Michael Ojo (basketball, born 1993)

Michael Olalekan Ojo (January 5, 1993 – August 7, 2020) was a Nigerian-American professional basketball player. After competing in college basketball for the Florida State Seminoles, he played professionally for three seasons with Serbian clubs FMP and Crvena zvezda. Ojo died of a heart attack at the age of 27.

For the Nigerian American who played collegiately at Lehigh and professionally in Europe, see Michael Ojo (basketball, born 1989).

Michael Ojo
Ojo with Crvena zvezda in 2019
Personal information
Born(1993-01-05)January 5, 1993
Lagos, Nigeria
DiedAugust 7, 2020(2020-08-07) (aged 27)
Belgrade, Serbia
NationalityNigerian / American
Listed height7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
Listed weight310 lb (141 kg)
Career information
High schoolTennessee Temple
(Chattanooga, Tennessee)
CollegeFlorida State (2012–2017)
NBA draft2017 / Undrafted
Playing career2017–2020
PositionCenter
Number50
Career history
2017–2018FMP
2018–2020Crvena zvezda
Career highlights and awards

Early life

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Ojo is the son of Olayinminu Ojo.

Ojo attended Tennessee Temple Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 2012, he earned All-American Honors as a senior from the National Association of Christian Athletes and named to the All-Tournament Team at the National Association of Christian Athletes Tournament. As a senior, he averaged 15.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 5.0 blocks per game.[1]

College career

Ojo attended Florida State University. He selected Florida State over Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.[1]

He played four seasons of college basketball for the Florida State Seminoles under Leonard Hamilton, from 2012 to 2017. He missed the 2015–16 season but remained enrolled at the school as a medical redshirt.[1] Afterward, as a senior, Ojo averaged 4.9 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.[2]

Professional career

FMP (2017–2018)

On August 17, 2017, Ojo signed a multi-year contract with Serbian club FMP.[3] Ojo made his ABA League debut on September 19, recording 8 points and 2 rebounds, in a 74–67 loss to Cedevita.[4] On October 20, he recorded 11 points and 12 rebounds in a 91–76 win over Zadar.[5] On March 3, 2018, he scored 19 points and recorded 9 rebounds in an 86–81 loss to Petrol Olimpija.[6] Ojo averaged 11.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks over 21 games with FMP in the ABA League.[7] He also appeared in the 2018 Serbian SuperLeague season. On May 3, 2018, he scored season-high 21 points and recorded season-high 17 rebounds in an 87–82 win over Partizan NIS.[8] Ojo averaged 10.4 points and 5.6 rebounds over 14 games in the SuperLeague.[9]

Crvena zvezda (2018–2020)

On July 18, 2018, Ojo inked a two-year deal with another Serbian club, Crvena zvezda.[10][11] In the beginning of the season, he won 2018 ABA League Supercup with Crvena zvezda. In the 2018–19 season, his first with the club, he averaged 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds over 16 EuroCup games. He won the ABA League in the same season, as well as Serbian League championship.

During the 2019–20 season, Ojo appeared in 22 EuroLeague games with Crvena zvezda, averaging 4.1 points and 3 rebounds per game. On March 9, 2020, against FMP, Ojo recorded 10 points and 2 rebounds in what would be his final game.[12] The season was temporarily suspended three days later and canceled definitely in May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in all competitions the Zvezda has played.

During two seasons he played with Crvena zvezda, Ojo appeared in 108 games in domestic, regional and European competitions.

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  PIR  Performance Index Rating
 Bold  Career high

Note: The EuroLeague is not the only competition in which the player participated for the team during the season. He also played in domestic competition, and regional competition if applicable.

EuroLeague

Source[13]

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2019–20 Crvena zvezda 22311.4.622.000.7613.0.3.8.24.15.0

EuroCup

Source[13]

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2018–19 Crvena zvezda 16215:09.707.000.6474.5.4.50.96.510.4

College

Source[14]

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2012–13 Florida State 2795.0.292.000.3641.0.1.1.3.7
2013–14 Florida State 361411.9.547.000.4263.0.3.1.72.5
2014–15 Florida State 33218.8.529.000.3862.4.2.2.52.2
2015–16 Florida State Redshirt season
2016–17 Florida State 353412.2.564.000.8063.2.2.3.94.9
Career 131789.8.525.000.5692.5.2.2.62.7

Personal life

Ojo wore a shoe size 21 (US sizing systems). Nike invested in a US$15,000 machine to create a shoe to properly fit Ojo.[15][16]

Death

On August 7, 2020, he unexpectedly died from a heart attack during training in Belgrade, Serbia, at the age of 27.[17] He was conducting an individual training session at the Partizan Stadium when he collapsed.[18][19][20] Crvena zvezda requested an investigation from the authorities regarding his death. Reportedly, he did not have a training permit because he tested positive for COVID-19 in July.[21]

A moment of silence will be held before all 7DAYS EuroCup and Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games in Round 1 of the 2020–21 season in his memory, as well as the late CSKA Moscow team doctor Roman Abzhelilov.[22] The same will be held in the ABA League.[23]

See also

References
  1. "MICHAEL OJO Player profile". seminoles.com. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  2. "Former 'Nole Michael Ojo to begin pro career in Europe". 247sports.com. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  3. Michael Ojo inks multi-year contract with FMP
  4. "ROUND 1, ABA liga, Season 2017/18 -- Cedevita Zagreb 74 : 67 FMP Beograd". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  5. "ROUND 5, ABA liga, Season 2017/18 -- FMP Beograd 91 : 76 Zadar". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  6. "ROUND 21, ABA liga, Season 2017/18 - FMP Beograd 81 : 86 Petrol Olimpija Ljubljana". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  7. "Michael Ojo during the 2017-18 season". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  8. "KK FMP 87 - 82 KK Partizan NIS // 2018-05-07". kls.rs. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  9. "Michael Ojo in 2017-18 BLS season". kls.rs. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  10. "Majkl Odžo stigao u Crvenu zvezdu!". kkcrvenazvezda.rs. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  11. "Crvena Zvezda gets bigger with Ojo at center". eurocupbasketball.com. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  12. "ROUND 21, ABA liga, Season 2019/20 -- FMP Beograd 79 : 87 Crvena zvezda mts Beograd". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  13. "OJO, MICHAEL". euroleague.net. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  14. "Michael Ojo at sports-reference.com". sports-reference.com. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  15. Michael Ojo taking next step in basketball career thanks to size 21 shoes
  16. Nike spent $15,000 on a special machine just to make Florida State center Michael Ojo’s shoes
  17. "Former Florida State center Michael Ojo dies after collapsing during training at age 27". cbsnews.com. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  18. "Former Florida State center Michael Ojo, 27, dies during workout". espn.com. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  19. "Michael Ojo dead: Nigerian-American basketball player dies aged 27 after heart attack in training". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  20. https://rs.n1info.com/Sport-Klub/Kosarka/a627481/Preminuo-Majkl-Odzo.html
  21. "Zvezda traži pokretanje istrage zbog smrti Majkla Odža". b92.net. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  22. "Evroliga: Minut ćutanja za Odža pre početka utakmica". b92.net. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  23. "Moment of silence for Michael Ojo". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
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