Kenneth Ogbe (born 16 November 1994) is a German professional basketball player for Hamburg Towers of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).

Kenneth Ogbe
Ogbe in 2022
No. 25 – Veolia Towers Hamburg
PositionShooting guard
LeagueBasketball Bundesliga
Personal information
Born (1994-11-16) 16 November 1994 (age 30)
Munich, Germany
Listed height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Listed weight86 kg (190 lb)
Career information
College
NBA draft2018: undrafted
Playing career2012–present
Career history
2012–2013Ehingen Urspring
2018–2020Alba Berlin
2020–2022Brose Bamberg
2022–2024EWE Baskets Oldenburg
2024–presentHamburg Towers
Career highlights and awards

Early life

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Ogbe was born in Munich, the son of a Nigerian father and German mother.[1] He grew up in Ehingen, Germany and played basketball for the youth team of Ehingen Urspring. He was named the MVP of the 2012 Arby's Classic after scoring 24 points with eight rebounds in the championship game as Ehingen became the first international team to win the tournament.[2]

College career

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Ogbe began his collegiate career at the University of Utah. He played in 30 games as a reserve and average 2.9 points and 1.1 rebounds per game during his freshman year.[3] As a sophomore, Ogbe averaged 4.5 points and 1.4 rebounds per game off the bench.[4] His play was hampered by osteitis pubis, an inflammation in the pubic bone, making them more susceptible to damage.[5] He played in five games as a junior before suffering a season-ending injury and using a medical redshirt. After the season, Ogbe opted to leave the program and transfer to Utah Valley University.[6] He took nine classes in the summer so he could be a graduate transfer.[5]

Ogbe was granted immediate eligibility after transferring and became a starter during his redshirt junior season, averaging 10.6 points per game.[7] As a redshirt senior, Ogbe started all 33 of the Wolverines' games and averaged 13.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game and was named first team All-Western Athletic Conference.[8] In two seasons at UVU, he scored 802 points and finished with the second highest three-point field goal percentage in school history at 41.9 percent.[9]

Professional career

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Alba Berlin

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Prior to the 2018 NBA draft, Ogbe worked out with the Utah Jazz.[8] Ogbe signed a contract with Alba Berlin of the Basketball Bundesliga on 22 June 2018.[10] He averaged 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds in 30 BBL games and 2.3 points and 1.2 rebounds in 18 Eurocup games.[11]

Brose Bamberg

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On 17 July 2020, he has signed with Brose Bamberg of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).[12] Ogbe averaged 6.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in 2021–22 Basketball Bundesliga.[13]

Ewe Baskets Oldenburg

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On 9 June 2021, Ogbe signed with EWE Baskets Oldenburg of the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).[13]

Hamburg Towers

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On June 17, 2024, he signed with Hamburg Towers of the Basketball Bundesliga.[14]

National team career

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In 2013 and 2014, Ogbe competed in the U20 European Championship with the German junior national team.[15] In 2015 he was first appointed to the A2 national team.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Deutsches Guard-Talent Kenneth Ogbe verstärkt ALBA BERLIN". Alba Berlin. 22 June 2018. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  2. ^ Wiseman, Drew (17 April 2013). "Runnin' Utes add three". KSL.com. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  3. ^ "2014-15 Utah men's basketball at a glance". Deseret News. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Kenneth Ogbe to Transfer". BlockU.com. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  5. ^ a b Goon, Kyle (5 December 2016). "Utah basketball: UVU's Kenneth Ogbe makes his return to Utah after 'fresh start'". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  6. ^ Jackson, Robert (8 July 2016). "Runnin' Ute guard Kenneth Ogbe to transfer, likely to UVU". KSL.com. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  7. ^ Judd, Brandon (10 October 2017). "UVU basketball: Experienced Wolverines projecting confidence heading into 2017-18 season". Deseret News. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  8. ^ a b Jones, Tony (22 May 2018). "Former UVU and Utah guard Kenneth Ogbe got a wake-up call Tuesday: Come work out for the Jazz". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  9. ^ "UVU'S OGBE SIGNS CONTRACT TO PLAY FOR GERMANY'S ALBA BERLIN". GoUVU.com.
  10. ^ "ALBA announces Kenneth Ogbe". eurocupbasketball.com. 22 June 2018. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  11. ^ "Kenneth Ogbe International Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Kenneth Ogbe is a newcomer of Brose Bamberg". Sportando. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Erste Neuverpflichtung: Ogbe wechselt nach Oldenburg". Erste Neuverpflichtung: Ogbe wechselt nach Oldenburg (in German). Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Neuzugang mit reichlich Erfahrung und viel Potenzial". hamburgtowers.de (in German). 17 June 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Kenneth Ogbe {U20 European Championship Men (2013)". FIBA Europe. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  16. ^ "Rödl nominiert A2-Herren". Deutscher Basketball Bund. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
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