Obekpa, currently suiting up in Guinea with S.L.A.C., joins Newfoundland ahead of their inaugural 2022 season.

The Newfoundland Growlers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today that the club has signed Nigerian center Chris Obekpa for the upcoming 2022 CEBL season.

A six-foot-nine center from Makurdi, Nigeria, Obekpais currently suiting up for Guinean club S.L.A.C. in Ligue 1 and the Basketball Africa League. In five appearances for the team this season, he’s averaging 13.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game.

Prior to returning to Africa this year, Obekpa last played full-time in Turkey in the 2017-18 season thanks in large part to injuries. During his time with Trabzonspor, the now 28-year-old averaged 8.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game in 24 outings in the Basketbol Süper Ligi.

Upon turning pro back in 2016, Obekpa signed with the Golden State Warriors and was assigned to the team’s G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors. In 29 G League contests with Santa Cruz, he averaged 5.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.

Before beginning his professional career, Obekpa played three seasons in the NCAA with St. John’s University in Queens, New York. During his freshman 2012-13 campaign, he quickly earned a reputation for his defensive prowess and shot blocking ability, breaking the school record for blocks in a game with eight in his Red Storm debut. Finishing his first year with 19 appearances and per game average of 3.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks, Obekpa led the country in blocks that year.

After a further two seasons with St. John’s, Obekpa transferred to UNLV but was forced to sit out for his final collegiate season due to NCAA eligibility rules.

Obekpa moved to the United States at 16 years old to pursue his dream of professional basketball. Thanks to a strong two years with Our Savior New American School (OSNAS) in New York City, including a high school senior season where he averaged roughly nine blocks per game, he earned recognition as one of the top center prospects in his age group.

Obekpa becomes the sixth player to sign with Newfoundland ahead of the upcoming 2022 season.

Season ticket deposits for the Growlers inaugural season are on sale now at growlersbasketball.ca. Fans are kindly asked to email [email protected] for any questions or ticket related inquiries.

Newfoundland opens its season with a pair of weekend home games, beginning first on Friday, June 3 against the defending champion Edmonton Stingers, followed by a clash with the Ottawa BlackJacks on Sunday, June 5.

All CEBL regular season games will be live streamed on the free CBC Gem streaming service, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices and CEBL+.

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