Obinna Ekezie
Drafted by:
Vancouver, Round 2, pick 37.

 
EXPERT ANALYSIS
  "Obinna Ekezie is just short of 6-10 with pretty good footwork and above-average quickness around the basket for a center. In college, he showed the ability to get fouled and get to the free throw line, and he can also step out and hit the mid-range jumper. Ekezie has a decent drop-step move, a spin move and has a passable turnaround jumper in addition to a short jumphook. However, Ekezie does not have the face-up ability he was expected to develop, and he is not a great defender, often finding trouble with fouls because he is not disciplined. If Ekezie gets drafted, it will likely be in the second round -- especially because of the ruptured right Achilles tendon he suffered in the middle of his senior season."
-- ESPN's Jay Bilas
College: Maryland
Height: 6-10
Weight: 262 pounds
Position: Forward / Center
Age: 23 (Aug. 22, 1975)
Birthplace: Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Career highlights

  • Had senior season cut short with a freak injury on Feb. 9, rupturing his Achilles tendon in practice
  • Finished career as Maryland's 24th all-time leading scorer with 1,072 career points
  • Ranks sixth all-time in Maryland history with 125 career blocked shots in 118 games (105 starts)
  • One of only five players in school history to average at least one blocked shot per game for career
  • Majored in business and engineering
  • Ranks eighth all-time in school history in free throws made (356).

    College highlights
    Senior

  • Averaged 12.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in 24 contests
  • Was averaging 1.5 blocks per game (35 total) prior to the injury
  • Shot a career-high .693 from the free throw line in 5.8 attempts per game
  • Grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds vs. North Texas
  • Grabbed career-high six offensive rebounds vs. UMBC
  • Scored a career-high 23 points vs. Hofstra

    Junior

  • Named honorable mention All-ACC and led Maryland with 1.2 blocks per game
  • Dished out 51 assists
  • Was team's second-leading scorer, averaging 12.8 points per game
  • Blocked a season-high six shots against Wake Forest
  • Reached 90 career blocks, ranking him second all-time at Maryland
  • Made six straight field goals in the final two minutes of an NCAA Tournament game against Illinois, helping Maryland reach the Sweet 16
  • Set Maryland record for juniors with 200 free throw attempts

    Sophomore

  • Became Maryland's starting center and averaged 10.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game
  • Blocked 33 shots, ranking him 10th in the ACC in that category
  • Had four double-doubles
  • Scored season-high 21 points vs. North Carolina and grabbed season-high 12 rebounds vs. Georgia

    Freshman

  • Started 18 games and was an honorable mention All-ACC Freshman Team selection
  • Scored season-high 16 points vs. Delaware State
  • Grabbed season-high 11 rebounds vs. Clemson
  • Blocked 20 shots, including a season-high four vs. N.C. State

    College statistics
    SEASON G FGM FGA PCT FTM FTA PCT REB AST PTS AVG
    SEASONGFGMFGAPCTFTMFTAPCTREBASTPTSAVG
    1995-963051108.4723360.550111101354.5
    1996-9732115209.55092144.6392122232210.1
    1997-9832138285.484134200.6702075141012.8
    1998-9924104213.48897140.6931412130512.7
    TOTALS118408815.501356544.6546711041,1729.9
    Three-point field goals: 1995-96, 0-for-0 (.000); 1996-97, 0-for-0 (.000); 1997-98, 0-for-0 (.000); 1998-99, 0-for-2 (.000) Totals: 0-for-2 (.000 ).











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