Blessing Ejiofor
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 September 1998 Ebonyi, Nigeria |
| Listed height | 196 cm (6 ft 5 in) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Eastside (Paterson, New Jersey) |
| College |
|
| Playing career | 2022–present |
| Position | Center |
| Career history | |
| 2022 | CD Talent |
| 2022–2023 | COB Calais |
| 2023–2024 | Cavigal Nice Basket |
Blessing Ejiofor (born September 2, 1998) is a Nigerian professional basketball player and a member of the Nigeria national team. Originating from Ebonyi, Nigeria, she played college basketball for Vanderbilt University, Chipola and West Virginia University.[1][2][3] Following her college career, she has played professionally in Spain and France.
Early life
[edit]Ejiofor began playing basketball at the age of 13.[1] At an early age, she chose Vanderbilt University as her dream school.[2]
In 2014, Ejiofor, a sophomore in high school,[4] traveled to the United States after being recruited by Evelyn Mack Academy in Charlotte, North Carolina, as a basketball player. However, she ended up attending Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey, where she attracted attention for her basketball playing and was offered a scholarship to Vanderbilt. Following her enrollment at Vanderbilt in 2016, Ejiofor realized that her student visa had been expired for a year, as Eastside had not filed the proper paperwork to renew it. Ejiofor returned to Nigeria for a year, and returned to Vanderbilt after her student visa was renewed for the 2017–2018 academic year.[2][5]
College career
[edit]![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2024) |
As a freshman at Vanderbilt, Ejiofor scored 28 points for the Commodores, playing an average of 5.6 minutes across 22 games. After her first year, Ejiofor transferred to Chipola College in Florida, where she played for one season. She then transferred again to West Virginia University.[5][6]
Professional career
[edit]Ejiofor started her professional career with CD Talent in the Spanish Liga Femenina 2 de Baloncesto in 2022.[7] For the 2022–2023 season, she signed with COB Calais.[8] She stayed in France the following season, signing with Cavigal Nice Basket.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Get To Know … Blessing Ejiofor". Vanderbilt University Athletics. 2017-10-03. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
- ^ a b c Light, Mitch (2018-02-26). "Unexpected Blessing: Blessing Ejiofor is thankful to be at Vanderbilt after high school recruiting scandal". Vanderbilt University. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
- ^ "WVU Center Blessing Ejiofor's Story Featured on '60 Minutes'". WV Sports Now. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Goodfriend, Betsy (2018-01-19). "Blessing Ejiofor making tough transition from Nigeria to Nashville". The Vanderbilt Hustler. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
- ^ a b Nespor, Cody (2020-03-30). "WVU Center Blessing Ejiofor's Story Featured on '60 Minutes'". WV Sports Now. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
- ^ Bock, Ethan (2024-03-06). "Ejiofor playing vital minutes off the bench for injury-ridden WVU". The Daily Athenaeum. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
- ^ "Competiciones FEB - Blessing Ejiofor". baloncestoenvivo.feb.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Vincent Pihen (29 October 2022). "Une nouvelle recrue mais aussi une déroute à Aulnoye pour le COB Calais". Nord Littoral (in French). Retrieved 21 May 2024.
External links
[edit]- 1998 births
- Living people
- 21st-century Nigerian sportswomen
- Basketball players from Paterson, New Jersey
- Chipola Indians women's basketball players
- Eastside High School (Paterson, New Jersey) alumni
- Nigerian women's basketball players
- Nigerian expatriates in the United States
- People from Ebonyi State
- Vanderbilt Commodores basketball
- West Virginia Mountaineers women's basketball players
- Basketball players at the 2024 Summer Olympics
- Olympic basketball players for Nigeria