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Alex Oriakhi

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Alex Oriakhi
Oriakhi with UConn in 2011
Personal information
Born (1990-06-21) June 21, 1990 (age 34)
Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High schoolTilton School
(Tilton, New Hampshire)
College
NBA draft2013: 2nd round, 57th overall pick
Selected by the Phoenix Suns
Playing career2013–2022
PositionPower forward
Career history
2013Limoges CSP
2013Hapoel Holon
2013–2014Erie BayHawks
2014Sioux Falls Skyforce
2014–2015Pieno Žvaigždės
2015–2016Orlandina Basket
2016Bucaneros de La Guaira
2016Socar Petkim
2017Garzas de Plata
2017Vaqueros de Bayamón
2017Club Biguá
2018Fuerza Regia
2019Vitória S.C.
2021–2022Depiro Rabat Imtarfa
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Alex Oriakhi Jr. (pronounced "Or-e-ah-ki"; born June 21, 1990) is an American former professional basketball player. He was the starting center for the Connecticut Huskies' 2010–11 NCAA championship team. He transferred to the University of Missouri for his senior year. He was selected with the 57th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns.

Early life

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Oriakhi attended and played in 2004–05 at the Fessenden School (a K-9 school) in West Newton, Massachusetts for coach Pete Sanderson. Oriakhi played at Brooks School before playing for the Tilton School in Tilton, New Hampshire. As a senior, he was named a McDonald's All-American as well as a second-team Parade All-American[1] and the Gatorade player of the year for New Hampshire.

Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Oriakhi was listed as the No. 3 center and the No. 21 player in the nation in 2009.[2]

Oriakhi chose the University of Connecticut to play for Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun.

College career

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He started most of his freshman season, averaging 5.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. At the close of the season, he was named to the Big East Conference all-rookie team.[3]

As a sophomore, Oriakhi raised his game to average 9.9 points, 8.7 rebounds (second in the Big East) and 1.6 blocks per game (7th in the Big East). He was the main post presence for the Huskies as they won the 2011 Big East tournament and the 2011 NCAA men's tournament. As a junior, Oriakhi saw his minutes decrease with the addition of highly recruited freshman Andre Drummond. His production dropped as well as he averaged 6.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.[4]

After the season, Oriakhi announced his intention to transfer to another school, citing the Huskies' 2013 ban on postseason play. Because Connecticut's postseason ban covered his entire remaining eligibility (one season), he was eligible to play for his new school during the 2012–13 season.[5] Ultimately Oriakhi transferred to Missouri.[6] During his time at Missouri, he scored 11.2 points, grabbed 8.4 rebounds, and recorded 1.6 blocks per game in 25.8 minutes of play for 34 games.

Professional career

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2013–14 season

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On June 27, 2013, Oriakhi was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the 2013 NBA draft with the 57th overall pick.[7] In July 2013, he joined the Suns for the 2013 NBA Summer League. On August 2, 2013, he signed his first professional contract with Limoges CSP of the LNB Pro A.[8] On November 6, 2013, he parted ways with Limoges after just six games.[9] Four days later, he signed with Hapoel Holon of Israel.[10] In December 2013, he left Israel and returned to the United States.[11]

On December 19, 2013, Oriakhi was acquired by the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League.[12] On February 8, 2014, he was traded to the Sioux Falls Skyforce.[13] He went on to earn NBA D-League All-Rookie first team honors.[14]

2014–15 season

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On July 12, 2014, Oriakhi's rights were traded to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Isaiah Thomas.[15] When the trade was officially completed, Oriakhi would help the Kings win the 2014 NBA Summer League competition in Las Vegas. On September 20, 2014, he signed with Pieno Žvaigždės of Lithuania for the 2014–15 season.[16]

2015–16 season

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In July 2015, Oriakhi joined the Sacramento Kings for the 2015 NBA Summer League.[17] On August 10, 2015, he signed with Orlandina Basket of the Italian Serie A for the 2015–16 season.[18] He averaged 8.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in 30 games.[19]

