Ike Anigbogu facts for kids

Christopher Ike Anigbogu (born October 17, 1998) is an American professional basketball player. He plays as a center for the Birmingham Squadron in the NBA G League. The NBA G League is like a minor league for the main NBA. Before turning professional, Ike played college basketball for one year with the UCLA Bruins.

As a freshman, he was an important player coming off the bench for the Bruins team. They made it to the "Sweet 16" round of the NCAA tournament. After that season, Ike was chosen by the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the 2017 NBA draft. He was the 47th player picked overall. He played for the Pacers for two seasons.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Ike Anigbogu was born in San Diego, California. His parents, Chris and Veronica Anigbogu, are from Nigeria. He first went to Temescal Canyon High in Lake Elsinore for his freshman year. There, he played on the school's junior varsity team.

The next year, he moved to Centennial High in Corona. He was also part of the International Baccalaureate program there, which is a special academic program. As a tall, thin sophomore, he averaged about two points and 2.5 rebounds per game. His team, the Huskies, made it to the state finals that year.

In 2015, during his junior year, Ike helped his team reach the state regional finals. They lost to Chino Hills High School, a team led by future NBA star Lonzo Ball. In his senior year, Ike faced some challenges. He was limited by injuries and a family emergency. He took three weeks off to go to his uncle's funeral in Nigeria. During the playoffs, a knee injury also limited his playing time. When Ike played, the Huskies won 20 out of 25 games. He finished that season averaging 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game.

College Career at UCLA

Ike Anigbogu was considered one of the top 50 basketball recruits in the country. He decided to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He joined a group of talented freshmen players, including Lonzo Ball and T. J. Leaf. Ike and Leaf had played together on an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team called the Compton Magic. Their coach there, David Grace, later became an assistant coach at UCLA. These new players were expected to help improve the UCLA basketball program.

Ike missed the first five games of the 2016–17 season. He had knee surgery after tearing his right meniscus during practice. The meniscus is a piece of cartilage in your knee. When he returned, Ike gave UCLA a strong physical presence on the court. Standing 6 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 250 pounds, he was known for his exciting dunks and powerful blocks.

Even though he never started a game, Ike was a backup to the main center, Thomas Welsh. He became one of UCLA's best defenders. He sprained his left foot during practice and missed UCLA's first game in the NCAA tournament. However, he returned for the second round. In just seven minutes, he scored six points and blocked a shot in a win against Cincinnati.

The Bruins ended the season with 31 wins. They were knocked out of the tournament in the "Sweet 16" round. For the whole year, Ike averaged 4.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 13 minutes per game. He made 56 percent of his shots. His 35 blocks were the third-highest on the team, even though he played much less than other players. After the season, Ike decided to enter the 2017 NBA draft. Even with limited playing time and still developing his offensive skills, he was valued for his athleticism and potential as a great defender.

Professional Career

Indiana Pacers (2017–2019)

Before the NBA draft, Ike Anigbogu had a tryout with the Indiana Pacers. During this workout, he twisted his right knee. This injury stopped him from doing any more tryouts before the draft. Because of concerns about his knee, his draft position fell. The Pacers still chose him in the second round, as the 47th overall pick. His UCLA teammate, T. J. Leaf, was also picked by the Pacers in the first round.

Ike had surgery to fix the cartilage in his knee. He missed the NBA Summer League while he was recovering. He made his NBA debut on October 20, 2017. He played two minutes in a game where the Pacers lost to the Portland Trail Blazers. At just 19 years old, he was the youngest player in the NBA during the 2017–18 season. In his first year, he played 11 games with the Pacers. He also spent a lot of time playing for their NBA G League team, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Players are often "assigned" to the G League to get more playing time and develop their skills.

During the next offseason, Ike missed his second straight summer league. He had another minor knee surgery. In the 2018–19 season, he only played three games for the Pacers. On February 7, 2019, the Pacers "waived" him, meaning they released him from the team. This happened as part of a trade deal. Ike had spent most of his time in the G League and was playing well there. He averaged 11.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 21 games with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. However, he missed several games because of knee soreness.

Erie BayHawks (2020–2021)

On January 31, 2020, the Erie BayHawks picked up Ike Anigbogu. The BayHawks were the G League team connected to the New Orleans Pelicans. He played six games for them, averaging 9.5 points and 4.8 rebounds.

Ike signed with the New Orleans Pelicans in December 2020, but they waived him after the preseason games. He then rejoined the BayHawks for the 2020–21 G League season. This season was played in a special "bubble" in Orlando, Florida, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 1, he was waived again after getting an injury that ended his season.

Birmingham Squadron (2022; 2024–present)

On January 20, 2022, the Birmingham Squadron got Ike Anigbogu's player rights. However, he was waived on February 28 after another season-ending injury.

Ike Anigbogu returned to the Birmingham Squadron on January 12, 2024, and continues to play for them.

See also

In Spanish: Ike Anigbogu para niños