Osasumwen Osaghae

Osasumwen Osaghae Jr. (born July 29, 1998) is an American basketball player. He played college basketball for the FIU Panthers.

Osasumwen Osaghae
Osaghae with FIU in March 2018
Kauhajoki Karhu
PositionPower forward
LeagueKorisliiga
Personal information
Born (1998-07-29) July 29, 1998
Miami, Florida
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High schoolMiami Southridge
(Miami, Florida)
CollegeFIU (2016–2020)
NBA draft2020 / Undrafted
Playing career2020–present
Career history
2020–presentKauhajoki Karhu
Career highlights and awards

Early life and high school

Osaghae was born in Miami, Florida 20 days after his parents, Osasumwen Sr. and Martina, moved from Nigeria. His name means "God leads me" in a Nigerian dialect. Osaghae grew up playing soccer but reluctantly switched to basketball at age 16 due to his exceptional size after he attended a camp led by Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. Osaghae stood 6'4 by his freshman year of high school. Osaghae played basketball for Miami Southridge High School, coached by John Herron, while attending Robert Morgan Educational Center.[1] He was undisciplined with his eating habits and obese in high school.[2] As a junior, Osaghae quit basketball and wanted to transfer to Palmetto High School because he found Southridge's coach "too hard" on him. He returned to the team as a senior but was often benched for his lack of effort in practice.[1]

College career

By the end of high school, Osaghae weighed nearly 300 lbs. He improved his diet and lost 60 lbs before walking on to the basketball team at Florida International University (FIU), where he studied business management.[2] He played three games as a freshman and was given limited playing time. In his sophomore season, Osaghae averaged 3.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 11.9 minutes per game.[3] Before his junior year, he was awarded a full scholarship to play for FIU, after contemplating transferring due to the coaching change.[1] Osaghae averaged 8.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and a league-high 3.1 blocks per game en route to Conference USA All-Defensive Team honors. His 96 blocks were the second-most by an FIU player in a single season. His play was hampered by a bone contusion, which forced him to miss three games.[4] As a senior, Osaghae averaged 13 points, 8.1 rebounds and an NCAA Division I-high 3.7 blocks per game. He closed the season as FIU's all-time leading shot blocker and was named second-team All-Conference USA and Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year.[5]

Professional career

On January 2, 2021, Holyfield signed with Kauhajoki Karhu of the Finnish Korisliiga.[6]

Personal life

Osaghae is the third of five children. His father is a lawyer and his mother is a social worker. His brother, Mark, plays soccer for Johnson & Wales University. His two older sisters, Aiseosa and Karen, are aspiring lawyers.[1] Osaghae is religious and volunteers at churches.[2]

References
  1. Villa, Walter (February 12, 2020). "This Panthers senior is the nation's leading shot-blocker. And he is at home with FIU". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  2. Drucker, David (January 17, 2020). "The No. 1 shot blocker in the NCAA plays at FIU". Florida International University. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  3. "Walk-On Osasumwen Osaghae Awarded Scholarship". FIU Athletics. July 2, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  4. Villa, Walter (January 14, 2019). "This FIU men's basketball star leads conference in shots blocked and offensive rebounds". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  5. "The FIU Panthers' Osasumwen Osaghae named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year". Miami Herald. March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  6. "Osasumwen Osaghae signs with Karhu Basket". Sportando. January 2, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
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