On May 14, 2016, Oriakhi signed with Bucaneros de La Guaira of the Venezuelan League.[19][20] That day, he made his debut for Bucaneros in an 86–71 win over Cocodrilos de Caracas, recording 16 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in 30 minutes.[21]

2016–17 season

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On July 22, 2016, Oriakhi signed with Socar Petkim of the Turkish Basketball First League.[22] He left Socar after appearing in ten games. On January 7, 2017, he signed with Garzas de Plata of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional.[23] On April 12, 2017, he signed with the Vaqueros de Bayamón of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional.[24]

2017–18 season

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On January 26, 2018, Oriakhi signed with Fuerza Regia of the Mexican LNBP, the highest tier of professional basketball in Mexico.[25]

2021–22 season

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On June 3, 2021, Oriakhi signed with Depiro Rabat Imtarfa of the Maltese Division One Basketball league.[26]

References

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  1. ^ O'Shea, Michael (April 5, 2009). "Meet PARADE's All-America High School Boys Basketball Team". Parade Magazine. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  2. ^ "Alex Oriakhi Recruiting Profile". Rivals.com. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  3. ^ Anthony, Mike (March 7, 2010). "All-Big East Awards". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  4. ^ "UConn biography". UConn athletics. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  5. ^ "UConn's Alex Oriakhi targeting transfer to top-tier program". AOL.SportingNews.com. April 4, 2012. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  6. ^ "Alex Oriakhi to transfer to Missouri Tigers". ESPN.com. April 14, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  7. ^ Coleman, Scott (June 28, 2013). "NBA Draft 2013: Phoenix Suns select Alex Oriakhi with 57th pick". SBNation.com. SB-Nation. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  8. ^ "Limoges signs Suns draftee Alex Oriakhi". Sportando.com. August 2, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  9. ^ "Alex Oriakhi, Limoges officially part ways". Sportando.com. November 6, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  10. ^ "Hapoel Holon signs Alex Oriakhi". Sportando.com. November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  11. ^ "Hapoel Holon to waive Alex Oriakhi". Sportando.com. December 10, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  12. ^ "BayHawks Add Alex Oriakhi". NBA.com. December 19, 2013. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  13. ^ "Skyforce Acquires Alex Oriakhi in Three-Team Trade". NBA.com. February 8, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  14. ^ "Hamilton, Liggins, Oriakhi Earn 2013-14 All-NBA D-League Selections". NBA.com. May 1, 2014. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  15. ^ "Kings Acquire Alex Oriakhi". NBA.com. July 12, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  16. ^ "Alex Oriakhi signs with Pieno Zvaigzdes". Sportando.com. September 20, 2014. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  17. ^ "Kings Hold Mini-Camp Prior to 2015 NBA Summer League". NBA.com. June 30, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  18. ^ "Upea Capo d'Orlando officially signs Alex Oriakhi". Sportando.com. August 10, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  19. ^ a b "Bucaneros sign Alex Oriakhi, ex Betaland CdO". Eurobasket.com. May 15, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  20. ^ "Alex Oriakhi inks with Bucaneros de la Guaira". Sportando.com. May 15, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  21. ^ "Finals Game 3: Bucaneros - Cocodrilos 86-71". Eurobasket.com. May 15, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  22. ^ "Alex Oriakhi signs with Socar Petkim". Sportando.com. July 22, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  23. ^ "Alex Oriakhi inks with Garzas de Plata". Sportando.com. January 7, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  24. ^ "Alex Oriakhi is new player of Vaqueros de Bayamon in Puerto Rico". Sportando.com. April 12, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  25. ^ "Fuerza Regia lands Alex Oriakhi, ex Bigua". Latinbasket.com. January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  26. ^ Chelidze, Dimitri (June 3, 2021). "Alex Oriakhi (ex Vitoria SC) agreed terms with Depiro". Eurobasket. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
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