Deji Akindele

Deji Akindele

Nickname(s)	D.A
Position	Center
Height	7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
Weight	245 lb (111 kg)
League	Russian Super League
Team	Spartak Primorye
Born	April 2, 1983 (1983-04-02) (age 28) Abeokuta, Nigeria
Nationality	Nigerian
College	Chicago State
Draft	Undrafted, 2005
Pro career	2005–present
Career history	Golden State Warriors (2005) Fort Worth Flyers (2005-06) Aguas de Calpe (2006) Iowa Energy (2006-07) Pau-Orthez (2007-08) Scavolini Spar Pesaro (2008-09) Obradoiro CAB (2009) SPO Rouen Basket (2010) BC Nizhny Novgorod (2010) Montepaschi Siena (2010-11)

Akindele Jeleel Ayodeji (born 2 April 1983 in Abeokuta) is a Nigerian professional basketball player. He is currently playing for Spartak Primorye in Russia. He was also part of the Nigeria national basketball team, and represented Nigeria at the 2007 and 2009 African Championships, averaging 8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game.^[1]

Collegiate career

Akindele chose Chicago State over Rutgers, St. Peters and St. Marys. During Akindele's first season in Chicago, the 7'1" center averaged 7.1 points per game (ppg),5.6 rebound (rpg) and 1.94 blocks per game (bpg).^[2] In his second season, Akindele improved his block total by 8 in 4 fewer games (2.50 bpg), as well as improving his scoring average to 12 ppg.^[3] His best game, statistically, was when he registered 28 points (10-for-13 field goals), 21 rebounds, and 4 blocks in 79-71 loss to Green Bay on December 1, 2004.^[4] He was also named the Mid-Continent Conference defensive player of the year for 2004-2005.

Akindele left Chicago State after his sophomore year, declaring himself eligible for the 2005 NBA Draft. Going unselected in 2005,had a short stint with the NBA Golden State Warriors. Akindele was selected in the fourth round of the Development League's Draft by the Fort Worth Flyers.^[5]

In December 2010 he signed with Montepaschi Siena until the end of the 2010-11 season.^[6] In August 2011 he returned to Russia to play for Spartak Primorye.^[7]

References

1. ^ FIBA.com profile
2. ^ Chicago State Cougars Statistics - 2003-04
3. ^ Chicago State Cougars Statistics - 2004-05
4. ^ Green Bay vs. Chicago State - Box Score - December 01, 2004 - ESPN
5. ^ D-League Draft Board 2005
6. ^ Montepaschi lands Deji Akindele
7. ^ Spartak Primorye lands Torey Thomas and Jekeel Akindele

External links

• Deji Akindele's draft profile at DraftExpress.com
• Deji Akindele's draft profile at NBA.com

Persondata
Name	Akindele, Deji
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1983-04-02
Place of birth	Abeokuta, Nigeria
Date of death
Place of death