Chinemelu Elonu
| Free agent | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| Personal information | |
| Born |
March 11, 1987 Enugu, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian / American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Alief Elsik (Houston, Texas) |
| College | Texas A&M (2006–2009) |
| NBA draft | 2009 / Round: 2 / Pick: 59th overall |
| Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Playing career | 2009–present |
| Career history | |
| 2009–2010 | CAI Zaragoza |
| 2010–2011 | Panionios |
| 2011–2012 | Pau-Orthez |
| 2012–2013 | Tofaş |
| 2013 | Jiangsu Dragons |
| 2013–2014 | Tofaş |
| 2014 | CAI Zaragoza |
| 2014–2015 | Tofaş |
| 2015 | Capitanes de Arecibo |
| 2015–2016 | Beşiktaş |
Chinemelu D. Elonu, Jr. (born March 11, 1987) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player who last played for Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball Super League (BSL). He played college basketball for Texas A&M.
High school career
Elonu attended Alief Elsik High School where he averaged 15.0 points per game as a senior, helping the team to a 33-5 record while posting career highs of 21 points and 20 rebounds.[1]
College career
Elonu played at Texas A&M University from the 2006–2009 seasons. His junior and final season, he averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds per game.[2] He graduated from the school in May 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Leadership and Development.[3]
Professional career
Elonu was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 59th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.[2][4] He later signed a two-year deal with the Spanish team CAI Zaragoza where he averaged 6.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He had an opt-out clause that would have allowed him to sign with the Lakers after the 2009-10 season.[5]
In August 2010, Elonu signed a contract with Panionios in Greece.[6]
In January 2011, Elonu signed a contract with Pau-Orthez in France. He averaged 10.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.[6]
In the summer of 2012, Elonu signed a contract with Tofaş of the Turkish Basketball League.[7]
In June 2013, Elonu signed with Jiangsu Dragons from China.[8]
In May 2014, Elonu came back to Zaragoza four years later, signing a contract until the end of the 2013–14 ACB season.[9] Later in the year he returned to Tofaş.
On June 9, 2015, Elonu signed with Capitanes de Arecibo of Puerto Rico.[10]
On November 9, 2015, Elonu signed with Turkish club Beşiktaş for the 2015–16 season.[11][12]
Statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | 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 | Bold | Career high | Led the league | |
Regular season
| Year | Team | League | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Pau-Orthez | LNB Pro A | 30 | 24.2 | .634 | – | .603 | 8.3 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 10.4 |
| 2012–13 | Tofaş | TBL | 29 | 21.2 | .661 | – | .515 | 7.6 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 9.6 |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | League | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 |  Tofaş |
TBL | 2 | 23.0 | .474 | .500 | .833 | 8.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 11.5 |
Personal life
The son of Dozie and Amaka Elonu, he majored in agricultural leadership.[1]
References
- 1 2 "Texas A&M bio". AggieAthletics.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
- 1 2 Zwerneman, Brent (June 27, 2009). "A&M hoops star Elonu sets sights on NBA career". Chron.com. Retrieved June 27, 2009.
- ↑ Young, Larry (June 22, 2009). "A&M's Elonu enters NBA Draft short on centers". Chron.com. Retrieved June 22, 2009.
- ↑ "Meet Chinemelu Elonu". NBA.com. July 15, 2009. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
- ↑ Teaford, Elliott (September 15, 2009). "Draft pick signs … in Spain". InsideSocal.com. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
- 1 2 "Chinemelu Elonu inks with Pau-Orthez". Sportando.com. January 25, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
- ↑ "Tofas Bursa adds Chinemelu Elonu". Sportando.com. August 16, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
- ↑ "Chinemelu Elonu signed in China with Jiangsu". Sportando.com. June 27, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
- ↑ "Elonu regresa al CAI Zaragoza para reforzarlo hasta final de temporada". ACB.com (in Spanish). May 19, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
- ↑ "Capitanes firman un nuevo centro". PrimeraHora.com (in Spanish). June 9, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
- ↑ "Chinemelu Elonu Beşiktaş'ta". BJK.com.tr (in Turkish). November 9, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
- ↑ "Besiktas signs Chinemelu Elonu". Sportando.com. November 9, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.