoh and Umeh.
A training-camp for PG & SG's should be IMHO a good thing to do.
Pick some pros and some college guys and see where this gets you.
http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/rankings/ncaa-male-ranking/
and what about him? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Akognon

Well, hard to say about Akognon, if he would be helpful at PG a lot, as much as I saw him, he is more SG type of player, but nonetheless, it's interesting why he wasn't involved with NT since 2009. I mean he wasn't even on preliminar roster last year, nor I remember him bein' around NT in 2011-2012, there's smth goin' I guess, maybe that NT 2009 failure has smth to do with it, personal issues, finances/money... don't know

 

[CKR132]

Surprised with the inclusion of Thanasis Antetokounmpo in this one. As per roots, I laud this one.

 

[soulis792]

They also wait the decision of Oladipo. He is the 28th player on that list.

 

[R1ou2]

Surprised with the inclusion of Thanasis Antetokounmpo in this one. As per roots, I laud this one.

With Oladipo joining I can see them competing in a high level this summer.Although I think they will have chemistry issues.Never again those players have played together.

 

[turk-jugoslav2]

Nigeria announced its preliminary roster:

Festus Ezeli
Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Ekpe Udoh
Al-Farouq Aminu
Shane Lawal
Michael Umeh
Andy Ogide
Chamberlain Oguchi
Ike Diogu
Alade Aminu
Michael Gbinijie
Jamal Olasewere
Ben Uzoh
Stanley Okoye
Olumide Oyedeji
Ike Ofoegbu
Trevor Mbakwe
Derrick Obasohan
Ekene Ibekwe
Ebi Ere
Suleiman Braimoh
Stanley Gumut
Usman Abubakar
Daniel Nwaelele
Josh Akognon
Mfon Udofia
Folarin Campbell

This roster is stronger than many teams on the paper,especially looks the best frontcourt after USA and Spain.Of course,I doubt they will be able to assemble all players on this list to make 12-man squad.Other issues are the team chemistry and adjusting the balance.These players are not used to playing together and traditionally lack of discipline and good coaching of African teams are huge problems.All in all,very strong on the paper but on the court is question mark.

 

[CKR132]

According to the news, Thanasis politely declined to play for Nigeria and wants to play for Greece.
http://www.sportando.com/en/nationa...d-in-playing-for-nigeria-he-wants-greece.html

 

[waterade2]

They are saying Oladipo, Mike Efevberha, and Rasheed Sulaimon could join the team.

 

[CKR132]

I'm not sure about Rasheed Sulaimon and it is noted that he already played for the US in the 2013 U19 World Championship.

 

[vaslover2]

Nigeria in Olympic Games 2016

PG: Oladipo (PG/SG), Uzoh (PG/SG)
SG: Oguchi (SG/SF),Gbinije (SG/SF), Umeh
SF: A-F Aminu, Ogide
PF: Ike Ofoegbu, Ike Diougu
C: Ekpe Udoh, Festus Ezeli, Shane Lawal

Very solid roster indeed. Still waiting for Thanasis Antetokounmpo.....

 

[R1ou2]

Nigeria in Olympic Games 2016

PG: Oladipo (PG/SG), Uzoh (PG/SG)
SG: Oguchi (SG/SF),Gbinije (SG/SF), Umeh
SF: A-F Aminu, Ogide
PF: Ike Ofoegbu, Ike Diougu
C: Ekpe Udoh, Festus Ezeli, Shane Lawal

Very solid roster indeed. Still waiting for Thanasis Antetokounmpo.....

He claimed that he wants to play for Greece

 

[sixama232]

Nigeria announced its preliminary roster:
This roster is stronger than many teams on the paper,especially looks the best frontcourt after USA and Spain.Of course,I doubt they will be able to assemble all players on this list to make 12-man squad.Other issues are the team chemistry and adjusting the balance. These players are not used to playing together and traditionally lack of discipline and good coaching of African teams are huge problems. All in all,very strong on the paper but on the court is question mark.

Team chemistry isn't such an issue, a lot of the players called have been playing together for the NT since 2012. I wouldn't worry about discipline as well. Most of these guys are American pros and have been members of very good coaching programs in the past.

The PG position is a problem cause Uzoh didn't play professionally this year, Okognon hasn't played with the NT for a long time and Udofia hasn't played for Nigeria before. Michael Umeh is the best Nigerian PG right now.

IMO, the final squad will look like this:

PG: Mike Umeh, Ben Uzoh, Mfon Udofia
SG: Champ Oguchi, Mike Gbinije,
SF: Al Farouq Aminu, Jamal Olasewere
PF: Ike Diogu, Ekene Ibekwe
C: Shane Lawal, Alade Aminu, Festus Ezeli

With Oladipo joining I can see them competing in a high level this summer.Although I think they will have chemistry issues. Never again those players have played together.

Not true. Seven of them played together in 2012 and twelve of them played together in last year's African championship.

 

[JGX2]

Lots of competition in the Nigerian frontcourt, but still I'd be surprised if Oyedeji isn't on the team.

 

[Mindozas6]

IMO, the final squad will look like this:

PG: Mike Umeh, Ben Uzoh, Mfon Udofia
SG: Champ Oguchi, Mike Gbinije,
SF: Al Farouq Aminu, Jamal Olasewere
PF: Ike Diogu, Ekene Ibekwe
C: Shane Lawal, Alade Aminu, Festus Ezeli

IMO it would be mistake not to take Ekpe Udoh, surely better than Lawal or Aminu, one of the best bigs in Europe this season, great defender. Also would pick Mbakwe instead of Ibekwe, but that's a close call

Lots of competition in the Nigerian frontcourt, but still I'd be surprised if Oyedeji isn't on the team.

Actually, I thought about that too Oyedeji obviously is the worst among the Cs, but old connections might do wonders

 

[sixama232]

IMO it would be mistake not to take Ekpe Udoh, surely better than Lawal or Aminu, one of the best bigs in Europe this season, great defender. Also would pick Mbakwe instead of Ibekwe, but that's a close call

Actually, I thought about that too Oyedeji obviously is the worst among the Cs, but old connections might do wonders

Udoh is surely better than both Aminu and Lawal however I don't think he's interested in playing for the Nigerian NT. He declined the call last year. Same goes for Mbakwe. Oyedeji should retire from international basketball and make some room for the young players.

 

[Mindozas6]

Any news about Nigerian squad for Stankovic Cup or atleast who joined the squad this summer? I know they were preparing for it in USA, in their first training camp, now moving to China, but it's impossible to gather all needed info regarding players who joined. I only found out that Uzoh, Umeh, Shane Lawal, Olasewere, Champ Oguchi are there, also looks like saw Diogu on photos. Al-Farouq Aminu is holding some camp for childrens and will join later, meanwhile Gbinije playin' in Summer League, where got injured and is questionable. Any info?

 

[Mindozas6]

Some other names I found in this article : Ibekwe, Akognon, Ebi Ere, Nwaelele and of course evergreen Oyedeji. Both Aminu borthers are still out, while overall there must be 13 players. Some names remains unknown